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CAMPUS LIFE

Campus Life editor Jenna Westendorf talks with the new Chief Administrator of applied engingeering

SEE PAGE 6

SPORTS

Sports Editor Cohen Kamaus relays the success of UNI Wrestling last week. SEE PAGE 11

UNI’s Black Student Union is filling the gaps

After the Iowa legislature passed a bill to eliminate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies and practices from Iowa’s regent universities, multicultural student organizations, like the Black Student Union, were left to pick up the pieces. As resources were eliminated and faculty organizations restructured to find alignment with the new legislation, the Black Student Union found strength in their community, and continues to fill the gaps that the legislation left.

Black Student Union president, Jasmine Allison, described the joy that the Black Student Union brought her when she first arrived at UNI three years ago. “It felt like home,” said Allison. “It was comforting to find that community here.” Black Student Union secretary, Keymora Douglas, echoed Allison’s sentiments. “BSU serves as a community. It’s not just meant for Black students on campus, but for people to come together as a whole,” said Douglas. Both Allison and Douglas said that they connected with the Black

Student Union through UNI’s Jump Start program, which allows incoming students to connect with peers and learn about different topics such as student involvement and budgeting before school begins for the fall semester. “When it comes to minority students on campus, I feel like that push to be successful comes from within our communities,” said Douglas. “And we find that community that we need within our multicultural organizations.”

Last May, the Iowa legislature passed a bill to effectively eliminate DEI policies across Iowa regent universities, including UNI. This bill forced UNI to restructure departments and eliminate roles and resources that multicultural organizations utilized on a daily basis. Both Allison and Douglas lament that these changes hit the Black Student Union hard. “After DEI employees were taken away, all that’s left is the space itself,” Douglas said. “It falls back on the students and takes away resources.”

The Center for Multicultural Education (CME) was once a lively space, constantly filled with students eating,

The Black Student Union has been working to create spaces for fellow students after legislation has rolled back DEI policies across the state.

chatting, studying and hanging out. Now, Allison says that it’s up to multicultural organizations to fill the CME with laughter again. “Freshmen who weren’t here last year don’t know what a full CME looks like. It’s kind of up to us to bring people into the CME and show them what it can look like,” Allison said.

“You could go in at noon on a Thursday and it’s lively and there’s food and there’s an event happening … and now

that space is there, but the resources aren’t, and it takes away everything that space meant to us.” Now that the CME isn’t staffed full-time, Allison described it as a “dead zone” when events aren’t going on.

Multicultural organizations, run by full-time students, have made an increased effort to fill the gaps left by full-time employees when

COURTESY/BLACK STUDENT UNION

UNI alum opens first location of Moo’s Bakery on the Hill

A familiar face to Cedar Falls has found a storefront of its own on College Hill. Moo’s Bakery, the gluten sensitive, plant based bakery opened by UNI alumna Maddie Palmersheim has found a residency between Sud’s Upstairs and Sharky’s Funhouse on the Hill.

After starting out by hosting their booth at the Cedar Falls Farmers Market in 2022, the growth into a storefront of its own felt natural to Palmersheim. The space that Moo’s Bakery is located out of now was formerly a bakery, and Palmersheim has been eyeing the space for a while. “I have this Snapchat photo saved to my phone of this space, maybe a year or so before signing a lease. I was like, this is going to be Moo’s Bakery’s first location,” said Palmersheim. “I thought it was a cute space, I thought I could make the most out of it.”

But, as Palmershiem has documented on Moo’s Bakery’s TikTok account, the work it took to make the storefront and bakery into what customers see today took months of effort. Palmersheim’s documentation

BSU

continued from page 1 when their positions were eliminated by Iowa legislation. Through partnerships with other student organizations, the Black Student Union is pouring itself into a continued push to foster its community. Cornerstone events like the Holiday Hoopla and new events like the CME Takeover have helped bring students back into the CME and connect again. “The CME Takeover was really successful,” said Douglas. “I feel like that

of her first week working to clean and ready the bakery for opening amassed over one million views on TikTok. “I think I kind of looked at it through rose-colored glasses,” laughed Palmersheim. “My mom told me, ‘this is going to be a lot of work,’... Then, when you get the space, you see the details.” One of the first videos Palmersheim recorded while documenting her process of opening Moo’s Bakery’s first storefront was of her in a mask and rubber

gloves, cleaning out the grease trap, which was filled to the brim with hardened grease. “I wanted to dive in,” said Palmersheim.

Soon after that, Palmersheim and her family took to scrubbing every single wall to get rid of leftover grease, and then painting over every single wall with fresh coats of paint. From ripping up floor tiles to re-doing a bathroom, Palmersheim and her support system accomplished a near total overhaul of

the space in a little over seven months. For Palmersheim, the pride in her space for Moo’s Bakery could also manifest itself as anxiety and stress.

“People know I’m opening up this space, I’ve committed, and I don’t know if I’m ready to be a storefront owner,”

Palmersheim said. “I think for the first time in my life, more consistently, I experienced panic attacks, and wake up every morning with a racing heart. People are waiting.”

But, on the other hand, Palmersheim also noted there was a bit of romanticism associated with opening up her very own space. “I felt a bit like Princess Tiana,” Palmersheim said, in reference to the Disney princess.

“‘Almost There’ was such a song for me, the video of her cleaning up her space for her restaurant … this was the hardest thing I’ve ever done so far.”

This dream has been a long time in the making.

Palmersheim graduated from UNI in 2017 with a dream to pursue entrepreneurship and open a business of her own.

But, before founding Moo’s Bakery in 2021, she felt stuck.

“I was running in circles on this entrepreneurial dream,” said Palmersheim. “But, I did

was the first time in months that I had seen the CME look like how it used to, and it felt really good to do that.” The CME Takeover is a newer event hosted by the Black Student Union in collaboration with other multicultural student organizations such as the Asian Student Union and UNIDos. The Black Student Union is also collaborating with the Campus Activities Board (CAB) for its annual skate night, which has seen continued attendance over the past few years. “We went into this school year stressing

what I said I was going to do.” Palmersheim expressed frustrations with feeling siloed into one speciality or another, when what she really wanted to do was explore different routes for herself and pursue different creative ideas. “You don’t have to go down one specific route if you feel pulled in different directions,” said Palmersheim. “This [Moo’s Bakery] is the intersection between all of the things I tried, and without trying all those things I know I wouldn’t be here.” Palmersheim stresses to young entrepreneurs: take your time, and you path will illuminate for you.

