10-29-2020

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THURSDAY, APRIL 5

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29

VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42

VOLUME 117, ISSUE 21

PRESIDENTS

SECCA

MEN’S BBALL

OPINION PAGE 3

CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 4

SPORTS PAGE 6

Guest columnist Steve Corbin compares Donald Trump to past presidents.

The UNI men’s basketball team adapts in practices amidts the pandemic.

Student Elementary & Early Childhood Association hosts SPOOKtacular event.

Students for Life: Nook overturns NISG Court’s decision ELIZABETH KELSEY News Editor

The verdict is in: UNI Students for Life is officially a registered student organization at the University of Northern Iowa. In a campus-wide email and university press release on Monday, Oct. 26, UNI President Mark Nook overturned the Northern Iowa Student Government (NISG) decision to deny the group that status, ending nearly three weeks of discussion and debate. The controversy surrounding the organization, an affiliate of the national pro-life group Students for Life, began at the Oct. 7 NISG Senate meeting. At that time, the Senate voted to deny UNI Students for Life

the right to form a student organization, citing their potential to create a hostile environment on campus due to the “hateful rhetoric” of the national organization. Following the Senate’s decision, the group appealed first to the NISG Supreme Court, who subsequently upheld the Senate’s decision in a 5-3 ruling on Oct. 14, and then to President Nook on Oct. 20. Nook overturned the Court’s ruling on Oct. 26, writing that NISG had denied UNI Students for Life “based on the content of the student organization’s viewpoint, speech and assumed potential activities.” “Neither the University nor NISG endorse any student organization’s viewpoints by approving them as student organizations.

By denying them recognition when they intend, in good faith, to engage in lawful activities, we deny them their right to free speech and assembly guaranteed to them by the First Amendment,” he added, in an eight-page document included with the press release. The active stance that Nook has taken in the decisions of NISG in this case is atypical, he said in a Zoom interview with the Northern Iowan on Tuesday. “Typically, very few things (from NISG) actually come to my desk that require my review or oversight,” he said. “I tend not to insert myself into the middle of their operations. It’s one of the reasons I don’t attend a lot of their meetings, so they can do their work without

SOPHIA SCHUSTER/Courtesy Photo

MARK NOOK/Courtesy Photo

UNI Students for Life founder Sophia Schuster hopes to launch initiatives before the end of the semester.

UNI President Mark Nook instates the UNI Students for Life.

the undue influence of the president.” This was the first time since Nook became university president in February 2017 that an issue relating to the registration of a student organization has come down to his jurisdiction. In fact, he noted, the process for students to appeal

to the president is so infrequently used that it is not clearly defined in university policy. “There isn’t an appeal process laid out in any of our policies; it just says you can appeal to the president,” he said.

ABIGAIL KRAFT

the safety of all involved. “We warn people to wear gloves when they go through the clothes,” Varela said. “We have asked people who donate to clean the clothes. We also try to keep the new clothes outside for two to three days at the most just in case.” Valera mentioned her favorite part of the whole process is that it helps take care of the students. With many international students remaining on campus for winter break, this clothing drive helps many students as they wait for classes to resume in the spring semester. This program has been run for many years by the ISSO, and this year they are hoping for a great amount of donations to continue to help international students as they acclimate to the winter weather. All are welcome to donate supplies to the drive and are encouraged to do so. Donations can be left at the donation box by the International Students and Scholars Office in Maucker Union 113.

ISSO winter clothing drive heats up Staff Writer

GABI CUMMINGS/Northern Iowan

Winter clothing donations can be left in the donation box located outside the ISSO in Maucker Union room 113.

From Oct. 16 through Nov. 6, the UNI International Students and Scholars Office is sponsoring a winter clothing drive. This drive is used to help provide winter items such as coats, scarves and gloves for international students who may not have the proper attire to prepare them for the conditions of an Iowa winter. Director of International Students and Scholars Isabela Varela expressed in an interview that things look a little different this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “A person might get COVID19 from touching surfaces, but it is not as easy (as) from person-to-person,” Varela said. “So still, we can collect donations for winter wear.” However, precautions are still in place to protect people running the drive and those who receive the donations. Research has been done from information on the CDC’s website to ensure

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