OPINION
Opinion Columnist
Drew Hills weighs the pros and cons of newly passed “school choice” bill.
OPINION PAGE 3
CAMPUS LIFE
Learn about one group of students’ experiences on a faculty-led trip to Iceland.
CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 4
300: Coach Warren’s legacy continues to grow
With UNI’s 83-60 win over Valparaiso, Tanya Warren collected career win No. 300
The UNI women’s basketball team came into their game against Valpairaso on a roll, having won four consecutive games. The Panthers have been making their way up the standings in the conference, and with a win against Valparaiso, they would get a share for first place in the conference. The Panthers were able to do just that, with a dominant performance against the Beacons.
In the early going of the game it was a tight contest. The Beacons held a small 13-11 lead with two minutes left in the first quarter, but the Panthers quickly showed why they are at the top of the conference. They finished the quarter on an 8-0 run that was capped off by a Grace Boffeli 3-pointer with just five seconds left on the clock. The Panthers led 19-13 after the first.
In the second quarter, the Panthers gradually added to their lead. It got cut into a couple of times, so they were never able to completely pull away, but they took a solid 37-26 lead
N.I. EN ESPAÑOL
into the halftime break. After the half, the Panthers came out on fire. Kam Finley started it off with a 3-pointer that sparked a 14-2 run. After the end of the run, the Panthers
were ahead 51-28. The Beacons quickly countered with an 11-0 run of their own, nearly cutting the Panthers lead in half. The Panthers rebounded with their second big run of the quarter,
finishing off the third quarter 10-1. This gave the Panthers a convincing 61-40 lead into the fourth.
SPORTS
Softball gets off to a rocky start at UNIDome Classic.
SPORTS PAGE 7
Biden renews a call for action on gun control following Michigan State mass shooting
Editor’s note: This story was originally published Feb. 14, 2023 by Iowa Capital Dispatch.
WASHINGTON —
President Joe Biden, at an annual meeting with county leaders on Tuesday, said there is much more work to be done on gun control legislation — such as banning assault-style weapons, which are typically used in most mass shootings.
The call again for gun control came after a school shooting at Michigan State University late Monday in which three students were killed and five more injured. Tuesday was also the five-year anniversary of the deadly high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, in which 14 students and three faculty members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were killed.
Traducción: Tallgrass Prairie: Las praderas de pastos altos de UNI
BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Escritora
PABLO CUEVAS MONTES
Traductor invitado
Nota de la editora: Pablo
Cuevas Montes es estudiante del curso SPAN 3159
Translation for Heritage
Speakers, dirigido por el Prof. Juan Carlos Castillo.
El Tallgrass Prairie Center de UNI, antes conocido como Native Roadside Vegetation Center, fue fundado en 1999 con el objetivo de “empoderar a las personas para que valoren y restauren praderas de pastos altos diversas y resistentes”. Algunos de los proyectos en los que trabaja el Tallgrass Prairie Center incluyen el Programa de Gestión de Cunetas de Iowa y el programa Praderas en Granjas. Junto a estos pro-
gramas, el centro ayuda a dirigir la conservación de las praderas en el campus de UNI. Además de todo esto, el centro recibió recientemente una donación de 223 acres de tierra de Cathy Irvine, de Dysart, Iowa. Además de los 77 acres que Irvine había donado anteriormente, el Tallgrass Prairie Center ahora gestiona una extensión de tierra de 300 acres, en cuya conservación trabajan sus empleados.
En 1830, se estimó que entre el 75 y el 80 por ciento de Iowa estaba cubierto por praderas nativas de pastos altos. Casi 200 años después, se calcula que actualmente solo queda menos del 1% de praderas nativas de pastos altos en Iowa. Esta caída drástica en las praderas nativas de pastos altos se debe en buena parte a la expansión hacia el oeste en el siglo
diecinueve. Sin embargo, proteger las praderas de pastos altos que permanecen en Iowa tiene muchos beneficios, ya que protegen los recursos de agua y los hábitats naturales de los animales de Iowa. Las praderas de pastos altos también proveen una fuerte retención de carbono, que se define como la captura y almacenamiento de carbono. El trabajo del Tallgrass Prairie Center para preservar y restaurar las praderas de pastos altos de Iowa es vital para la conservación del ecosistema de Iowa y la protección de la calidad del agua en la región.