Now, what was once a “some day” for Moo’s Bakery, is reality. Not only is Moo’s Bakery serving fresh baked goods out of their new storefront at 2223 College Street, but Palmersheim has also introduced fresh matchas to Moo’s Bakery’s menu. Palmersheim has also announced that iced chai will adorn the Moo’s Bakery beverage menu this coming February. Moo’s Bakery is open from Wednesday to Saturday, with hours from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and extended hours on Friday and Saturday, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

how important collaboration would be and how much we needed to collaborate with student organizations, and I think we’ve done an amazing job at that,” Allison said.

The Black Student Union has a full slate of events for Black History Month, starting on Monday, Feb. 3 with a Black History Month kick off event, featuring a soul food dinner. Their partnered event with CAB, the Black Student Union Skate Night, will take place on Feb. 15 in the Wellness Recreation Center.

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CIRCULATION

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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 506140166 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 pub- lication. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement at any time. The Northern Iowan is funded in part with student activity fees. All material is © 2025 by the Northern Iowan and may not be used without permission.

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JO BRAHMS News Editor
NORTHERN IOWAN/MACI SWANSON
Moo’s Bakery has historically been available at the Cedar Falls Farmers Market. Their storefront location is now open on the Hill next to Sharky’s.
COURTESY/ UNI ARCHIVES
BSU and CAB conjointly host the Black Student Union Skate Night in the Wellness Recreation Center every year. This year the event is on Feb. 15.

Trial of student accused of harassing UNI Dean of Students ends in hung jury

A former UNI student accused of harassing UNI Dean of Students Allyson Rafanello’s first trial ended in a hung jury this Monday afternoon. After deliberating for both Thursday and Friday, the 12 jurors still could not come to an agreement on a verdict, and a mistrial was declared in the case on Friday.

Aisha Nyala, a former UNI student, was charged with intimidation with a deadly weapon, stalking through use of a technological device and harassment in the first degree. Both intimidation with a deadly weapon and stalking through use of a technological device are Class C felonies.

Nyala is believed to have been the user of multiple social media accounts, including @UNIYogaClub and alternate Facebook profiles to harass and intimidate Rafanello and other UNI administrators. Beginning in 2021, the UNI Yoga

Club X (formerly known as Twitter) account began posting messages regarding UNI’s handling of sexual assault complaints from students. As time went on, the posts became targeted towards administrators, with later posts from Facebook accounts stating “I promise I will get revenge on you if it’s the last thing I do.” Nyala is also accused of calling the Board of Regents office and threatening to “shoot

her in the head,” although neither Nyala nor Rafanello were explicitly named in the call to the Board of Regents office.

One of the alternate Facebook profiles, “Allyson Rafanello is racist” posted photos of the Rafanello family, including their children. The Facebook profile threatened the Rafanello family, saying they would shoot Rafanello and her children.

This past week marked the

beginning of one of Nyala’s three trials with regards to intimidation, harassment and stalking. The trial that began on Wednesday, Jan. 22 weighed Nyala’s intimidation with a deadly weapon charge. Rafanello took the stand as a witness the day the trial began, claiming that she felt safer on campus than she did her own home following the multiple threats on her and her children’s lives.

On Thursday, the jury was granted an Allen charge by Judge Dalrymple in an attempt to prevent a hung jury and mistrial. An Allen charge is granted to a jury by a judge in the event that the jury comes to a stark disagreement, and can’t seem to align or come to a conclusion. Jurors in the minority are asked to reconsider their opinion, and evaluate the evidence proposed. According to Dalrymple, the Allen charge is not commonly used in jury trials.

After spending Thursday and Friday morning deliberating, the jury couldn’t

come to a conclusion regarding whether or not Nyala had used intimidation with a deadly weapon towards Rafanello, and a mistrial was called for. Due to a waiver of speedy trial, a new trial for Nyala’s case will be set 90 days from now. Nyala will also go to trial for multiple counts of harassment and stalking at a later date. The Northern Iowan will continue to update the story as the trial progresses.

Cookies of Kindness: A Simple Gesture for Faculty

“When faculty and staff feel appreciated and valued, they pay dividends in how they work with others,” says Dave Glenn-Burns, campus minister at ThreeHouse Collaborative Campus Ministries.

Random Acts of Kindness Week, which takes place internationally from Feb. 9 to Feb. 15 this year, provides an opportunity for Threehouse to host its annual cookie handout. The event, in collaboration with other campus ministries within the Spiritual Leaders Association, involves delivering cookies to various departments at the University of Northern Iowa.

The idea for the event originated from Threehouse’s staff appreciation lunch, traditionally held in the spring. Due to weather conditions, it was moved to the fall. “We still wanted to do something in the spring to affirm and support faculty,” Glenn-Burns says. This way, they have something each semester to feel appreciated for.”

Acts of Kindness began

during the pandemic when Threehouse recognized the increased need for appreciation. “We noticed and felt strongly that it’s been difficult,” Glenn-Burns says.

“There’s been a lot of stress.

As educators are stressed, this can get passed down to students, so why not add some positive affirming? It’s

a good time for that.”

A faculty member at UNI bakes the cookies. Sue Hill, department head and professor of religion at UNI, owns Sue’s Goodies. Her cookies can often be found at the local coffee shop, Cup of Joe, and she also takes special orders for such events. Glenn-Burns highlights the

importance of shopping local while supporting a respected UNI professor. Threehouse’s three core values are radical hospitality, learning and growing together, and intellectual reflection and exploration.

“What brings me joy is to find all of the different ways that I can help people realize

they are a beloved child of God,” says Glenn-Burns. The ministry at Threehouse focuses on inclusivity, emphasizing that all are welcome and loved.

“People get the idea that if you’re Christian, it has to be this way,” Glenn-Burns says. “You have to agree with this political party or this experience, and it’s not.”

Threehouse aims to support both the campus and surrounding communities. The goal is to spread God’s love in diverse ways, without trying to tell others what to do or what to believe.

“We’re appreciating you. We’re not asking for anything in return. We’re not evangelizing. I’m really just happy to take cookies to faculty or staff of no particular faith experience and appreciate them. That’s what we’re really trying to do,” says Glenn-Burns.

He adds, “It’s a small project, but hopefully, it has dividends in helping people working in challenging times. Everybody is trying to do the best they can, and many crossroads make doing what everybody likes to do more difficult.”

