CAMPUS LIFE
Ally Knight highlights the impacts of study abroad trips at UNI.
UNI Accounting tops CPA exam passing rates
Continuing its streak of success, the UNI Accounting program was ranked sixth amongst mid-sized schools for single-pass rates of the certified public accounting (CPA) exam by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).
PAGE 5
Minnesota Ballet presents “The Nutcracker” live at Gallagher Bluedorn
Local youth dancers will be performing alongside the Minnesota Ballet for three performances of the famous ballet, “The Nutcracker.” These performances will take the stage
Friday-Saturday, Nov. 22-24 at 7 p.m., 2 p.m. and 2 p.m. at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, located on the University of Northern Iowa campus.
“The Nutcracker” will feature all of the famous music from this family Christmas classic with an updated setting
and cast of characters! Start your holidays off right with an iconic tale of adventure, fantasy and dance. More than 70 dancers from across Northeast Iowa perform alongside the professional dancers of the Minnesota Ballet bringing the magical tale of “The Nutcracker” to life.
Because this performance is part of the BUCK A KID program, children’s tickets are just $1. Adult tickets start at $23 and are available online at gbpac.com, by phone (1-877549-7469) and at the Gallagher Bluedorn box office.
Special Olympics Iowa to Host State Bowling Competitions Across the State Nov. 22-23.
Athletes and Unified partners from across the state will assemble at four locations on Nov. 22-23 to compete in the Special Olympics Iowa State Bowling competitions. State Bowling will feature over 1,400 athletes competing in several bowling events.
Bowling is Special Olympics Iowa’s most popular sport, with 3,267 athletes and Unified partners having competed at area bowling events around Iowa during the month of October.
Competition will take place at Maplewood Lanes in Omaha on Friday, Nov. 22 beginning at 9:30 a.m. and conclude mid-afternoon. Saturday will see competition at Cedar Rapids Bowling Center in Cedar Rapids, Bowlerama Lanes in Des Moines and Cadillac XBC in Waterloo, all beginning at 9:30 a.m. until approximately 4:00 p.m.
Cities of the Plains: An Anthology of Iowa Artists and Poets. Editor Paul Brooke and Contributors at FTRS on Nov. 21.
Paul Brooke, a Professor of English at Grand View University, will be joined by local contributors to the collection. In an interview at finalthursdaypress.com, Brooke notes “There had not been a poetry anthology like this done since 1996 and it was high time to showcase these artists and poets. It gives all of them a publication, a place to read/ present their work, and a way to connect.”
The evening begins with a creative writing open mic at 7:00 p.m. Feel free to share your best five minutes of original work. Brooke and guests will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. The featured reading will be held at the Hearst Center for the Arts. Go to finalthursdaypress.com to register for the free Zoom link.
The Final Thursday Reading Series returns in 2025 for its 24th season.
BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Executive Editor
EXAM continued from page 1
This specific ranking doesn’t encapsulate all four sections of the CPA exam that prospective accountants must take, but UNI has submitted all four sections to the NASBA. Out of the top ten institutions ranked in this category, UNI claims the most candidates and the most sections taken by candidates, with 51 candidates completing the CPA and 175 sections total. UNI’s CPA total student pass rate for the 2023 CPA exam is 78.3%, with exam average passing rate being 79.3%.
Professor Joseph Ugrin, UNI’s department head of accounting, attributes this success to the rigorous standards of the program, student’s commitment to their studies and the accounting faculty that dedicate their time to their student’s success. “This program is unique, students are studying together for a semester, and they are just grinding away in class … there’s a sort of expectation that students will pass, a continued expectation,” said Ugrin.
The accounting program at UNI is set up in a way to allow senior students to spend a majority of their last semester at UNI studying for the CPA exam. “Most students in their last semester will spend two hours a day in a class studying for the CPA exam, they might take another class they need to graduate, but most students are focusing all of their time on studying,” said Ugrin. The semester-long CPA preparation program is faculty-led, with students focusing on one section of the CPA exam at a time. Students will study for one section of the exam at a time, and then test over that section after four to six weeks of preparation. By the time accounting students graduate, they will have taken every section of the CPA exam. “I think that’s a huge advantage,” said Ugrin. “Most students graduate, then study for the
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between business analysis and reporting, information systems and controls, and tax compliance and planning. Ugrin attributes a large portion of student success to faculty member and program coordinator David Deeds, who, according to Ugrin, is a “CPA guru.”
exam, and they have up to 30 months to take it. Our students are graduating with jobs secured, and have completed the (CPA) exam.”
Even as the CPA exam is changing, the UNI accounting program is working to adapt. In the past, the CPA exam has strictly been four sections. Now, the exam will have three core sections, financial accounting, public auditing and regulation. The fourth section will allow students the option to take one of three exams,
Deeds teaches the financial accounting and business analytics and reporting sections. “To put into perspective how well he does teaching that class, last spring the national pass rate for that section (business analytics and reporting) was approximately 40% and ours was over 80%,” Ugrin said. According to Ugrin, Deeds also assists students through the process of sending their transcripts to the state board and scheduling exams. Helping students handle the administrative portions of their exams eases some of the larger stressors on students.
“It’s kind of a strain, but it’s something the college has taken pride in, and the department for sure, and is probably the primary reason students come to UNI for an accounting degree,”
gle UNI student, since I’ve worked here, that has transferred to one of the larger competing schools for their graduate program,” said Ugrin.