Como se mencionó anteriormente, el Tallgrass Prairie Center dirige varios proyectos para mantener y restaurar las praderas de pastos altos en Iowa. De estos proyectos, el Programa de Gestión de
Cunetas de Iowa es uno de los proyectos de mayor duración del centro. La Doctora Laura Jackson, directora del centro,
habló sobre la importancia de preservar todas las tierras de Iowa.
Ver PRADERAS, página 2
ADAM JOHNSON Sports Writer
ARIANA FIGUEROA Iowa Capital Dispatch
See COACH WARREN, page 6
See GUN CONTROL, page 2
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CEDAR FALLS, IA
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023 VOLUME 119, ISSUE 33
JORDAN JUNGE/NORTHERN IOWAN
UNI women’s basketball Head Coach Tanya Warren, seen speaking to point guard Maya McDermott, secured her 300th career victory on Sunday when UNI defeated Valparaiso, 83-60.
COURTESY/TALLGRASS PRAIRIE CENTER El objetivo del Tallgrass Prairie Center es empoderar a las personas para que valoren y restauren praderas de pastos altos diversas y resistentes.
PRADERAS
extendida de página 1
“El Programa de Gestión de Cunetas hace lo que exactamente dice su nombre: gestiona los bordes de las carreteras de Iowa. Es posible que no pienses en nada de eso cuando manejas por la carretera, pero suponen casi el 60% de todas las praderas de pastos altos en Iowa. ¡Está en la cuneta!”, dijo ella.
Más allá del Programa de Gestión de Cunetas, el Tallgrass Prairie Center también trabaja con agricultores para preservar praderas en tierras de cultivo a través del programa Praderas en Granjas y cultiva semillas nativas. “Todo esto es financiado por el estado”, señaló la Dra. Jackson. “Esto no va a venir de la matrícula de ningún estudiante; es el financiamiento del estado lo que nos permite investigar y preservar estas vitales praderas”.
Además de los sólidos programas que el Tallgrass Prairie Center ha establecido junto con una manada de voluntarios y socios comunitarios, el centro ahora tiene la oportunidad de conservar un terreno de 300
GUN CONTROL
continued from page 1
“It’s a family’s worst nightmare,” Biden said of the Michigan shooting.
“We have to do something to stop gun violence from ripping apart our communities,” he told attendees at the National Association of Counties conference.
In a statement issued prior to his remarks to the county officials, Biden said in the five years since Parkland and during his administration, he brought Democrats and Republicans together to pass a bipartisan gun safety bill, but more needs to be done.
“I once again call on Congress to enact common-sense gun law reforms, including requiring background checks on all gun sales, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and eliminating immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets,” he said. “We owe it to all those we’ve lost and to all those left behind to grieve to continue to act.”
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acres de praderas de pastos altos que se había usado como tierra de cultivo. La Dra. Jackson continuó señalando los beneficios ecológicos de los terrenos de praderas de pastos altos, diciendo: “es un hábitat fantástico… hay muchos faisanes en esta región, y encontrarán un hogar dentro de esta pradera. Junto con los faisanes, esperamos traer de vuelta el tordo arrocero, que anidaba aquí, pero ya no lo hace debido a la reducción de praderas de pastos altos”.
La Dra. Jackson no solo espera reconstruir un ecosistema sólido en Irvine Prairie, sino que asimismo señaló que también habrá grandes beneficios para el suelo cultivable en la región.
“No hay erosión del suelo debajo de la pradera. No se pierden nutrientes por la escorrentía, por lo que mantener la Pradera Irvine hará grandes cosas para la región”.
Hay varias formas en que los estudiantes de UNI pueden involucrarse en las praderas de pastos altos en la región, discutió la Dra. Jackson. “Uno de los secretos mejor guardados de UNI son los senderos del departamento de biología que están detrás de University Ave.”, con-
In another statement, this one on the Michigan State shooting, he said he has offered Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer any federal assistance needed.
“The fact that this shooting took place the night before this country marks five years since the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, should cause every American to exclaim ‘enough’ and demand that Congress take action,” he said.
