10-19-2020

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UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA CEDAR FALLS, IA

CEDAR FALLS, IA

THURSDAY, APRIL 5

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19

TRUMP'S TWITTER Opinion columnist Emerson Slomka argues for taking away President Trump's Twitter account.

TWITTER: @NORTHERNIOWAN

VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42

VOLUME 117, ISSUE 18

CLOTHESLINE PROJECT

MVC RANKINGS

CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 5

SPORTS PAGE 6

UNI Women and Gender Studies hosts Clothesline Project.

OPINION PAGE 3

The MVC released rankings with UNI Panthers in the No. 1 ranked spot.

Dining centers continue to adapt ELIZABETH KELSEY News Editor

With COVID-19, social distancing and capacity limits, meeting the needs of students while keeping everyone safe was always going to be challenging for the UNI dining centers. But over halfway into this unusual fall semester, UNI Dining Services Director Janet Despard is pleased with how dining center staff have handled the many changes that have come their way. “They’ve been absolute troopers, being flexible and

understanding and supportive, and they know that we’re here to serve students, and they’re on the front lines every day,” she said. “Our staff have been nothing short of amazing.” Adjustments at Rialto and Piazza have continued throughout the semester as UNI Dining constantly re-evaluates safety procedures while striving to offer high-quality dining. “Every student and employee at the Rialto is really trying to keep things going smoothly as possible in the most clean and effective way,” said Garrett Pospisil, a

junior communication sciences and disorders major who works as a student supervisor in Rialto. “Sometimes it is hard with COVID, and it does limit things, (but) we are still trying to make sure that everyone is getting their money’s worth and getting the most out of their experience here while protecting themselves.” Despard said that as the semester has progressed, UNI Dining has shifted to gradually offer more self-service options while still maintaining safety.

these COVID-19 considerations in mind. Keep in mind risk levels of different settings (adapted from CDC guidance): • Lowest risk: virtual-only activities (i.e. virtual happy hour, virtual game night) • More risk: smaller, outdoor, and in-person gathering where attendees are wearing a face covering, are able to maintain physical distancing (6+ feet), are not sharing objects (drinks, water bottles, etc.) and come from the same geographic area • Higher risk: medium-sized, in person gatherings that are not adapted to allow for physical distancing (6+ feet) and attendees

come from different geographic areas • Highest risk: large, in-person gatherings where it is difficult to practice physical distancing and attendees are from different geographic areas • Avoid large gatherings, playing drinking games, sharing bottles/cups and sharing cannabis and tobacco products (i.e. vapes). If hosting a get-together, limit it to only a few close friends and ask friends to not post on social media to avoid unwanted guests; join your friends outside; remind friends to bring and wear face masks; encourage physical distancing; and ask friends to stay home if they have symptoms, even if they’re minor.

See DINING CENTERS, page 2

GABI CUMMINGS/Northern Iowan

Dining centers Piazza and Rialto continue to re-evaluate safety procedures while still providing high-quality dining.

Stay safe in social settings: Do it for YOU! STUDENT WELLNESS SERVICES Guest Columnist

Student Wellness Services has highlighted recommendations pertaining to COVID-19 precautions, alcohol and other drugs, sexual health, friends and phone safety so that you can remain safe while still maintaining your social wellness. What will you add to your personal safety checklist? COVID-19 Considerations for Social Gatherings If you plan to get together with friends during COVID19, it’s important to keep

Alcohol

STUDENT WELLNESS SERVICES/Courtesy Photo

Student Wellness Services gives tips on how to stay safe around others.

If you choose not to include drinking in your weekend plans, you are not alone! In fact, one in three UNI students choose not to drink alcohol according to the 2020 National College Health Assessment. If you plan to drink, maintain your buzz and avoid regrets/ poor decisions by staying in your “sweet spot” (BAC of .05 or less)! Follow these sweet spot tips: • Set a limit on how many standard drinks you will have and keep track. BAC calculators like the one found at alcohol.org/ bac-calculator are great options

to estimate where your BAC is so you can plan effectively. • Pace drinks to one or less per hour. • Choose drinks that contain less alcohol by volume. • Eat a substantial meal before you go out and snack throughout the night. • Keep in mind Iowa alcohol laws (alcohol only for 21+) and UNI policies: policies.uni.edu/1318 • Avoid mixing alcohol with other drugs (legal or illegal). • Mixing alcohol and drugs could lead to dangerous reactions and increases your risk of alcohol overdose. In addition, alcohol can make a medication less effective or even useless, or it may make the medication toxic to your body. • If you are taking a prescription medication, such as anti-anxiety or anti-depression drugs, alcohol may affect you differently than it has in the past. If you are planning to consume alcohol, make sure you first speak with your doctor to best understand how alcohol and your medication will interact. • It’s difficult to know exactly how cannabis will affect you every time you use it. When mixed with alcohol, it may cause nausea, vomiting, panic, anxiety, paranoia or other psychotic symptoms, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

• Take the Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO online assessment to receive personalized feedback about your alcohol use AND be entered to win a $25 Target gift card! Email a digital copy of your certificate of completion as an attachment to wellness@uni. edu by 11:59 p.m. on Oct., 30, 2020. Get started here: aodeducation.uni.edu. • If you see the following signs of alcohol overdose, call 911 for help: • Cold, clammy skin/pale or bluish skin • Unconscious/semi-conscious • Prolonged vomiting/very rapid or very slow pulse • Slow, shallow or irregular breathing/seizures Panthers take care of one another. We encourage students to seek medical or professional help for someone who needs it. In turn, students who seek medical assistance for themselves or another person, due to intoxication of alcohol and/or other drugs may not be held accountable through the student conduct process. The student(s) may be required to complete an educational sanction, but not further conduct action. Questions about the Good Samaritan Provision? Visit the Dean of Students Staff in Gilchrist 118 or call 319-273-2332. See STAY SAFE, page 3


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10-19-2020 by Northern Iowan - Issuu