Not only does the program attract students from larger competing programs, but it also attracts top accounting firms to recruit students, with the big four accounting firms regularly recruiting UNI students, hosting engagement activities to entice students to work for them in the future.
said Ugrin. The strain and uniqueness of the program is something Ugrin accredits for garnering transfer students from larger competing universities. The UNI accounting program regularly receives students into the graduate program from larger universities in the Midwest region, while most of the time, these transfers might be inverted, with students from UNI going to larger universities for their graduate program. “I’m actually not aware of a sin -
“A school our size might normally have maybe one, but we have multiple firms actively recruiting because they know our students are going to pass a professional exam, so they compete for that pretty hard. Passing the exam is not something to take lightly,” Urgin said. Through rigorous CPA preparation and high standards, UNI has maintained its spot as one of the top ranked institutions for CPA passing rate. Ugrin anticipates that as the section compilation data becomes available, UNI will move up in rankings amongst other institutions.
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The Northern Iowan is published weekly on Wednesday 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.
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COURTESY/UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
Professor Joseph Ugrin says that this success comes from the program standards student’s commitment, and the dedication of faculty in the program.
COURTESY/UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
Professor David Deeds’s students performed twice as well as the national average in the CPA Exam last semester.
Rising Student Enrollment, Dwindling Housing Options
ALLI WEBSTER Guest Writer
For the second consecutive year, the University of Northern Iowa has seen a rise in enrollment numbers. While this increase is a victory for UNI, it also is faced with a relatively significant problem regarding student housing options.
First year students are typically directed to dormitory residence halls. Out of the seven freshman dorm options, only six of the buildings are in use. The Quads, the most populous dorm buildings, consist of Hagemann Hall, Noehren Hall, Rider Hall and Shull Hall. The Towers consist of Bender and Dancer Hall, both on the less popular side, likely due to their isolation from the rest of campus. Lastly is Campbell Hall, a vacant dorm building. Rumors circulate its eventual demolition.
For post-first-year students, the options are widened to UNI’s student apartments or suite style living. Panther Village, the newest and most populous apartment style living has two buildings: Panther Village 1 and Panther Village 3. Jennings Court and Residence on the Hill (ROTH) are both apartment style living buildings, as well. Lawther Hall is suite style living, while also accommodating single living spaces.
Arguably, a flaw that UNI faces is its dorm buildings. Noehren Hall is the only firstyear student dorm building that has seen reputable remodels in years. Besides Noehren, the other dorm buildings have seen little to no remodels. All dorm buildings are without air conditioning making the first month of college quite toasty for residents.
“No sink is horrible. Dresser drawers aren’t on wheels, which makes it hard to open and shut. No AC is horrible in the first month of school. Everyone is hot, irritable, and stressed,” said Lexus Naber, a first-year student living in Rider Hall.
Because of the ‘old building appeal’ and lack of air conditioning, both current and prospective students are
COURTESY/Northern Iowa Photoshelter
Campbell Hall, one of just seven dormitories on campus, has sat vacant since 2020. The hall was used as isolation space during the COVID-19 pandemic, but now sits empty with its future unclear.
turned away from the dorms. Additionally, Jennings and ROTH are two very dated buildings. In years past, the two apartment complexes were designated as housing for married couples attending UNI.
“A portion of the Jennings apartments have been updated, with the remainder being renovated over the next two summers. University Housing and Dining is continually looking at ways to heighten the on-campus experience. This includes both programming and amenities. Updating buildings takes money, and time. We do what we can in the most fiscally responsible manner in order to keep housing and dining costs for students down,” said Annie Karr, the associate director of marketing for University Housing and Dining (UHD).
Arguably, one of the main things that keeps students on campus beyond their freshman year, is the Live 2 Succeed Contract. In accordance with UNI’s Housing and Dining Website, Live 2 Succeed is a contract that first-year or transfer students can sign upon their admission to UNI. The contract is an agreement to live on campus for two consecutive years, in any of UNI’s residential buildings. Students who sign the contract are awarded with a $1,000 schol-
arship and priority room selection during contract renewal times.
“Students who live on campus for at least two years are more likely to graduate in four years than those who live on campus for only one year; and they tend to earn better grades. We encourage students to stay on the path of success and automatically benefit from the Live 2 Succeed program, both financially and in the classroom,” as stated by the universities Housing and Dining website.
However, students have mixed feelings about the Live 2 Succeed contract. While the scholarship and prioritized spot contract renewal is attractive, the trouble that is required to go through with finding adequate housing is not worth the struggle.
“I signed Live 2 Succeed because I knew there are a lot of positives that come from living on campus and I wanted to do that in the most money conscious way. I did struggle getting into a room though, when signing Live 2 Succeed we were promised priority enrollment, I guess Housing and Dining wasn’t prepared for how many people actually signed Live 2 Succeed. The time I was supposed to select my room, the website crashed,” said Sarah Tulley, a sophomore living in Lawther
Hall.
In February, when contract renewal day hit for students who had signed Live 2 Succeed, the housing website crashed. UHD later released a statement that the website had reached a high volume of users that they weren’t ready for.
“I had gotten kicked out and told there were no rooms left in Lawther. After many conversations with Housing and Dining I was lucky enough to take a student’s room that was going to be leaving campus,” said Tulley.
Tulley explained that she and her previous roommate had planned to live together in Lawther. However, because the website crashed, they were
forced to separate. Her previous roommate was grouped with a random roommate, rendering Tulley without a room or roommate. Tulley had to dispute with UHD just to be able to secure a room. Had she not have found a place to live on campus, she would have been forced to repay her scholarship despite the unprecedented trouble she encountered.
Will this type of predicament be the norm for students seeking to live on campus, especially considering the rise in enrollment numbers and contract signees?
“UHD has seen an increase in housing contracts over the last few years. UHD is excited for enrollment to increase and have more students living on campus. We saw a slight increase from last year to this year, and we anticipate a similar increase from this year to next year, as current numbers are already trending that way. We are pleased with the popularity of this program. We continually evaluate our programs to make sure they are functioning as expected and discuss ways to enhance or adjust as needs evolve,” said Karr.