County leaders in D.C.
The National Association of Counties is a non-governmental organization that represents more than 2,300 counties and provides legislative, research, public relations and technical assistance to those members.
The organization is wrapping up a five-day conference of workshops and briefings on federal policy that affects local government such as broadband, the upcoming farm bill, workforce development, public lands, immigration and veterans affairs, among other issues.
Similar to his State of the
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tinuó la Dra. Jackson. “Estar en la naturaleza puede ser muy beneficioso, especialmente para los estudiantes. Creo que salir a las praderas, simplemente caminar en ellas y estar conectado con la naturaleza puede ser excelente para los estudiantes”. La reserva se puede encontrar entre el centro de educación ambiental y energética y los apartamentos de ROTH, en el lado sur del campus. Además de caminar por los sender-
Union address last week, Biden touched upon his administration’s efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis and the need to allocate more funding for personnel at the border to intercept the drugs, and he mentioned how officials have seized more than 23,000 pounds of fentanyl.
He also pointed to lower gas and fuel costs, and said his administration will continue to lower inflation. The Federal Reserve has hiked interest rates in order to slow inflation.
The U.S. Department of Labor on Tuesday released January’s consumer price index, which measures a broad basket of common goods and services, and reported that inflation rose 0.05%, with rising costs of shelter, gas and fuel prices. The CPI was up 6.4% from the same period in 2022.
“In contrast, the fruits and vegetables index fell 0.5 percent over the month with the fresh vegetables index declining 2.3 percent,” according to the CPI. “The index for dairy and related products was unchanged in January.”
Biden also took a swipe at
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os, la Dra. Jackson también recomendó a los estudiantes que se hagan voluntarios del Tallgrass Prairie Center en sus próximos eventos, incluyendo la quema de praderas de abril.
“Las praderas deben ser quemadas como parte del mantenimiento general de la pradera, y los estudiantes son más que bienvenidos a ayudar y pueden inscribirse para ser entrenados en el sitio web”.
“Es tu campus”, comentó la
Republicans, saying that some wanted to cut and sunset popular social safety net programs such as Social Security and Medicare.
“You may have seen a spirited debate in my State of the Union address,” he said to attendees, adding that he felt like he was “back on a playground.”
“When I call (Republicans) out on this, the State of the Union, it sounded as though they agreed right then and there to take those cuts off the table,” he said. “I sure hope so.”
Republicans have adamantly stated that they have no plans to make cuts to those programs, but the White House cites a proposal by Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida to sunset federal programs after five years unless Congress authorizes them.
Biden also acknowledged that he shares concerns with counties about the debt ceiling issue in Congress and how that can affect their budgets. At issue is how a divided Congress will deal with the nation’s borrowing ceiling, known as the
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Dra. Jackson. “¡Involúcrate en todo lo que tiene para ofrecer!” El Tallgrass Prairie Center, con todos sus programas para mantener la naturaleza de Iowa, es uno de los muchos tesoros ocultos de UNI. La donación de Irvine Prairie beneficiará a la esfera ecológica de Iowa en los próximos años, y los beneficios de invertir en sus praderas de pastos altos se verán en las próximas décadas.
debt limit. Congress has until the summer to address it.
“In fact, even coming close to default will raise borrowing costs, (and) make it harder to finance key projects in their communities,” Biden said, referring to lawmakers.
Biden said he met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and said he wants to lay out his budget, along with McCarthy’s budget, and come to an agreement and avoid defaulting.
He said he knows there will still be “bumps in the road” but that overall, he is optimistic for the year ahead, as pieces of legislation Congress and the administration worked to pass begin to see implementation in states.
Last year, Biden pitched to NACo members his Build Back Better plan, a massive social spending and climate plan. The Build Back Better plan stalled in Congress but it was later cobbled into the Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden signed into law last year.
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NEWS FEBRUARY 16, 2023 | NORTHERNIOWAN.COM | VOLUME 119, ISSUE 33 PAGE 2
MALLORY SCHMITZ News Editor
COURTESY/TALLGRASS PRAIRIE CENTER
Hay varias formas en que los estudiantes de UNI pueden involucrarse con las praderas de pastos altos en la región.