NORTHERN IOWAN/LILY MUNNIK
As you walk into the Threehouse you are welcomed with a homemade sign made of press-on letters. Threehouse aims to support individuals both on campus and in the surrounding community.
Screenshot obtained via X (formerly Twitter)
The accont @UNIYogaClub on X boasts several tweets, such as the one above, that call out Allyson Rafanello’s perceived actions and behavior.
COURTESY/University of Northern Iowa Allyson Rafanello, pictured, took the stand as a witness on Jan. 22 detailing the multiple threats she received.
LILY MUNNIK Staff Writer
BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Executive Editor

UNI se prepara para comprar The Quarters

Con 480 camas y comodidades como alberca y canchas deportivas,

algunos residentes expresan preocupaciones sobre accesibilidad y libertad. miento estilo departamento dentro del campus, la universidad buscó una solución que se adaptara al crecimientode UNI y ala necesidades de los estudiantes.

BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Escritor LUIS ALVAREZ Editor de Español

En la última reunión de la Junta de Regentes, se aprobó oficialmente que la Universidad del Norte de Iowa (UNI) adquiera los apartamentos The Quarters. Este complejo, valuado en $21.1 millones, cuenta con 11 edificios y 480 camas, e incluye una alberca, canchas de voleibol de playa y baloncesto. The Quarters estará disponible para que los estudiantes residan como parte de la intalaciones de Vivienda y Comedores Universitarios a partir de este otoño. En el año académico 2024-2025, 3,193 estudiantes firmaron un contrato de vivienda con Vivienda y Comedores de la Universidad del Norte de Iowa (UNI), lo que representa un aumento del 2.5% en comparación con el año académico 2023-2024 y un incremento del 10.3% respecto al año académico 2022-2023. Dado que el número de estudiantes que firman contratos de arrendamiento con UNI continúa en aumento, sumando a la creciente demanda de aloja -

The Quarters está ubicado cerca del McLeod Center, a solo una cuadra de los dormitorios del cuadrilátero principal.

Aunque los apartamentos

The Quarters estarán disponibles para que los estudiantes residan como parte de las instalaciones de Vivienda y Comedores de UNI a partir de este otoño, hay estudiantes que actualmente viven allí y ya han renovado sus contratos de arrendamiento para el año académico 20252026. Según Michael Hager, vicepresidente de finanzas y operaciones de UNI, los contratos de los estudiantes que ya renovaron sus arrendamientos serán respetados, incluyendo los precios establecidos en dichos contratos. Pete Moris, director de relaciones públicas de UNI, también anticipa que los estudiantes del Hawkeye Community College y del Allen College of Nursing podrán vivir en las instalaciones de The Quarters, ya que tienen la posibilidad de residir en otras instalaciones de Vivienda y Comedores

de UNI. Moris no pudo confirmar si hay residentes que no son estudiantes y que han renovado sus contratos para el año académico 20252026.

“Para los residentes actuales, no habrá muchos cambios”, dijo Moris. “Queremos que la transición sea lo más sencilla posible para todos”. Moris también detalló que, durante este verano, el equipo de gestión de instalaciones se encargará de realizar reparaciones de mantenimiento ordinario en las habitaciones y edificios de The Quarters para garantizar que los residentes que se muden en el otoño no encuentren problemas en las instalaciones. Aunque Moris no pudo confirmar ni negar si la alberca de The Quarters permanecerá, mencionó que la gestión de instalaciones y Vivienda y Comedores están más enfocados en el mantenimiento inmediato de las habitaciones y edificios para mejorar la calidad de vida de los estudiantes inquilinos. “El equipo de gestión de instalaciones hace un excelente trabajo asegurándose de que los edificios del campus sean lo más eficientes energéticamente possible… Creo que ese es el enfoque principal en este

momento”, afirmó Morris. Aunque los estudiantes prefieren los departamentos estilo apartamento, algunos hasn expresado su frustración por la compra. Varios estudiantes han manifestado sus preocupaciones en Instagram y Yik Yak, cuestionando posibles aumentos en la renta y cambios en la comunidad una vez que Vivienda y Comedores finalice la compra. Algunos residentes de The Quarters han expresado que eligieron este lugar por su accesibilidad y asequibilidad, y temen que esto desaparezca a partir de este otoño. Una residente, Bella Serrano, comparte estas preocupaciones. “Viví en el campus durante dos años y no disfruté el segundo…No viviría en The Quarters si fuera propiedad de la universidad”, dijo Serrano. “Es demasiado caro y hay reglas excesivamente estrictas que los residentes deben seguir”. Aunque aún no se han publicado los precios oficiales de los arrendamientos, los departamentos de cuatro habitaciones en Panther Village tienen un costo de $7,240 por persona por año académico, según se indica en el sitio web de Vivienda y Comedores de UNI. Hasta

ahora, The Quarters solo ofrece departamentos de cuatro habitaciones. “Todos los residentes con los que he hablado tampoco quieren que la universidad sea dueña de nuestro apartamento, ya que reduce la libertad y aumenta el costo de vida”, agregó Serrano. El plan de Vivienda y Comedores de UNI para asignar asistentes residenciales y coordinadores de vida residencial en las instalaciones de The Quarters aún no se ha determinado.

La Universidad del Norte de Iowa (UNI) anticipa que los estudiantes podrán firmar contratos de arrendamientopara las instalaciones de The Quarters una vez que se envíen los contratos de vivienda este semestre, al mismo tiempo que se repetarán los contratos renovados que ya se firmaron para el próximo año académico. Mientras Vivienda y Comedores continúa planificando las reparaciones, reglas y tarifas para las instalacionesde The Quarters, el periódico Northern Iowan seguirá actualizando la información a medida que se revelen más detalles.

Cortesía/The Quarters
el complejo busca satisfacer las necesidades de los estudiantes. Mientras la universidad planea reparciones y mejoras,

Disclaimer: The following opinion articles featured do

OPINION

What does ‘equity’ really mean?

“What’s the difference between equity and equality?”

This question has been posed by many, especially with the recent uptick in conversations regarding DEI. The definition of equity is often confused for the definition of equality, which is everyone having access to the same things. Equity’s definition is a bit more lucrative than that, which can be summarized as everyone getting what they need to succeed.

When the Northern Iowan staff visited La Jolla, California, for a national journalism conference in the spring of 2024, college students from California were aghast when our staff told them state legislators were attempting to eliminate DEI policies from our regent university. They couldn’t fathom DEI policies being accosted at the level they had in Iowa at the time. Now, this ideology has been brought to the national landscape, with the Trump administration’s first attempt at throttling businesses and universities

that implement DEI policies.

When it comes to debates around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices in businesses and education, why are people so against people getting what they need to succeed? Why are people so against integrating inclusion into work and education?