Due to the problems that seem to arise during the on-campus housing selection process, students are starting to consider off-campus housing, regardless of their class standing. While rising enrollment numbers are an accomplishment for UNI, it may be worth considering the conditions of housing options in order to secure further consecutive enrollment, especially in contractual agreements.
COURTESY/Northern Iowa Photoshelter Bender Hall, pictured above, is one of the six residence halls available for freshman students to live in.
La Junta de Regentes proporciona actualizaciones sobre los servicios de DEI
Se
puestos dentro de la
BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Editora ejecutiva ADRIANA REYES Traductora invitada
El 9 de mayo, la gobernadora Kim Reynolds promulgó una ley que prohíbe a las universidades dependientes de los Regentes “establecer, mantener o financiar una oficina de diversidad, equidad e inclusión o contratar a una persona para desempeñar las funciones de una oficina de diversidad, equidad e inclusión, excepto cuando se haya dispuesto lo contrario por la ley o por normas de acreditación”, como está escrito en el Capítulo 261J. Desde entonces, las universidades públicas, incluida la Universidad del Norte de Iowa, han seguido trabajando para reorganizar los programas universitarios para cumplir con el Capítulo 261J. UNI eliminó el puesto de Director de Diversidad junto con la Oficina de Diversidad, Inclusión y Justicia Social. El Centro de Servicios de Género y Sexualidad de UNI fue eliminado en virtud del
Capítulo 261J, y la oficina de Servicios para Estudiantes Militares y Veteranos, que dependía de la Oficina de Diversidad, Inclusión y Justicia Social, se mantuvo y reorganizó dentro de la División de Vida Estudiantil.
La Oficina de Cumplimiento y Gestión de Equidad (OCEM por sus siglas en inglés) pasó a llamarse Oficina de Cumplimiento de Derechos Civiles (OCRC, en inglés).
Según el informe de la Junta de Regentes, “la OCRC es responsable de responder a informes de discriminación, acoso y conducta sexual inapropiada, brindar capacitación preventiva y correctiva, y administrar el plan de acción afirmativa de la universidad. Estas funciones son necesarias para el cumplimiento de las leyes estatales y federales de derechos civiles”.
Se determinó que el Centro para la Educación Multicultural (CME, en inglés) no cumplía con la definición de oficina de DEI según la ley estatal.
También se encontró que los Servicios de Accesibilidad Estudiantil, el Centro UNI de Educación Urbana y los Servicios de Bienestar Estudiantil están exentos del Capítulo 261J y se mantienen dentro de la estructura universitaria.
Se eliminaron los puestos de Coordinador de Servicios Estudiantiles LGBTQ+, Coordinador de Educación Multicultural y Coordinador de Retención y Mentoría bajo la Oficina de Diversidad, Inclusión y Justicia Social. UNI también ajustó muchos puestos de asesores académicos para cumplir con el Capítulo 261J. Los dos puestos de Asesor Académico/ Diversidad e Inclusión bajo el Colegio Wilson de Negocios se han ajustado y renombrado como Asesor Académico.
También se han ajustado tres puestos dentro de la Oficina de Asuntos Académicos para cumplir con el Capítulo 261J. Los puestos de Subdirector de Reclutamiento de Diversidad, Consejero de Admisiones Multicultural/
para Estudiantes
Transferidos y Consejero de Admisiones Multicultural han pasado a llamarse
Subdirector de Extensión y Acceso, Consejero de Admisiones para Estudiantes Transferidos, y Consejero de Admisiones.
En la reunión de la Junta de Regentes de este mes, cada una de las universidades públicas proporcionó actualizaciones sobre su trabajo para cumplir con el Capítulo 261J y fueron revisadas por la Junta de Regentes para garantizar su cumplimiento. La Junta de Regentes incluyó leyes estatales de expresión y derechos civiles en su evaluación para garantizar el cumplimiento de esas leyes también. La Junta de Regentes señala que la reestructuración y eliminación de las prácticas de DEI para cumplir con las directivas de la Junta de Regentes y el Capítulo 261J está “en curso”.
Actualmente, después de los cambios que UNI ha realizado en la División de Vida Estudiantil y la Oficina del
Presidente, UNI cumple con las directivas de la Junta de Regentes y el Capítulo 261J. El presidente de la universidad, Mark Nook, dijo al Northern Iowan en septiembre: “Tenemos la obligación moral de poder apoyar (a los estudiantes) y ayudarlos a obtener la educación que necesitan.
Nunca nos alejaremos de eso. Ha sido necesario una especie de ajuste, y eso es de esperar. Hemos tenido que cambiar algunas cosas para estar en línea con lo que la Junta de Regentes y la legislatura nos exigen, pero nos estamos asegurando de que, al final del día, sigamos atendiendo las necesidades de nuestros estudiantes y facultad. Eso es algo que nunca podría cambiar”.
MACI SWANSON/NORTHERN IOWAN
han ajustado tres
Oficina de Asuntos Académicos para cumplir con el Capítulo 261J.
MACI SWANSON/NORTHERN IOWAN
Con la promulgación del Capítulo 261J, UNI reestructura sus programas de diversidad, equidad e inclusión.
MACI SWANSON/NORTHERN IOWAN
La Junta de Regentes (BOR) se reunió el 6 de noviembre en los Salones Maucker Union.
Disclaimer: The following opinion articles featured do not reflect the opinion of the Northern Iowan newspaper or staff as a whole.