The Pros and Cons of the Students First Act
DREW HILL Opinion Columnist
On Jan. 24, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed House File 68, better known as the “Students First Act,” into law in Iowa. This bill has also been called a “school choice” bill, because its main purpose is to give vouchers to students who attend private schools, opening up more options for parents in regard to their children’s education. This has raised a lot of controversy.
This bill has been a priority for Governor Reynolds for a couple of years. However, there had not been enough support for the bill to pass it through both the Iowa Senate and the Iowa General Assembly. After last November’s election results expanded the Republican majority in both Houses, it finally had the votes necessary to pass just three weeks into the legislative session.
According to an article in the Des Moines Register by Katie Akin and Stephen Gruber-Miller, the bill will give up to about $7,598 per year to parents in an education savings account to use for private school tuition and fees and other educational expenses. The bill would also give about $1205 to public schools for each student who uses the funds for private school within their school district. The bill is estimated to cost $345 million annually in the 2025-26 school year, when all Iowa families would be eligible.
The wider controversy
Part of the motivation for passing this bill has been carried along by a wider controversy of the current state of public schools nationwide. Other issues include whether certain books should be age-restricted and whether schools should allow parents to see all school curriculum to
know what their children are being taught. Combined with the chaos COVID-19 caused in schools for the last couple of years, these factors have led to public schools nationwide losing thousands of students.
According to an article in the New York Times by Shawn Hubler, the number of students that moved out of public schools was at least 1.2 million students nationwide from 2020 to 2022. Many parents switched to homeschooling during the pandemic, but others chose private schools that had less strict pandemic restrictions or featured more in-person learning. Iowa attempted to pass a school transparency bill last year, and that appears to be the next step in this process. This type of bill could force schools to publish curriculums and lists of books online, so parents have a better understanding of what their children are being taught.
Benefits to parents
Because of this shift to private and homeschooling, this bill can be beneficial to parents who want more options or feel a private school is more beneficial to their child’s learning.
Parents already pay state taxes for education. For parents that homeschool or send their children to private schools, they are essential-
ly paying for two educations, even though they are only using one. It makes sense to give some of that money back to those parents. According to Cora Zikuda, a senior majoring in Elementary Education here at UNI, “It gives parents more of a choice where they send their child so it better accommodates what their child needs.”
Effects on public school funding and state expense
However, some have suggested this bill will be harmful by taking funding from public schools. Some are already struggling financially. According to Anthony Houselog, a freshman majoring in Physical Education,“As a future teacher, most likely in a public school, I see this bill having a detrimental impact on public education. Public schools are already struggling financially and this bill will take much needed funding away. For example, the courses high schools offer often depend on staffing, which in turn depends on student enrollment. If enrollment decreases, so do the number of teachers and course offerings.” Even though public schools will receive some money for each student that utilizes the education savings accounts, they will not receive the full amount that they could.
The expense of the bill is also concerning to some. Considering it will apply to all Iowa families by the 2025-26 school year, some have suggested that income limits should not be phased out. They also suggest that this will mostly benefit the wealthy. Families that can already afford private school tuition will be receiving money that the state would not necessarily have to spend. However, according to an article by Ellie Krasne in the Des Moines Register, the opposite could actually be true. The first two years will impose income limits on the families that can participate, so only those making below a certain threshold can apply. Also, it will help some families that maybe could not have afforded private school tuition to afford it, potentially benefiting lower-income families.
However, Houselog also suggested that part of the wider controversy is the assumption that private schools are better than public schools. “I think the way this bill has been promoted by some lawmakers has implied that public schools are not good places to receive a quality education in Iowa and I strongly disagree with that. In my years in public elementary, middle and high school, I had some really great teachers who went above and
beyond to help all of their students, regardless of their circumstance.” Another way to look at it is that it gives parents more options regarding their children’s education to do what works best for them. For some, public schools are the best option, but for others, private or homeschool might suit them better. Zikuda mentioned that it could actually make public schools better in the long run, saying, “I think it’s good for public schools because they’ll have to strive to do better so they aren’t losing kids to private school.”