According to Black Student Union secretary, Keymora Douglas, mistaking equity for equality is a matter of visibility. “It’s not about receiving exactly the same things, but the same effort, the same quality, just being treated the same,” said Douglas. “Someone who gets two chocolates, another person gets two, to someone on the outside, that’s equal. But you don’t know if maybe one person’s chocolates are expired. Equity is harder to grasp, harder to see.”

agreed with Douglas, but added that an increased lack of empathy could contribute to today’s aversion to equity. “People aren’t as concerned with what other people need, what their neighbor needs,” said

T he demonization of equity, in an essence, is the demonization of empathy.
- Bailey Klinkhammer Executive Editor

Allison. “We often forget that there’s so many things impacting a person from so many different directions.”

Black Student Union president, Jasmine Allison,

The Trump administration has recently called DEI policies “a waste of resources,” as noted on the White House website. Last week, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds addressed a letter

to Iowa regent university presidents, including Mark Nook, regarding Trump’s executive order “Ending Illegal Discrimination and restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” In her letter to the university presidents, Reynolds states, “I trust that your respective institutions will faithfully implement this executive order and the forthcoming guidance from the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice.” It’s important to remember that equity isn’t about giving someone an easier time or unfair treatment, equity is about allowing people access to things they need to succeed. Equity is allowing those with a learning disability accommodations in the classroom, it’s federal dollars going to those who need financial assistance after being admitted to a university. Equity isn’t about taking away opportunities from others, it’s

about opening up opportunities to everyone. Those who might not have faced political disadvantages in their daily life may not realize why equity is important. “When it does affect your life, you finally realize what equity means,” said Douglas.

The demonization of the words “diversity, equity and inclusion” on a statewide and national level only aims to divide the general public. It’s a very obvious attempt to turn the general public against each other, and make the general public less likely to help one another. The demonization of equity, in an essence, is a demonization of empathy. It might be egregious to ask politicians to feel empathy, but it isn’t an egregious ask for the general public to feel some empathy for their neighbors. Those who have had access to certain opportunities their whole lives, such as President Trump and Governor Reynolds, may see equity as discrimination. For regular people, equity is a way of life.

COURTESY/UNI PHOTOSHELTER
As the elimination of DEI policies moves from the state to national level, Executive Editor Bailey Klinkhammer examines how equity can equate to empathy, and how losing both could be an oversight by the general public and politicians.

CAMPUS LIFE

Stewart Carter is UNI’s Applied Engineering Chief Administrator

As the applied engineering department continues to expand, with phase two of renovations set to be completed by mid-March, UNI has hired Stewart Carter as the new chief applied engineering administrator. Carter is a UNI alumnus with over 30 years of experience with John Deere in areas such as engineering, manufacturing operations, supply management and logistics.

The applied engineering department was first opened in 1974 to educate shop teachers and, after a $44.7 million renovation project that began in 2022, the department reopened to students in the fall of 2024. The department now offers state-of-the-art labs, and classrooms to provide students with more hands-on opportunities as well as a metal casting center and Foundry 4.0 center, both of which are nationally recognized leaders in research and development.

According to a statistic from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2016-2026, more than 130,000 new jobs will become available in the engineering field. Carter is excited to be back at UNI, especially at a time when engineering jobs are in such high demand. “I think the fact that UNI recognizes there’s a need to produce more engineers and STEM majors in the state of Iowa and they want to get into that is good,” Carter stated. “I’m excited to be a part of that

journey to elevate engineering here at UNI.”

Currently, UNI offers 10 majors within its engineering department. Part of Carter’s vision for the department is to continue to expand their program. He states that while majors like construction management and technical engineering have attracted a lot of students, he wants to continue that work and grow enrollment on the applied engineering side of the department. The department currently hopes to continue to grow enrollment by 50% by 2028 to meet Iowa’s workforce needs. Carter also wants to ensure that the degrees and majors being offered within the department align with industry

standards. “We want to just really align with our industry partners… and so making sure we’re aligned with them on the curriculum, making sure we’re aligned with them on opportunities for funding, whether it be for lab equipment or scholarships, I want to do that.”

over 30 years of experience working for John Deere. nies because we’re looking for those same companies to want to come in, talk to our students, provide internships, and hopefully hire our students.”

In addition to expanding the program, Carter hopes to bring in companies from around Iowa such as John Deere to provide professional opportunities to its students. “We are looking in the Cedar Valley seeing who we could partner with,” stated Carter. However, they are also looking at opportunities throughout the state of Iowa. “We wanted to kind of be diverse in those compa-

As the engineering industry continues to grow, ensuring a curriculum that is easily adaptable is extremely important. Carter hopes to work with both the executive advisory board as well as the advisory boards for every major in the department to ensure that the curriculum is up to date. “Not only do we strategically plan out what we need to do, but also we look at the curriculum level and say what is the upcoming trend? Are we offering the right curriculum? Are we attracting the right talent?” Additionally,

the executive advisory board, made up of about a dozen industry partners, can look at the curriculum and give additional input about things like if majors being offered are relevant or if the right classes are being offered.

In addition to expanding enrollment, Carter wants to add more diversity to the department. Currently, the majority of students in the department are from the state of Iowa, and Carter hopes to bring in more females and people of color to the department. Carter has met with individuals from the UNICUE center about what the talent in high schools looks like as well as STEM initiatives in high schools today. “Not only do I want to take care of the students that we have today, I want to grow enrollment, and I know that growth has to be not only our current demographics but also looking at females and then looking at people of color,” Carter states.

From the new nursing program on campus to the new growth of the applied engineering department, Carter is excited about what is in store for UNI. “We’ve done, historically, a great job with bringing students in and getting the more technical degree, or technology degree,” Carter states. “We think applied engineering could be a good fit for a lot of individuals who have that willingness to learn … but want that more hands-on approach. And so we think UNI and this program is going to be able to fulfill that mission.”

JENNA WESTENDORF Campus Life Editor
COURTESY/INSIDE UNI
Stewart Carter is a UNI alumnus and Waterloo native. He returns to UNI with

CAMPUS LIFE

UNI’s Divine Nine is here to stay

As of 2023, there was only one multicultural sorority on campus, Lambda Theta Alpha. However, enrollment has slipped in recent years. Now, with the help of soror and Tau Chi chapter president Kaylynn Ruffin, the Delta Sigma Theta sorority is one of two multicultural sororities and the only Divine Nine sorority on campus. Ruffin has been a large part of bringing the Divine Nine presence back to campus and cementing themselves at UNI.