Women react to Trump victory
STEVE CORBIN Guest Columnist
The results from the Nov. 5 presidential election revealed Donald Trump received about 3.5 million more votes than Kamala Harris and he captured over 300 electoral college votes to become America’s 47 th president. As compared to Donald Trump’s 2016 and 2020 bid for president, the votes secured revealed an improvement in virtually all demographic categories, including that of women.
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, I reached out to women across America — from both political parties — and asked for their reaction, in two sentences or less, to the election results. Thirty-six women, from 24 states, replied to my inquiry. The response was so large that this column boomeranged from an intended singular op-ed to a three-part series. Why? Most newspapers do not want op-eds to exceed 800 net words. Each op-ed of this three-part series will be approximately 725 net words.
Speaking of words, according to F. Willis Johnson, United Methodist pastor and freelance writer for The Fulcrum, words paint vivid
pictures for reason, discourse, sometimes to unite or divide, and sometimes to inspire or inflame.
Johnson feels the words used by Harris in her campaign painted a picture of the nation reaching for its highest ideals and to “push forward even when the path ahead proved challenging.” He reasoned Trump’s discourse conjured “a world of grievance, division and nostalgia for a bygone era. Harris’ words were inclusive, Trump’s are exclusive.” You may disagree with Johnson’s assessment, but words have different meanings to different people. As you read the words expressed by 36 women fea-
tured in this three-part series, try your level best to comprehend the feelings women are conveying, as many historians have repeatedly said women have been the soul of America since our founding moment; for the long-term betterment of our nation we must listen to their words and personal story.
“I wonder if this is what it felt like in Germany in 1932. I wonder if anyone saw what was coming and why so many people in the United States do not.” – Anne
“Apparently there are women who still want to set the table rather than be at the table. Disappointing.” –Helen
“As a professional woman, I worked for years to overcome the glass ceiling and harassment just to have a president elected who has set me back 48 years based on his actions towards women. I also have a transgender niece and a gay niece who are being told that they don’t have the same rights as I do based on the Republican platform.” – Jen
“Oh, I could write a symphony on Trump’s blatant misogyny.” – Amy
“I am sickened by the voters who find it acceptable for women to die of sepsis or hemorrhage in a hospital parking lot, because the allure of saving a few bucks on their grocery bill is their more compelling priority. I find the lack of intelligence and critical thinking skills among American voters to be astounding.” – Jennifer
“I was absolutely shocked that an intelligent, competent, joy filled woman with extensive accomplishments lost to a man who is a liar, assaults women and is a felon on 34 counts. My next thought was fear for the future of my children, grand and great grandchildren.” – Irene
“The hardest thing for me to accept about the results of the election is that — hateful,
hurtful false rhetoric, racism, misogyny, homophobia, need I go on — is what my fellow Americans want. We know exactly what Trump is, and we endorsed it.” – Nita
“What do I have to say — I say my soul is crushed. I believe we have set in motion a vicious new world order of dangerous destruction, hate and greed.” – Maggie
“Why in the hell do men get to control our (female) reproductive rights? It’s not a political issue because it’s a women’s right to have control of her own body.” – Jane
“Helpless ... hopeless ... hidden ... in this antiquated America of malignant masculinity.” – Devon
“I’ve always taught my children and students that ‘character matters.’ Heartbroken for the America I’d hoped to leave future generations.” –Jane
What are your thoughts about this sample of 11 women’s feelings about the election outcome?
Next up: Part two of this three-part op-ed series will reveal what 12 additional women from across America are thinking about the election outcome. The sentiment of 13 women will be published in the third op-ed.
I hate Carrie Bradshaw
BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Executive Editor
Disclaimer: The following opinion article contains spoilers for “Sex and the City” past season one.
As “Sex and the City” makes a resurgence in the pop culture zeitgeist, so does the conversation around the characters people love to hate and hate to love, Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte. The four characters, who reside in New York City, provide something of a guidebook for young women who tune into the beloved HBO show. Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte’s lives are narrated by Carrie, the main “Sex and the City” protagonist. Carrie weaves her friend’s stories into her own narrative, which happens to be the column that she writes for a New York paper and, eventually, Vogue. There are small anecdotes of life advice in every episode — breathe, take your time, go for it, all encouraging and soothing mantras. The show itself isn’t just good, it’s great. It’s critically acclaimed and has earned
itself two spinoff movies after the original show’s ending, and a reboot show “And Just Like That,” now streaming on HBO Max, with a third season on the way. There’s just one small problem — I hate Carrie Bradshaw. Well, I dislike her more than anything. She’s not just a character on “Sex and the City,” Carrie is “Sex and the City.” In the fifth season, Carrie comes out with a book, which compiles all of her columns from
over the seasons, titled “Sex and the City.” You couldn’t have “Sex and the City” without Carrie Bradshaw. But still, I find myself suffering immense amounts of second-hand embarrassment from Carrie over the course of six seasons.
From the pilot episode, where Carrie becomes inexplicably enamored with Mr. Big, I realized that the arc with Big wouldn’t just be for a season — this was for the
long haul. Throughout the seasons, we see Carrie continue to center her life around Big. From overlooking plans with Miranda for one-off dates with Big, cheating on Aidan for Big, becoming Big’s mistress and a homewrecker in the process, Carrie centering her life around Big had really only led her to emotional damage, yet she still chooses him time after time. It’s annoying. One could make a similar argument for Miranda and Steve, but I disagree. Miranda and Steve have a child together, and at least Steve cares about Miranda. Over the course of the main “Sex and the City” plot, Big doesn’t give an indication that he cares about Carrie.