Potential for regulations
Another concern raised with the bill is about whether giving state funds to private schools could lead to more regulations of private schools. However, the bill clearly states that it does not give the state any authority to implement new regulations on private schools. The Supreme Court has also made it clear that school vouchers going to religious schools do not violate the First Amendment Establishment Clause. In fact, in the case of Carson v. Makin, which was decided in 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that a Maine tuition assistance program that did not allow state aid to go to private religious schools violated the First Amendment Free Exercise Clause.
Overall, the reduction in funding could lead to public schools struggling with funding. The bill also adds a major expense for the state. However, parents will benefit from this bill by having more options for their children’s education. Like many things, there are benefits and drawbacks to this bill, and time will tell whether one will outweigh the other.
PEXELS
OPINION FEBRUARY 16, 2023 | NORTHERNIOWAN.COM | VOLUME 119, ISSUE 37 NIXSON BENITEZ Executive Editor PAGE 3 Disclaimer: The following opinion articles featured do not reflect the opinion of the Northern Iowan newspaper or staff as a whole.
With many Republicans praising Gov. Kim Reynolds successfully passing the school choice bill education majors both praise and criticize the bill and the impact it will have on public education.
Iceland study abroad experience
PEYTON GUTHRIE Staff Writer
In early January, a small group of UNI students spent a short, faculty-led trip in Iceland. A seminar was held on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023 in Latham Hall as an opportunity for those students and faculty to share their experiences and information about their trip for any students who might be interested in studying abroad.
This specific class qualifies as a UNIFI Responsibilities Course and focuses on viewing environmental sustainability questions through a historical lens. “The course explores questions like, are we living in a manner our descendents and future citizens will remember us fondly? How can we live our lives to the fullest while making sure we are not degrading our environmental and socioeconomic structures?” says Chad Heinzal, associate professor at UNI.
Through this course, students had the opportunity to travel to Iceland and experience major scenery, interactive museums, the Blue Lagoon, local street art, exquisite cuisines, the northern lights and more. This course will be offered again during winter break of 2023-24, as well as in the summer of 2024 to provide UNI students oppor-
tunities for new experiences. Students who are interested in Heinzal’s program can get in contact with him through his email at chad.heinzal@uni. edu, or in-person in Latham Hall 116 or Seerley Hall 12.
Charity Eckhardt, the faculty-led study abroad advisor for Heinzal’s program, is also available for inquiries about his program.
Along with Heinzal’s program, there are many opportunities to study abroad. “The
benefits of studying abroad are numerous and different for each person,” Heinzal says. Studying abroad enables students to learn about the culture, heritage and history of others around the world. Students may meet new friends, discover new favorite foods or learn alternative ways to live their lives to the fullest. For courses like Heinzal’s that fall under UNIFI courses, students can also earn credits towards
their degree. When moving on from college, students may also find that their experiences abroad have set them apart from other job applicants as they have different experiences, perspectives and skills.
Students studying new languages can have the opportunity to increase their skills in natural settings by studying in areas where that language is native. “We have also found that students who study abroad often gain a greater
understanding or appreciation of their families, friends and local environments and home.” Heinzal said. There are many ways to get started with your study abroad experience. “The study abroad office and aculty work to make sure UNI student experiences are exciting, meaningful and cost effective,” suggests Heinzal. Multiple opportunities are made available to UNI students with short-term programs offered during winter and summer breaks, and longer trips are made available to study abroad at a university for a semester. There are also opportunities to learn more about studying abroad at study abroad fairs hosted at UNI.
Students who are looking for more information have a large number of ways to figure out what study abroad options are available and best for them. The study abroad website, https://uni.edu/ studyabroad/, is available to showcase current opportunities. The Study Abroad main office can be contacted through email at studyabroad@uni.edu and is located at 103 East Bartlett Hall. Students can also visit the @abroaduni page on Instagram for more information and updates.
VOX POP
What are you looking forward to this semester?
Quotes and Photos by: Aubrey Schafbuch
Alexandra Herrera, 21, third year, IDS major
In one of my classes I am doing a social media marketing campaign and it’s just awesome. I am really excited for it.
Jacob Butler, 21, third year,
The thing I am looking forward to the most this semester is interning with Around the Corner Productions with Eric Braley and helping with the ESPN broadcast for the university.