Delta Sigma Theta has seen a lot of success in the last year. One big accomplishment was their nomination for the most promising new organization on campus at the UNI Student Organization Awards. When the Northern Iowan spoke with Ruffin a year ago, Ruffin envisioned Delta Sigma Theta hosting events for women, by women, specifically geared at women’s health and hygiene. Over the last year, Delta has donated over 60 pounds of food to the Panther Pantry and over 40 pounds of women’s hygiene supplies and hopes to make these drives an annual thing. “Another big accomplishment has been the number of events we hosted with such a good turnout … all super fun events that have been wonderful to meet so many great students here on campus” stated Ruffin. Despite the amount of success that Delta has experienced over the past year, establishing a student organization on campus is never easy. “I would say the main challenge is just the level of interest in making the organization more known on campus.” Ruffin elaborates on the challenges they have faced, stating that picking up on what students are interested in,

why they want to join, and how connected they feel to the organization are all equally challenging. With Delta’s new presence on the UNI campus, Ruffin says she has noticed a shift in the culture on campus.

Other sororities on campus have reached out to the Deltas supporting them and sharing kind words. “It is great to see other women and sororities support the deltas as we continue to grow as women,” states Ruffin. “I think members on campus are excited to see the culture and community just expand upon itself as we

offer more, and see events

I want this chapter to be something that’s memorable.
- Kaylynn Ruffin UNI Delta Sigma Theta Sorority President

and activities that they [members] wouldn’t normally see on a regular basis.”

The Deltas have many values that can resonate

strongly with students on campus looking for a multicultural sorority on campus. Ruffin states that “we cover so many different thrusts of everyday life and the overall college experience and the deltas, we always want to be able to expand and grow on the potential that UNI has here through the events we host, just being on campus…and helping those to make those less longing like connections.” The deltas work to promote several things including

educational events, physical and mental health, and boosting economic and political understanding. Ruffin believes that offering such a large variety of events allows them to speak to more than just one population of students on campus.

As the sorority continues to grow, Ruffin hopes to expand Delta’s presence beyond the UNI campus and into the Cedar Valley community. “I would love to start hosting bigger events, always being more involved in things like the parade and even community events, but reaching out to the community in more ways than one.” Ruffin hopes that the sorority will one day be a chapter that’s within the community, making strong connections that can last. “Whether that’s a donation drive for clothes or a sock drive, partnering with the Northeast Iowa food bank … I want the chapter to be able to do more things that don’t only impact UNI directly.”

In terms of the future of Delta Sigma Theta, Ruffin hopes to see the organization continue to grow even after she graduates. “I think in the future the chapter I want is to have students looking forward to our events and hearing about what the deltas are doing, participating, and making an impact on the community,” says Ruffin. She hopes to one day see the Delta women participate in a step show on campus or give a speech about something they are passionate about in the community. “I want this chapter to be something that’s memorable.”

JENNA WESTENDORF Campus Life Editor
NORTHERN IOWAN ARCHIVES
The original Delta Sigma Theta sorority on campus was announced in a Northern Iowan news release on September 26, 1975. Fifty years later, Chapter President Kaylynn Ruffin discusses the sorority’s impact.
COURTESY/KAYLYNN RUFFIN
Kaylynn Ruffin is the Tau Chi chapter president for the Delta Sigma Theta sorority on UNI campus. She leads the philanthropic endeavors of the chapter while also being a double major student at UNI.

CAMPUS LIFE

Breaking the barriers: important Black filmmakers in history

There is no better way to indulge and immerse ourselves into the power of storytelling than the arts — music, movies, paintings … you name it. Art has the ability to take us to vulnerable places, and walk us through unique perspectives by communicating the depth of emotions and experiences that we cannot get to elsewhere. More specifically, highlighting Black History Month through the arts is vital as we reflect history and listen to the Black community’s powerful stories.

Within the space of film, there are many influential figures that first had to break the barrier of nasty stereotypes and fight against racism.

Oscar Micheaux, was the first African American to release a feature. “The Homesteader” came out in 1919, a story that was first a novel of his own. Micheaux grew up in Illinois a slave before moving from his hometown to Chicago and becoming a Pullman porter on railroads. His dream to pursue writing led him to self publish many novels. One of his books gained the attention of some filmmakers who wanted to buy the rights and retell the story for the big screen. However, the offer turned sour once Michaeux expressed his desire to be a part of the film’s production. The famous director ultimately turned down the filmmakers, and decided to direct and produce the story himself, entitling it, “The Homesteader” after his novel.

The feature gained popularity, and a lot of praise for its change of perspective depicting realistic dynamics and relationships between Black and white people.

Embarking on a mission to create equal opportunities for other Black writers and filmmakers and tell stories of racial injustice and complex characters, Micheaux went on to direct, write and produce over 40 films.

Oscar Michaeux is now a household name in the film industry and paved the way for generations of Black filmmakers. His most notable film was “Within Our Gates” (1920) about the brutal violence Black people had to endure because of their skin tone.

Flash forward to the 40s, the famous, groundbreaking actor Sidney Poitier applied to the American Negro Theatre and began studying the profession. Growing up in the Bahamas, Poitier was first rejected to the program because of his non-American accent. However, he did not let his passion end there. Poitier studied the American accent and was accepted six months later. He did theater up until 1950, where he starred as a doctor treating a white man in his first feature film “No Way Out,” This role made a lasting impact in the film industry because of Poitier’s defiance to play characters stitched in a racial stereotype. For the next decade, he continued this astounding resilience

in Hollywood. Poitier first made history in 1958 starring alongside Tony Curtis in “The Defiant Ones,” a film about two criminals escaping prison fighting against racial injustice as they navigate their way away from bars. He became the first African American to earn an Oscar nomination in a lead category.

In 1963, Poitier went from making history to changing history, winning an Academy Award for best actor for his performance in “Lilies of the Field.” He was the first male, Black actor to take home this honor, and second African American to win an Oscar overall. The first was Hattie McDaniel, who won best supporting actress for her character in “Gone with

the Wind” (1939).

Sidney Poitier is one of the most memorable faces in Hollywood for his performances, his voice fighting against racial stereotypes and injustices in the world, and his caring heart. The actor, director, and writer left behind an incredible legacy opening the door for well-earned recognition for people of color.

Director Euzhan Palcy opened the door for Black female filmmakers in 1983, winning best first film at the French Academy. She was not only the first black director, but also the first woman to win this award.

Palcy directed the critically acclaimed “Sugar Cane Alley (Rue Cases Nègres),” a coming of age movie about an 11-year-old orphan’s native life under French colonial rules.

Her imperative mark did not stop there, she went on to direct and write “A Dry White Season,” which was released in 1989, reviving Marlon Brando’s career.