One quote from “Sex and the City” that drives me particularly mad is one that went viral on TikTok a few months ago, “And suddenly there he was, wearing Armani on a Sunday. Mr. Big,” from season one, episode 13. Many have misinterpreted this quote as Big “taking Carrie’s breath away,” or “a look of love,” perhaps. It’s none of the above. In
this scene, Carrie is watching Mr. Big leave church with his mother on Sunday, something he had never once mentioned to her. It’s an unmistakable sign of wonder — Carrie truly didn’t know Big, and it seemed as though he didn’t want Carrie to truly know him.
It isn’t just her problems with Big that make me dislike her — it’s also the way she treats the people who are supposed to be her friends. Although she claims these women are her best friends, she sometimes treats them as though they’re disposable, things that can be tossed at the first idle impulse. Whether it’s in favor of a man or through judgment, Carrie doesn’t treat her friends with the respect they deserve.
Overall, I think that Carrie is a deeply flawed character. The way she centers the men in her life rather than the strong female companionship she already has is disappointing to watch. I love “Sex and the City,” but Carrie’s narration and misinterpretation of certain situations loses me at some points.
COURTESY/HBO
The narrator and main character of “Sex and the City,” Carrie, chooses to center men in her life over her close female friendships.
COURTESY/PEXELS
Guest columnist Steve Corbin reached out to women from across America for their opinion on Trump’s victory – and how they feel now.
CAMPUS LIFE
Panther’s guide to studying abroad in Greece
ALLY KNIGHT Staff Writer
Studying abroad is one of the most spontaneous experiences a college student can have when it comes to their education. When considering where you should go, think about how this faculty-led trip to Greece could be the right choice for you. When studying abroad with UNI, they help prepare you for everything before you leave, so you can enjoy the moment rather than worry when you arrive. Professor Greg Bruess and Professor Isabela Varela, his wife, are the faculty leading the program this summer. Varela was born and raised in Greece and Bruess is also fluent in Greek. They have both taught program for over two decades now, so it gives students a warm feeling knowing that your professors know the landscape and culture well.
Once a prospective student decides they want to study abroad in Greece, their first step is to contact Bruess. They have a meeting with him to help decide if this trip is a good fit for them. Once a student applies and is accepted, they will have a weekly pre-departure course with all of the other students who will be going to Greece. In these meetings, students learn about the culture, the Greek alphabet and learn a few words such as please, thank you and good
morning. Paige Hibbs, who is a senior here at UNI, went on the faculty-led study abroad trip to Greece with Bruess and Varela. Hibbs shares one cultural difference, stating “When I used my debit card and I had to punch in my number the person behind the cash register would either fully turn away or they would cover it for me.” That way the person paying feels more protected and respected, isn’t common to see in the United States.
The faculty led trip to Greece is three weeks long. In those three weeks, students visit seven different towns, which include Athens, Nafplion, Olympia, Delphi, Kalambaka, Crete and Santorini. Professor Bruess says his favorite place to visit is Delphi because it is “physically beautiful, as well as very significant in Greek history and culture.”
During this three-week trip there isa walking lecture every day, where stu -
with Greg and Isabela as our parents, and then we got to run free we felt like we were just kids going everywhere and then we got to go back home every night.”
dents walk around a town in Greece and learn about that town and the culture. Buress and Varela want their students to go explore and learn things on their own. Mikayla Capman, who also went on the Greece trip, said on one occasion, her and other students took a bus three hours away to a completely different city, and when they were going to come back, the bus didn’t come. Capman had to text Varela saying they were going to be late for dinner, and the professors were not upset, but were eager to hear about their trip when they got back.
Former students shared that in Greece, locals love when students speak Greek. They see tourists often, so they appreciate the ones who take time to learn little bits of Greek language. Hibbs even said there had been times when they had gotten free things such as drinks or food because they loved getting to hear them talk in Greek.
One major tip that Hibbs gave was to not bring a big suitcase. This is because students are able to wash and reuse clothes, and students are not going to want to be pulling such a big suitcase from town to town on stone roads. Hibbs suggests prospective students bring a smaller suitcase and a duffel bag, because they are very spacious and can hold pretty much anything students buy in Greece.
Capman describes how the relationship between the students and the professors was almost parental. “One of my favorite parts of the trip was how we all felt like a family,
This study abroad course counts for six credit hours. The credits are split into two sections, both taught by a different professor. The first one is HIST 3279: Conflict and Justice, worth three credit hours. The second is HIST 3186: History of Greek Material Culture, worth two credit hours. Students receive one credit for attending the pre-departure class in the spring semester. Students also have a total of two tests during their trip, and one presentation. For this presentation, students are given a subject during the pre-departure course that they will learn about in Greece, and present on the subject. Students also receive a study guide to help them, and complete a daily journal to turn in to the professors as well.
Hibbs found it hard to pick her favorite place in Greece, but eventually settled on Nafplio, because it was much smaller and slower. She described herself as not much of a city girl, so when they arrived at Athens she loved it, but loved Nafplio much more because, “We could walk around without being bombarded with people and it made me feel like I was a part of the culture and the community, it was really immersive in that way.”
Greecian law states that to give a tour of a museum or archeological site, you must be licensed, meaning unlicensed tour hosts could be arrested. Varela went to school and became a licensed tour guide so students could receive the best education.
When talking with Bruess, Hibbs and Capman, they all agreed that Olympia is one of the most unique places they went, because they got to see and learn about the original Olympic racetrack. They even got to have their own race on the track to see who won.
Studying abroad in Greece with Bruess and Varela is an opportunity students don’t want to miss. Students get to travel around Greece with people who can become their closest friends and what feels like a family, learn about Greek culture and create the memories of a lifetime.
UNI STUDY ABROAD/FACEBOOK
Professor Greg Bruess has travelled to Greece many times throughout his career. There’s always plenty to do in the cities that students visit, and Bruess keeps his students engaged through participating in culture that’s embedded within Greece.