Maddie Hamilton, 21, third year, theater performance and theater for youth and communities major I am looking forward the most to Theater UNI’s production of Radium Girls (March 1-5). I am playing Marie Curie and I’m really excited. It will be my first time acting again since last year’s Cinderella.
I changed my major so I’m looking forward to all the new changes that come with that. I’m excited to meet new people and new professors.
I look forward to graduating this semester and starting a new career at Veridian Credit Union.
CAMPUS LIFE FEBRUARY 16, 2023 | NORTHERNIOWAN.COM | VOLUME 119, ISSUE 37 PAGE 4
Digital Media Production
Connor Olson, 21, third year, English teaching major
Emily Seliga, 21, fourth year, Business Administration major
DIAMOND ROUNDTREE Campus Life Editor
PEXELS
Amongst a variety of opportunities that UNI offers, study abroad is one that could help students widen their perspectives of the world.
Panther portrait: Study abroad trip to Iceland
COURTESY/UNI STUDY ABROAD CAMPUS LIFE FEBRUARY 2, 20223 | NORTHERNIOWAN.COM | VOLUME 119, ISSUE 33 PAGE 5 DIAMOND ROUNDTREE Campus Life Editor
Chiefs prevail over Eagles in Super Bowl LVII
PAUL NOBLE Sports Writer
With 11 seconds remaining, Harrison Butker propelled the Kansas City Chiefs over the Philadelphia Eagles with a 27-yard game-winning field goal to win Super Bowl 57. However, this might have been the most anticlimactic game-winning field goal in Super Bowl history.
With 1:54 remaining, it was actually a 35-35 tie game. The Chiefs had a third and eight from the Philadelphia 15-yard line.
Patrick Mahomes dropped back to pass and threw deep in the corner of the endzone for JuJu SmithSchuster. The pass was incomplete. The Chiefs were surely going to kick a field goal, and Jalen Hurts would get a shot at a game-winning drive
for the Eagles. The ending would be one of the best in Super Bowl history, right? Wrong.
Unfortunately for Philadelphia, a little yellow flag sat on the freshcut grass in Glendale, Ariz. Philadelphia’s James Bradberry was called for holding, which set the Chiefs up with a fresh set of downs and control of the clock. “I don’t love that call,” Fox analyst Greg Olsen immediately said on the live broadcast, and many other people didn’t either. On the next play, Jerick McKinnon got the ball. As McKinnon approached the end zone ready to score, he slid down on the 2-yard line, purposely deciding not to score. Instead, the Chiefs kneeled the ball twice and put the trust in their kicker Butker. While it may not have been the final two-minute script fans were hoping for, the rest of the game sure did live up to the hype.
The Chiefs found themselves down 24-14 at the half. In the first two quarters, Jalen Hurts threw for
one touchdown and rushed for two. Mahomes, on the other hand, had a rough first half. Kansas City’s lone offensive touchdown came from the opening drive, and the rest of the first half offensively was not ideal for the Chiefs. The Chiefs had two punts, a missed field goal and a reaggravated Mahomes ankle in the first half.
Mahomes and the Chiefs came out swinging in the second half. In the first 18 minutes of play, the Chiefs managed two 75-yard touchdown drives. While the Eagles put together a brilliant 17-play drive, it ended in just three points. The Chiefs, at this point, had taken the lead 28-27.
With 10:33 in the fourth quarter, the Eagles punted from their 32-yard line after a three-and-out stop by the Kansas City defense. Kadarius Toney caught the ball at the Kansas City 30 and ran it back 65 yards to the Philadelphia 5-yard line. A couple of plays later, Sky Moore brought in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes, and with the PAT, the Chiefs
had taken the lead 35-27. Kansas City was in control, but Hurts and the Eagles put together a 75-yard drive, capped off by a third rushing touchdown for Hurts, which put the Eagles within two, 35-33. A successful twopoint conversion by Hurts tied up the game at 35-35. From there, Mahomes led the Chiefs on a 12-play, 66-yard drive, and converted two third downs along the way, one thanks to the controversial holding call on Bradberry, before Butker kicked the game-winning 27-yard field goal.