MGM produced this shocking, and immersive film, making Palcy the first Black female director to be taken on by a famous Hollywood production studio. In order to authentically make this film, Palcy risked her life and went undercover in

South Africa to expose the apartheid regime, a racial segregation. She carefully interviewed victims to listen and learn more about the hardships, struggles, abuse and mistreatment they were facing. To further embolden their voices, she made sure that the studio only hired an all-South-African cast. She won the prestigious Orson Welles award in Los Angeles that year.

The list goes on and on when talking about innovative and historic Black filmmakers that not only changed the game in film history, but broke the barriers fighting against discrimination and racial injustice so that opportunities and recognition can be given to people of all races.

CALLEE FAIR Staff Writer
COURTESY/PIXELS
Black filmmakers have not only changed the game in film history, but broke the barriers fighting against discrimination and racial injustice.
COURTESY/IMBD
Oscar Micheaux (1884 - 1951).
COURTESY/IMBD
Sidney Poitier (1927 - 2022).
COURTESY/IMBD
Director Euzhan Palcy (1958 - present)

UNI T&F comes up big in Iowa City

Katie Fare opened up the weekend with a win for the Panthers in the women’s weight throw with a toss of 16.12 meters, while Breanna Hackman (13.77m) and Jorie Hanenburg ( 13.35m) finished third and fourth as Kamari Brown placed fifth (13.08m). Spencer Kessel placed second in throwing with a toss of 18.70 meters as Carson Lienau (18.10m) and Sebastian Swistak (17.39m) finished in third and fourth, breaking personal records.

Rylie Todd and Josie Moreland finished the women’s high jump as co-champions with jumps of 1.70 meters as Chloe Largent took home fourth with a jump of 1.60 meters. Soren Maricle took fifth with a jump of 1.60 meters as well. For the men, Carter Morton won the men’s high jump with a leap og 2.05 meters as Ty Hardin took third clearing 1.95 and Brody Lovell in fifth at 1.85m.

Josey Dunbar took gold in the women’s long jump with a jump of 5.81 meters while Ethan Peters earned fourth over on the men’s side with a jumbo of 6.89 meters. Emma Hoins took first in the womens 3,000m premier with a time of 9:34.33 while Amelia Hill placed third at (9:36.06). Eden

Mueller placed second in the 3,000 meter run unseeded at 10:03.64.

Anna Van Kooten took home first in the women’s 600-meter dash with a time of 1:37.17 as Joey Perry took home first for the women in the 200 meter with a time of 25.05. The men’s 200 meter saw Zack Butcher claim first place with a time of 21.95 to

complete the first day of competition.

Kaylin Lacher (5.00.77) and Leah Klapatauskas (5:01.03) opened weekend action taking home first and second in the women’s mile as Caleb Shumaker (4.17.74) and Levi Hill (4:18.03) took home second and third in the men’s mile. Caleb Kass earned fifth placed unattached with a time

COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS

of 4:29.27.

Maya Williams (56.93), Jersey Jones (57.21) and Carlie Jo Fusco (57.29) took the top three podium sports in the women’s 400-meter dash. The Panther men did the same thing in the 400-meter with Zach Fall on top with a time of 48.67 seconds, Luke Meyers at 49.11 and Derek Woods at 49.62. Parker Kiewiet took

fifth in the men’s 600-meter dash with a time of 1:20.62.

The men’s 800-meter saw Chase Knoche clock a time of 1:49.24 to take home first as Drake Hanson followed in second at 1:50.73 and Micaiah Ellis in fifth at 1:52.43. The men’s 800-meter saw Brayden Picken place fourth with a time of 1:55.95 as Ty Getz earned fifth at 1:57.33. Kendra Nissen placed fourth in the women’s 800-meter dash with a time of 2:14.21, while Mary Kelly placed fifth with a time of 2:14.32.

Brendan Safley took home second in the men’s pole vault as he cleared 5.35 meters as Carter Morton took fourth clearing 4.90 meters and Carter Pheifer in fifth clearing 4.75 meters. Kait McHale claimed second in the women’s pole vault by clearing 3.75 meters in the competition.

To cap off the weekend, Hunter Manock placed fifth in the finals with a time of 8.00 second in the 60-meter hurdles, a new personal best, while the quartet of Giada Grimes, Van Kooten, Makayla Crannell and Katy Hand took home first in the women’s 4x400-meter relay (3:58.03). Meyers, Fall, Kiewiet and Knoche took fourth in the 4x400-meter relay for the men with a time of 3:12.73.

UNI men’s basketball picks up big MVC win

MICHAEL SPAHN

The Northern Iowa men’s basketball team defeated Indiana State on Saturday by a score of 74-56 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

The Panthers were led by senior center Jacob Hutson who finished the game with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Hutson got going early from deep, scoring a 3-point basket to make it 3-0 Panthers early.

The Panther offense continued to shine early. Tytan Anderson buried a corner three followed by baskets from Trey Campbell and Ben Schwieger to take a 13-5 lead.

Campbell took command of the offense, draining two free throws and a 3-pointer to extend the Panther’s lead to 20-9.

With under seven minutes left in the half, Schwieger made two free throws and a dunk to extend the Panther lead to 28-16.

COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS

The Panthers face a tough road test as they travel to Drake on Jan. 29. Drake sits at 18-2 atop the MVC.

second dunk of the game to make it 64-50.

After the final media timeout, Anderson and Hutson connected on two-point baskets to make it a 68-54 lead.

The Panthers made their free throws towards the end, sealing the victory at 74-56. Northern Iowa held the Sycamores to just nine points in just under 11 minutes of game time to close out the game.

The Panthers improved to 13-8 and 7-3 in Missouri Valley Conference play. That record is good enough for fourth place in the standings, which if the season ended today would give the Panthers a double bye in Arch Madness.

Just like he started the game, Hutson drained a three to start the second half. A few minutes later, Anderson connected from long range to make it 43-29.

Approaching the 16-min-

Schwieger nailed another 3-pointer to close the half and propel the Panthers to a 38-26 lead.

ute mark, The Sycamores went on a six-point run to cut the lead to eight. Hutson and Campbell responded with baskets to extend the lead to ten.

The Sycamores responded by going on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 50-47 with 11

minutes to go.

The Panthers were able to lock in on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

Schwieger and Campbell connected from three to regain a marginal lead at 58-49.

At the five-minute mark, Schwieger slammed down his

Big opportunities lay ahead for the Panthers. They travel to Des Moines to take on Drake tonight. The Bulldogs are ranked second in the conference and have an overall record of 18-2. On Sunday, they welcome the Bradley Braves to the McLeod Center who are ranked No. 1 in the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Panthers are next in action at the wartburg Indoor Select on Friday, Jan. 31. It starts at 3 p.m.