UNI STUDY ABROAD/FACEBOOK
Student Akira Lopez was one of 14 students who studyed abroad in Greece. While much of the landscape was completely different than anything in North America, there were familiar midwestern characteristics such as construction equipment.
A tribute to Indigenous history
UNI Stewardship Statement acknowledges land ownership
NI STAFF and Indigenous Peoples are woven into the fabric of our mission as we endeavor to create an institution that is welcoming to and inclusive of all.
The University of Northern Iowa honors the ancestral stewards of the land on which our university rests. Among these stewards are the Báxoǰe or Bah Kho—Je (Iowa), oaakiiwaki·hina·ki (Sauk) and Meškwahki·aša·hina (Fox), Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Sioux), Umóⁿhoⁿ (Omaha), and Hocąk (Ho-Chunk), as well as those tribal nations who are contemporary caretakers of land in Iowa, including the Meskwaki: Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa.
We acknowledge the sovereignty of your tribal nations and the violent and painful histories of removal and dispossession as the original caretakers of the land.
As an institution of higher learning now stewarding the land of ancestral caretakers, we hold responsibility to ensure the histories and cultures of Native
As guardians and creators of knowledge, the University of Northern Iowa
also recognizes the importance of integrating Native and Indigenous culture in our community outreach and engagement efforts. We seek to live our responsibility of mission stewardship through collaboration based on mutual trust, care and learning.
COURTESY/HISTORIC INDIAN LOCATION DATABASE Indigenous tribes settled along the of Iowa, including the Cedar RIver, which runs through Waverly, Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids. This area is now known as the “Cedar Valley.”
COURTESY/JEFF LEICHSENRING The loss of the Black Hawk War of 1832 forced Indigenous communities out of their homes. 6 million acres of land was now off-limits to any Indigenous inhabitors.
Afrobeats: A night of music
MACI SWANSON/NORTHERN IOWAN
On Monday, Nov. 19, Campus Activities Board and the African Student Union hosted “AfroBeats Night.” The goal of this event was to give students an opportunity to celebrate their culture, and show this culture to other students.
MACI SWANSON/NORTHERN IOWAN Afrobeats is contemporary, West African pop music. An easy way to recognize Afrobeats is by the riveting drum rhythms that are performed.
MACI SWANSON/NORTHERN IOWAN Dancing, singing and smiling were all on the cards for Afrobeats night. Though the event was at 8 p.m., students still came out for a good time.
MACI SWANSON/NORTHERN IOWAN
Food was provided by CAB and the ASU. There was traditional African cuisine, which was a taste from home for some, but a new experience for others. UNI offers many events that introduce students to new cultures.
MACI SWANSON/NORTHERN IOWAN
Music is an easy way for people to connect. It provides a chance for students and musicians to collaborate and enjoy simplicity for a night.
Wichita State shocks the Panthers
BRODY LOVELL Sports Writer
The UNI men’s basketball team lost in a close contest against the Wichita State Shockers this past Thursday in Wichita, Kansas, by a score of 73-79. Though it was close all game, the Shockers pulled away late in the second half, despite a late durge from the Panthers. However, they would fail to complete the comeback as the Shockers took the win against their former rivals.
Despite the loss, it was a great outing for senior forward Jacob Hutson, who also put up 22 points for the Panthers while tagging on four rebounds. Hutson shot 50% from the 3-point line and 50% from the field, characterizing himself as a stretch player for the Panthers who can contribute underneath the rim and on the perimeter.
Other notable performances for the Panthers came from Tytan Anderson and Ben Schwieger, who would both score 12 points. Anderson, a redshirt senior, was on the boards all night as he rallied up 11 rebounds, making his outing a dou -
ble-double in the loss. Also on the board for the Panthers was transfer Leon Bond III, who racked up six rebounds for the Cats.
Though shooting percentages for both teams were near the same, the difference-maker in the contest was free throw shooting, as
the Shockers made almost 80% of theirs to the Panthers’ 64%. Furthermore, the Shockers outrebounded the Cats by a margin of 42-31,
despite the performance by Anderson. This became a big factor late in the game as the Panthers were forced to foul and send the Shockers to the free throw line, where, as previously mentioned, they were consistent all night.
For the Panthers, there were still some silver linings to take away from the match. Their field goal percentage increased after a rough outing against UC Irvine from 40% to 48%. As well as that, their “carousel” style of point scoring was still a defining characteristic of the team despite Hutson putting up over 20, as five players scored over eight points. However, free throw shooting seems to still be an issue for the team, as in the last two games they have averaged around only 59% from the line, a problem that will continue to be a factor in tight contests.
For the Panthers, they will be back home in Mcleod on Nov. 19 against the Western Illinois Leathernecks, looking to turn around from their two-game losing streak and have their home crowd behind them.
COURTESY UNI ATHLETICS
The Panthers now stand at 2-2 on the young season. Jacob Hutson leads the team with 13.5 points per game.
UNI XC wraps up record-breaking season
CARTER LUST Sports Writer
Following an unforgettable day at the MVC Championships, the University of Northern Iowa men’s and women’s cross-country teams traveled to a familiar site for the NCAA Midwest Regional meet. On Friday, Nov. 15, UNI made the short trip to Peoria, Illinois, to race in their final competition. After a strong outing on the Newman Golf Course earlier this season at the Bradley Pink Classic, the Panthers relied on experience to end their historic season on a high note.
The women started the event at 11:00 a.m., again racing at the 6k distance. In a field of 33 teams consisting of mid-major and Power 5 programs, Northern Iowa placed 15th overall, a 14-place improvement from last year. UNI also beat in-state rivals Drake University and the University of Iowa. The Panthers avenged their loss to Drake in the MVC Championships, narrowly outpacing the Bulldogs by four points. The Northern Iowa women also bested a previous loss to Iowa in the Gans Creek Classic, defeating the Hawkeyes by 43 points.