Kansas City head coach Andy Reid was showered in Gatorade, and the Chiefs won their second Super Bowl in the last four years. Mahomes was named Super Bowl MVP, making Mahomes the first quarterback to win NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same year since UNI’s Kurt Warner did so in 1999 with the St. Louis Rams. It was an extraordinary year for the Chiefs, and the Mahomes Magic sure looks like it’s here to stay.
The Panthers did not let up in the final quarter, getting up by as much as 27 points. The Beacons had no chance of making a comeback, and the Panthers came away with the victory, 83-60.
While this was a huge victory to get the Panthers to first place in the conference, it was an even bigger victory for UNI
Head Coach Tanya Warren. With the Panther victory, Coach Warren recorded her 300th career victory. The game also marked her 507th game coached, giving her the all-time record for games coached in the Missouri Valley Conference, two amazing milestones for Coach Warren.
“Today was another terrific team win,” Coach Warren said after the game. “As for the mile -
stones today, I can’t say enough about the past and present people who have helped me throughout the course of my journey. This milestone could not be possible without them. This is way bigger than me, it always has been. It’s a lot to take in. It’s hard to process that I was introduced to this game at five and for 50 plus years had my dad at my side. We lost him in June and I’m still trying to process all
of this without him. It’s a lot and I’m extremely blessed to be surrounded by amazing people. Our administration, our staff, our players. This is all a credit to everybody that’s been a part of this program.”
All in all, it was a great day for the Panthers. However, things are only getting more exciting and challenging. The Panthers next game is against conference co-leader Illinois
State. The Panthers won the first matchup in Normal, Ill., but the winner of this contest will be in sole possession of first place in the conference. The Panthers will be hosting Illinois State in the McLeod Center on Thursday, Feb. 16. The game will start at 6 p.m.
SPORTS FEBRUARY 16, 2023 | NORTHERNIOWAN.COM | VOLUME 119, ISSUE 37 DAVID WARRINGTON Sports Editor PAGE 6 NFL
PEXELS
A controversial defensive holding call helped secure the Chiefs 38-35 victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.
COACH WARREN continued from page 1
STEPH STARK/NORTHERN IOWAN
Head Coach Tanya Warren, alongside her staff and bench, celebrate a game-winning shot. Coach Warren just picked up her 300th career victory, a huge milestone in an already illustrious career. Coach Warren also broke the Missouri Valley Conference record for most games coached, leading the Panthers in her 507th game at the helm.
Panthers start 0-5 at UNI-Dome Classic
BEN LAHART Sports Writer
The UNI softball team started off their 2023 season last weekend as they hosted the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic. The Panthers are coming off their best season since 2017. UNI is the reigning Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) regular season champion, with a 32-13 record and a 22-2 conference record. The Panthers played in a tournament featuring Nebraska, Omaha, Iowa State and South Dakota but uncharacteristically finished 0-5.
In the first matchup against Omaha, UNI started off hot in what turned out to be a high scoring affair. The first at-bat of the season for the Panthers was a home run by Mya Dodge. Taylor Hogan hit an RBI later in the inning to put the Panthers up 2-1 after the first.
In the third inning, UNI gave up a two-run home run with two outs, putting them behind 3-2. The Panthers responded with RBIs from Brooke Snider and Sammy Moss to give UNI the lead again, 4-3, after three innings.
UNI gave up a run in the fourth inning, but a second RBI for Snider in the fifth inning gave the Panthers the lead again at 5-4. This is where things turned for the worst for the Panthers. UNI gave up a tying run in the sixth inning, and in the top of an extra eighth inning, gave up the game-winning run and lost 6-5.
The second game of the tournament was also against Omaha. However, this game featured much less scoring. After a scoreless first inning, UNI scored a run off of a Faith Standerski RBI to take a 1-0 lead. The Panthers held that lead until Omaha hit a two-run homer in the top of the sixth to take a 2-1 lead. After a scoreless seventh inning, the 2-1 score held, and Omaha once again took down the Panthers.
UNI next played Iowa State who jumped out to a lead with a two-run homer in the second inning. The Panthers responded with an Addison McElrath RBI in the second and an Alexis Pupillo home run in the third to tie the game 2-2. A fourth inning home run for the Cyclones followed by a three-run fifth inning built the ISU lead up to 6-2.