3-pointers are not making the NBA unwatchable

The National Basketball Association is one of the world’s most notable and influential professional sports leagues. Having amassed over 90 million followers on Instagram, they are the highest-followed professional sports account on a social media platform that spans vast demographics. With such a global and inclusive audience, the NBA has consistently attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers to standard regular-season games, with millions tuning in to watch nationally televised matchups. However, according to Yahoo Sports, the 2024-2025 NBA season has seen a significant decline in viewership rate, dropping 28% on ESPN alone. Networks like TNT and NBATV have also experienced similar declines. Basketball enthusiasts worldwide argue that the once-coveted 3-pointer has ruined the game at the highest level. But has it?

Among the loudest critics of the NBA’s 3-point explosion is sports show host Nick Wright. In a recent segment, Wright exclaimed, “The league needs to change some rules. They have finally figured out that not only is three worth more than two, it’s that three is worth a lot more than two … The smart way to play is probably what the Celtics did on opening night. Shoot 60 of them things. That is the best strategy [to win games]. That is also terrible television. This [crap] is not sustainable. At its core, the NBA is at its best when dudes are flying over people meeting them at

the rim. Hanging out at the 3-point line, hoisting 30-footers, is not good TV.”

Many fans concur that the league-wide increase in 3-pointer volume has made the NBA “unwatchable.”

In a recent YouTube video titled “They’re Breaking the NBA Again,” published by JxmyHighroller, the highly-respected basketball content creator presents simple and advanced statistics to illustrate the recent 3-point boom. He explains that the 2024 Boston Celtics are taking 51.2 threes per game, almost 20 more than the 2016 Golden State Warriors. In fact, every team in the NBA this season is attempting more long shots than the legendary Dubs squad filled with sharpshooters like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson (JxmyHighroller, 2024, 3:40).

The skill advancement of the modern NBA player means that almost all 10 men on the court can take and make the 3-point shot. Is shooting over 50 threes a night exciting basketball for the average viewer? Probably not. While this style of play might bore some audience members, many fail to realize that it also allows the backbone of the NBA — mesmerizing handles, beautiful post-work, and highlight-reel dunks — to shine brighter. When asked about the 3-point barrage encapsulating the NBA, Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker affirmed, “The volume should be up. Attempting the 3-point shot, not even making it, stretches out defenses and opens up better looks throughout the game (JxmyHighroller, 2024, 10:47).”

And that’s the key. Taking additional 3-pointers means extending defense and exposing the paint more. The deep ball threat makes bigs play above the free-throw line and forces guards to stay tighter to their perimeter assignments. This increased spacing allows dribbling wizards like Kyrie Irving more room to dance with their defenders, putting the ball on a string before finishing a mind-boggling layup over a center who is too slow to recover from the elbow-extended fully. An extra shot-blocker away from the basket gives Nikola Jokic space to perform a series of beautiful ball fakes before dropping a soft floater off the glass or shooting a onelegged fadeaway.

When a defender does get caught in the restricted

area’s crossroads, Minnesota Timberwolves lightning rod Anthony Edwards is sure to make them pay with an emphatic poster dunk. Edwards’s most prolific slam happened on Mar. 18, 2024, when he threw down the 2024 NBA Fan Favorites Dunk of the Year against the Utah Jazz. Yet, this renowned play may have never happened if his teammate, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, didn’t spot up at the 3-point line on a fast break before dishing the ball to Edwards. Instead of rim-running off a turnover like players are traditionally taught, Alexander-Walker instinctively ran behind the arc, setting up Edwards’s flush. Ironically, the NBA’s 3-point revolution created one of the best 2-pointers in league history.

Does the modern NBA game sometimes feel like a lull, with teams shooting more threes than layups each time they go down the court? Yes. Is that boring basketball and television? Also, yes. However, 3-pointers open the game, freeing players to showcase their craft and put on a clinic with the basketball. Although this makes good defense feel more like a rarity each season, basketball and the NBA are adaptable. Players adjusted to the Traditional, Deadball and Superteam eras. Now, teams will figure out how to solve the Pace and Space era and contain the 3-point barrage. In a copycat league, we may be on the verge of a new brand of basketball in the upcoming decade. Nevertheless, the 3-pointer has never, and may never, make the NBA unwatchable.

UNI women’s hoops hits the road over weekend

Over this past weekend the UNI women’s basketball team went on a quick road trip.

On Friday, Jan. 24 they went up against Southern Illinois in Carbondale, Illinois. On Sunday Jan. 26 they faced off with Missouri State in Springfield, Missouri. The Panthers came into the road trip with a 4-3 conference record, and ended up splitting these two conference matchups. They defeated Southern Illinois on Friday, and lost to Missouri State on Sunday.

The Panthers started out the game against Southern Illinois on fire. In the first two minutes of play they had three different players hit shots from 3-point range. This brought

them out to an early lead, and they built on it throughout the rest of the quarter. By the end of the quarter the Panthers had a solid 12 point lead, 26-14.

The second quarter went better for the Salukis, as they were actually able to cut into the Panther lead. They cut the lead to just three points a couple of different times, but the Panthers were able to maintain a slim six point lead going into the halftime break, 37-31.

After falling back a little bit in the second quarter, the Panthers went back to being the more dominant team in the third. They started the quarter on a 15-4 run, and extended the lead to 17 points. The Salukis were able to barely cut into this lead throughout the rest of the quarter, and the Panthers led by 15 going into the final quarter.

The Panthers kept their foot on the gas in the fourth quarter, as they continued to dominate the Salukis. By the end of the game, there was no doubt that the Panthers were the better team. They came away with a convincing 84-59 win on the road.

The Panthers game against Missouri State went in the opposite direction for the Panthers. Missouri State set the tone early, jumping out to a 13-4 lead. The Bears did not build on this lead much throughout the rest of the quarter, but were able to keep the Panthers at a distance. The score was 25-14 in favor of the Bears at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was much of the same, as the Bears opened it up with a 10-0 run, extending the lead to 21. The

Panthers had their work cut out for them with such a large deficit, and they were not able to cut into it too much before the half. At halftime the Bears were well in control, 48-30.

In the second half the Bears continued to grow their lead, and ultimately coasted to a dominating victory. The

final score was 81-54, and the Panthers ended up splitting their road trip. This moved the Panthers overall record to 10-10, and a 5-4 record in conference play.

The Panthers will be back on the hardwood on Feb. 1, when they take on Drake in Des Moines.

COURTESY/GETTY IMAGES
Steph Curry, the NBA’s best 3-point shooter, has revolutionized the game with his incredible shooting range.
COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS
The Panthers currently sit at 6th in the Missouri Valley Conference standings.