UNI used solid pack running throughout the race to help achieve honest placements among a loaded field of 230 runners. Millie Hill was the first Panther to cross the finish line, placing 65th overall in 21:05.62. The senior trio of Melody Ochana, Emma Hoins, and Kate Crawford closely trailed Hill as the three
completed their final race wearing purple and gold within 20 seconds of each other. Ochana ran 21:11.52 to finish 68th, while Hoins placed 76th in 21:13.96. Kate Crawford ended her cross-country career with a personal best, running 21:32.20 to finish 99th overall. Eden Mueller was the final Panther scorer, placing 129th in 21:55.71. Leah Klapatauskas and Brooke O’Brien concluded a successful day for the UNI women with 151st and 203rd place finishes, running 22:18.60 and 23:10.33, respectively.
Oklahoma State captured the women’s team title, narrowly escaping the Minnesota
Golden Gophers by 15 points (61-76). Both schools automatically punched their ticket to the National Championship meet with their first and second-place finishes. Leah Jeruto of the University of Oklahoma secured the individual victory in 19:42.87, edging out Ali Weimer of Minnesota by about six seconds.
The Northern Iowa men took the course at noon, looking to end a remarkable season with one final performance. The Panthers finished 24th overall among 28 other teams, including conference opponents and large universities. With the transition to racing the 10k distance at region-
als, preparing for an extra two kilometers of competition can be challenging. UNI boasted a two-spot improvement from the 2023 regional meet, highlighted by a top-50 individual finish and encouragement for the future.
Caleb Shumaker ended his record-setting career at Northern Iowa with a 50th overall finish out of 199 runners, his highest ever in a regional meet. Shumaker covered the course in 30:38.00, just three seconds away from his 10k personal record on the track. Leading the charge behind Shumaker was the quartet of Carson Owens, Chase Lauman, Brady
Griebel, and Levi Hill. The four teammates set 10k personal bests, with it being Lauman and Hill’s first times racing the distance. Owens placed 138th in 32:03.33, followed by Lauman, who clocked in at 32:21.47 to finish 154th. Brady Griebel ended his cross-country career by placing 157th in 32:23.56. Hill rounded out UNI’s scorers by running 32:31.38 and finishing 159th overall. Drew Dombrosky and Micah Rees ran near each other throughout the race to place 193rd and 194th. Dombrosky earned a time of 34:16.63, while Rees ran 34:16.63 — both personal bests for the young runners. With just two seniors in Shumaker and Griebel finishing their time at UNI, the Panthers are looking to build on a promising group of freshmen and sophomores for seasons to come.
Like the women, Oklahoma State took the men’s team crown, beating Iowa State University 25-43. However, both schools will race each other again at the National Championship meet on Nov. 23. Denis Kipnegitch also claimed the individual win for the Cowboys in 28:51.46. Fellow teammate Laban Kipkemboi took second in 29:06.33.
As the chapter closes on the 2024 season of UNI cross-country, this group of Panthers leave their marks and off the course. A bright future is on the horizon for both the men’s and women’s teams, and fans should be excited for what’s to come.
Panther WBB loses close game to Cards
The Northern Iowa Women’s basketball team fell to the Ball State Cardinals on Saturday by a score of 76-70.
The Cardinals got off to a hot start, scoring back-toback layups to take a 4-0 lead early.
Just under two minutes into the first quarter, the Panthers got on the board with a layup from Ryley Goebel. After a basket by the Cardinals to make it 6-2, neither team scored a basket for over three minutes. The drought ended with a jump shot from Emerson Green. With a minute left in the first quarter, the Cardinals extended their lead to 9-4 with a 3-pointer.
The Panthers finished the quarter strong with a 3-pointer by Kayba Laube and a layup from Shateah Wetering, which tied the game at nine.
After both teams traded baskets to start the quarter, the Cardinals scored six consecutive points to take a 17-11 lead early in the second quarter. The Panthers responded with a layup from Goebel, but the Cardinals connected on two free throws and a 3-pointer to extend their lead to 24-14.
The Panthers showed some urgency on offense with backto-back 3-pointers from Maya McDermott to cut the lead to 24-20 halfway through the first half.
At the three-minute mark of the half, the Cardinals couldn’t miss from the 3-point line, connecting on two shots to extend their lead to 30-22.
McDermott hit a 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining, cutting the lead to 34-25 going into the break.
The Cardinals started the third quarter strong with a 3-pointer to make it 37-25.
After a layup was made by
COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS
The Panthers host the No. 8 ranked Iowa State Cyclones on Nov. 20.
McDermott, they added two more layups to extend their lead to 41-27.
Trailing 50-39 over halfway through the third quarter, the Panthers went on a 6-0 run. Goebel and Katy Reyerson connected on layups followed by two made free-throws by McDermott
to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 50-45.
The Cardinals fought back, scoring five straight points to take a 55-45 lead in the fourth quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Laube connected on a three-pointer to cut the lead to 55-48. After a made free-
throw from Eliana Sheplee, the Cardinals scored four straight points to extend their lead to 59-49.
Facing a 61-51 deficit, McDermott connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to make it a four-point game at 61-57.
Trailing 68-60, McDermott hit two free throws to make it a six-point game. After a made free-throw by Reyerson, McDermott hit a jump shot to make it a 3-point game at 68-65. After two made free-throws by the Cardinals, Laube made a 3-pointer to cut it to two at 70-68 with 21 seconds to go.