UNI had a late surge in the seventh inning as Pupillo batted in two more runs but it wasn’t enough and the Panthers lost 6-4.
The next game was once again against Iowa State. UNI started with a Moss RBI in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. In the top of the third inning the Panthers gave up four runs to the Cyclones to which they responded with a Kylee Sanders RBI. These were the last runs the Panthers would score, while Iowa State scored another four runs in the fifth inning and ultimately won 8-2.
The Panthers final game of the weekend came against the University of South Dakota. UNI gave up a run in the first inning but were able to bounce back in the third. The Panthers scored five runs in the inning off of a Pupillo RBI and three errors that allowed for four runs. This put UNI ahead 5-1. South Dakota responded with back-to-back fourrun frames in the fifth and sixth innings. UNI scored once more off of a Madison Parks RBI in the sixth inning leading to a South Dakota victory, 9-6.
The 0-5 start for the Panthers is certainly a sur-
prise for the preseason pick to win the MVC, but there are a lot of games left to be played. Last year, the 32-13 conference champion Panthers started off 2-7 before winning 24 of their last 28 games. UNI’s next game will be on Wednesday,
Feb. 22 against Austin Peay State University at 3 p.m. in Clarksville, Tenn. The Panthers went 1-1 against Austin Peay last season, outscoring them 8-7 across the two games.
UNI falls to Northern Illinois, Chicago State
CADEN SHEA Sports Writer
The University of Northern Iowa tennis team was on the road in Illinois this week as they faced off with both the Northern
Illinois Huskies and the Chicago State Cougars in dual action. Although they would put up valiant efforts, they would end up falling to both teams. Thaissa Moreira was the only Panther in both outings to be victorious in
her matches.
First up was the doubles matches against Northern Illinois. The team of Lorena Cardoso and Darta Dalecka lost their match 6-1 against their opponents. Andrijana Brkic and Kim Zizek were also unable to get their job done against the Huskies. Moreira and her partner Issa Sullivan were partially into their game against their opponents until it was ultimately suspended when the Huskies clinched the doubles point while up 4-2.
Dalecka was unsuccessful in her singles outing as well against Northern Illinois. She lost her first two sets against her opponent. The outcome was similar for Brkic as she also lost her sets with nearly identical scoring. Zizek tried to open up the win column for the Panthers but also lost in straight sets.
Moreira sought redemption for her team and got it as she defeated her opponent in straight sets (6-1, 6-4). Sullivan put up an effort against the Huskies but ultimately retired while trailing 5-0. Lasya Mylavarapu only lost her first set by two points and was optimistic that the second would be her chance at victory. Unfortunately, she lost the following set 6-0 to give the Panthers the definitive dual loss.
The Panthers would go right back at it the following day as they faced Chicago State. In doubles action all three teams improved, but not enough to claim victory. Dalecka and Cardoso lost 6-4, Brkic and Zizek lost 6-4 and Moreira and Sullivan lost 6-0.
Dalecka was up first in singles action and lost to Cali Fuller of Chicago State 6-2, 6-4. Brkic had a very
close first set, ultimately losing 7-5, before losing the match after a 6-2 second set. Zizek had a very competitive match, claiming the first set 6-4, before dropping the ensuing sets, 7-5, 10-5. Moreira defeated Sofiya Sedovich in a tightly contested match. She lost the first set 6-2, before winning the next two 6-4 and 10-3, respectively. Sullivan lost her singles match in straight sets. Mylavarapu also dropped her last matchup of the weekend in straight sets to give the Cougars a dual victory.
The Panthers will return home this weekend as they face the St. Thomas Tommies on Friday, Feb. 17 at 4 p.m., before taking on the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. at the Black Hawk Tennis Club in Waterloo.
FEBRUARY 16, 2023 | NORTHERNIOWAN.COM | VOLUME 119, ISSUE 37 PAGE 7 SPORTS DAVID WARRINGTON Sports Editor SOFTBALL
TENNIS
COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS
Mya Dodge got the season started with a bang, hitting a home run during UNI’s first at-bat of the season.
COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS
Thaissa Moreira had a successful weekend for the Panthers, winning both of her singles matches.
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