Panthers fall to Cowboys in top 5 showdown, breaks attendance record

UNI wrestling set a new attendance record last Friday in their dual against No. 3 Oklahoma State. 6,030 spectators were in attendance for the showdown between Big 12 opponents.

The UNI wrestling team had one of their biggest duals in program history, hosting a top-three opponent inside the McLeod Center. On Friday, Jan. 24, the Panthers welcomed No. 3 Oklahoma State on a calm, cold night. 6,030 fans made their way to one of the best dual matchups of the season, breaking the McLeod Center attendance record for a wrestling meet in the process.

Starting at 125 pounds, UNI’s Trever Anderson took on No. 3 Troy Spratley. Anderson struck first, converting on a takedown to take a 3-0 lead. Spratley would answer, reversing Anderson and adding two nearfall points to claim a 4-3 lead. Another reversal for Spratley in the second period and an Anderson escape gave the Cowboys a 6-4 lead going into the last period. Spratley snagged a takedown in the third and was awarded an extra point of riding time, giving him a 10-5 victory and putting the Cowboys on top 3-0 in the dual score.

At 133 pounds, Julian Farber faced No. 19 Cael Hughes. Farber was dominant all match, scoring a takedown just 10 seconds into the match. His intensity ramped up as the match progressed, scoring three more takedowns en route to a 13-4 major decision. Farber’s bonus points gave the Panthers a 4-3 lead.

141 pounds set up a top

five matchup between No. 4 Cael Happel and No. 3 Tagen Jamison. Despite the 1-1 score at the end of the third period, it felt as if Happel controlled the entire match, getting in on a handful of shots throughout the match. But in overtime, Happel finally prevailed, scoring a takedown and securing a 4-1 win. The win over Jamison was Happel’s second top-five victory of the season, giving UNI a 7-3 lead after three matches.

At 149 pounds, a top15 matchup between UNI’s Colin Realbuto and Oklahoma State’s Carter Young would prove to be one of the best of the night. Young struck first, securing a takedown in the first period. Realbuto earned two escapes to get within a point. Young was then called for stalling, giving Realbuto an additional point. A Young escape made the score 4-3. In the final minute of regulation, Realbuto called the game and iced the match with a takedown. Realbuto’s 6-4 win was his sixth in a row, and gave the Panthers a 10-3 advantage.

At 157 pounds, No. 2 Ryder Downey took the mat against No. 9 Caleb Fish. Fish controlled most of the match, carrying a 3-0 lead entering the third period. In the final 30 seconds, Downey managed to takedown Fish. Fish escaped, which forced the match into overtime. Fish came out victorious after a takedown in sudden death, turning the tide of

the dual, leaving the Panthers with a slim 10-6 advantage at the intermission. Coming out of intermission, at 165 pounds, Jack Thomsen faced a tough opponent in No. 6 Cameron Amine. Amine was held scoreless in the opening period, but had a points explosion in the next two, earning a 10-2 major decision. Amine’s win would tie the dual score at 10.

At 174 pounds, UNI’s Jared Simma took on OSU’s Dean Hamiti. Hamiti, who is ranked No. 3 in the country, showed why. In dominant fashion, Hamiti won the match 16-4, earning a major decision and giving the Cowboys four points.

At 184 pounds, the match of the night featured No. 2 Parker Keckeisen and No. 3 Dustin Plott. Keckeisen and Plott are familiar opponents, facing off a handful of times last year, most notably in the 184pound national championship match. Keckeisen brought the energy early, scoring a first period takedown. Keckeisen proceeded to take Plott down three more times, securing a 14-4 major decision, improving his record against Plott to 5-0. More importantly for the Panthers, it put them right back into the dual race, tying the score at 14.

At 197 pounds, Wyatt Voelker took on No. 7 Luke Surber. After giving up a takedown in the first period, Voelker would battle back,

earning two escapes. Surber gained a point on an escape in the second period, but Voelker got it right back with a stall call in the third period. Ultimately, Surber would come out victorious with a 4-3 win, giving the Cowboys a 17-14 edge.

Finally, at heavyweight, Lance Runyon faced Wyatt Hendrickson, who’s ranked No. 2 in the country. Hendrickson went to work right away, securing a takedown and four backpoints in the opening period. In the second period, Runyon near-

ly caught Hendrickson on his back, but he was able to roll through and evade the danger. Hendrickson would run up the score, and in the end, earned a 19-4 tech fall.

The final score of the dual ended up being 22-14. In the post match press conference, Parker Keckeisen was asked about the UNI crowd and what it has meant to wrestle for the purple and gold. He replied, “Panther country is special. This is a special place to wrestle”

COURTESY/UNI
COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS
Cael Happel, pictured above, won a top-5 match against Oklahoma State.

CLASSIFIEDS CROSSWORD

Across

1) Parrot with bright colors

6) Monastery's main man

11) Violin part

14) Drop in one's two cents

15) Beast of burden

16) What some winners take

17) With very little strength

19) Thai's neighbor

20) Russian mountain range

21) Destinies

23) Big clumsy goofs

26) Thesaurus man

28) Pub pours

29) Fort location, sometimes

Wildebeests

31) Denzel Washington Oscar 32) Arctic ocean covering

Equestrian sport

35) Boo-hoo

36) Come-_ (inducements)

37) Ta's counterpart

38) College party staple 41) Worst finish

43) Stack of logs

45) Not foggy-headed

47) Low-_ diet

48) Pt. of MIT

49) Moore of films

50) About

Improves, as cheese 52) Postal worker

Touchdown guesses

Room lender

Useless

Team racing event

Widths of some spaces

King-size antelope

Uneven, like a leaf edge

Down

1) Do a suburbanite's chore

2) Hairy creature

3) Secretive government agen-

cy

4) Elephant goads

5) Gradual deterioration

6) California seafood treats

7) "Mac" alternative

8) Car stoppers

9) Circle, as planets

10) Dolls, balls, etc.

11) Appearing sickly, in a way

12) Click beetle

13) Certain photo type

18) "Bewitched" actor Dick

22) Teen's hangout spot

23) Elevator pioneer

24) With a bow, to the orchestra

25) They're not think tank material

27) Instinctive, as a reaction

31) "Nice!"

33) Party thrower

34) Estate court

37) Compelled to eat

39) "If all _ fails ..."

40) Comes down with

42) Seed covering 43) Major conflict

44) Former Turkish coin

45) Hold in esteem

46) Get emotional support from

47) Picture theater

50) Barge route

53) Boggy area

55) Piece of farmland

58) Shark "trademark"

59) U.N. workers' agcy.

60) "_ in victory"

61) Pupil's location

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