The Panthers continued to foul late, but the Cardinals made their free throws. They went on to win 76-70.
The Panthers fell to 2-1 on the season. Tonight they welcome the No. 8 ranked Iowa State Cyclones to the McLeod Center. Tipoff is at 6:00 p.m.
COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS
The Panthers capped off a historic season by racing at the Midwest Regional in Peoria, Illinois.
MICHAEL SPAHN Sports Writer
UNI Football suffers 9th straight loss
ADAM JOHNSON Sports Writer
On Saturday, Nov. 16, the UNI football team played the last road game of the season in Youngstown, Ohio, against Youngstown State. The Panthers came into the game with a 2-8 overall record, while the Penguins had a record of 3-8. The Panthers came in with an eight-game losing streak, but it looked like they might pull off the victory. In the end, however, it was the Penguins who took the victory in a close overtime battle.
The Penguins got off to a hot start in the game, scoring on their first two possessions of the game. It was their quarterback, Beau Brungard, who took both of the touchdowns in with his feet. The first was a 17-yard run and the second was a short 1-yard run. After giving up two scores early, the Panthers had their work cut out for them.
The offense struggled to get anything going most of the first half, but a missed Penguin field goal sparked the Panther offense. With only four minutes left in the half, the Panthers put together a 73-yard touchdown drive that ended in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Aidan Dunne to Desmond Hutson. The Panthers scored with almost no time left on the clock, so the score at the break was 14-7 in favor of the Penguins.
To start the second half, the Panthers built on the momentum they made going into the break. Dunne had a big 39-yard completion to Hutson that brought them deep into Penguin territory, and the drive was finished off with a Dunne touchdown pass to Lane Pryor. The Panthers tied the game up at 14.
On their next drive the Panthers were forced to punt the ball, but the ball was fumbled by the Penguin return
man and recovered by UNI’s Dominic Sisneros. On the very next play, Tye Edwards was on the receiving end of Dunne’s third touchdown pass of the day. After being down 14-0 early, the Panthers were up 21-14 late in the third quarter. It had been all Panthers for a while, when the Penguins went on a long drive. Late in the third quarter and into the fourth, they put together a 13-play touchdown drive. It was capped off by a Brungard
touchdown pass to Cyrus Traugh. The game was back tied up at 21 with around eight minutes to go.
Things got crazy down the stretch. The Penguins took the lead back on a 51-yard field goal, and it was immediately followed up by a 97-yard kick return touchdown by the Panthers Sergio Morancy. The Panthers briefly led 28-24, but the Penguins quickly scored a touchdown to take back the lead with 1:14 left in the
game. The Panthers had to get a field goal to take the game into overtime, and wasted no time getting into range. They nearly got into the endzone, but eventually had to settle for the field goal to send it into overtime at 31-31.
Both teams got a chance with the ball in overtime, getting the ball at the opposing 25-yard line. Edwards did all of the work for the Panthers, scoring on a 7-yard run. The Panthers kicked the extra point and took a 38-31 lead.
The Penguins had to work a bit harder on their drive, but Tyshon King eventually ran in for the score from 9 yards out. Instead of kicking the extra point to send the game into a second overtime, the Penguins chose to go for two. Unfortunately for the Panthers, Brungard completed a pass to tight end Austin Bray for the two point conversion. The two point conversion ended the game in heartbreaking fashion for the Panthers, losing 39-38.
The loss for the Panthers drops them to 2-9 on the season, and they now have one game left to play. They will finish up the season next Saturday, Nov. 23, where they will play host to Indiana State. The Panthers will be looking to end the year with the first conference win of the season, and hopefully send Coach Farley into retirement with one last victory.
Panther volleyball claims share of MVC title
NICOLE WATERS Sports Writer
After weekend sweeps of Missouri State and Southern Illinois, UNI claimed a share of the MVC title. Action started off against the Missouri State Bears, who would start the match neck and neck with a 7-7 tie. Thanks to an ace from Reese Booth and Erin Powers, and eight kills from Kira Fallert, the Panthers would tie the match 20-20 before Fallert and Cassidy Hartman each had an ace to take the set 25-21.
In the second set, UNI started off strong with nine blocks in the set, which included their first six of nine points. Keeping the dominance going, Olivia Tjernagel had four kills to help Northern Iowa to an easy 25-14 set two win. Set three saw UNI grab an early lead but the Bears made their way back to tie it 8-8. Sydney Golden dished out an ace along with Booth and Grace Mikota, while Fallert had seven kills in the frame, boosting the Panthers to a 25-17 set win and a 3-0 set sweep. Northern Iowa then faced
the Southern Illinois Salukis where they started off the first frame of the set with a 10-0 lead with Tjernagel, Fallert, and Rewerts all notching three kills a piece. Rewerts ended the set with a pair of blocks to dominate in the first set with a 25-10 win. In the second set, Powers found herself with a pair of aces that helped the Panthers to a 14-3 scoring run as Fallert added three kills to help the Panthers to a 25-13 win.
The third set saw a closer battle between the two teams as it got to be 10-10 before UNI went on to score the last 15 of 21 points. Lily Dykstra, Tjernagel, Fallert and Rewerts all had four kills each in the set that helped the Panthers pull away for a 25-16 win.
The Panthers set their eyes on the Drake Bulldogs, facing off in the regular season finale. The in-state rivals are the top two teams in the Missouri Valley Conference, and with major conference tournament seeding on the line, this is one of the most important games of the season. First serve is 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS
The Panthers conclude the 2024 season on Saturday at home. It will be Coach Farley’s final game.
COURTESY/UNI ATHELTICS
The Panthers can polish off a perfect MVC schedule and clinch the No. 1 seed in the MVC tournament with a win over Drake.
