2-22-2021

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UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA CEDAR FALLS, IA

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THURSDAY, APRIL 5

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22

VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42

VOLUME 117, ISSUE 35

COVID-19

UNI DM

FOOTBALL

NEWS PAGE 2

CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 4

SPORTS PAGE 6

COVID-19 numbers remain steady on the UNI campus.

SDSU Jackrabbits edge UNI Panthers 24-20 in first game of the year.

UNI Dance Marathon adapts to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.

Amid harassment allegations, Butt withdraws from NISG race EMMA’LE MAAS

Executive Editor

Following social media uproar and allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct, Muhammad Shamir Butt has withdrawn from the 2021-2022 NISG presidential race, along with his running mate Bilal Hussain. Running now unopposed are Samantha Bennett and Alisanne Struck. In an interview with the Northern Iowan on Friday, Feb. 19, Bennett chose not to focus on Bennett’s withdrawal, instead expressing her excitement for the road ahead. “I firmly believe that if you’re a good person, and if you work hard, then that’ll come through in what you do, and people will know this, and that’s what keeps me hopeful,” she said. Butt declined to comment following his withdrawal. The accusations against Butt began circulating on

Thursday, Feb. 18, when current NISG President Elle Boeding posted a statement on her personal website asking students not to vote for Butt due to his alleged history of harassment and sexual misconduct. “Speaking truth to power is scary,” Boeding wrote. “But, the thought of not speaking my truth and not doing all I can to protect and inform UNI students is far scarier.” Boeding wrote about personal experiences with Butt, spanning back to her own campaign in 2020. She described how she was campaigning in Maucker Union when Butt interrupted her explanation of their ticket’s plans for equity-based issues to ask, “Don’t you think students of color make everything about diversity? Don’t you think Black students think they should get all the attention?”

SAMANTHA BENNETT AND ALISANNE STRUCK/Courtesy Photo

Bennett and Struck now run unopposed after Butt and Hussain withdraw from the NISG presidential race.

Boeding also focused on the campus environment which she feels enabled Butt. “I am sad that our campus has rewarded his behavior and ‘leadership,’ when in reality he has been the farthest thing

from a leader,” she wrote. “I do not even hate him; really, I am indifferent towards him, but I am not indifferent towards this cause. For far too long on this campus, we have let bad men take and

take and take — with no accountability. Shamir is a symptom of a system that is long broken, and this ends with me.”

parts of the ceremony could be eliminated, including the processional, the shaking of President Nook’s hand, the distribution of diploma covers and the platform party or grand marshals. In addition, many faculty members who are typically involved with the ceremony who are at high risk for COVID19 complications would be unlikely to participate. The UNI-Dome was discussed as a possible venue for the ceremony, as there are no outdoor venues large enough to accommodate the event. Although athletic events have been held in the UNI-Dome, the university has concerns about holding commencement there, as they discussed in a statement for KWWL. “The total capacity for the UNI-Dome is currently limited to 2,600 people,” the

statement reads. “If graduation were moved there, even if we limited each of our graduates to just one spectator, we would already be over capacity. If we split the event into multiple days/times we would still need to limit the number of guests.” The athletic events held also required extensive COVID19 cautionary procedures that would not be possible to execute for commencement. “Due to the number of participants, a commencement ceremony requires a larger number of employees to be involved and increases the health risk to our employees,” the statement reads. “As part of NCAA requirements, many of the employees involved in our athletic events are required to follow strict testing and quarantine protocols that we cannot

require of other employees. It is not likely that many of our employees will have been vaccinated by the time of commencement.” Other worries addressed by the committee included concerns that eight to ten thousand people may be brought into Black Hawk County as a result of the ceremony, resulting in the spread of COVID-19 cases. The continually changing regulations from the governor and the CDC may also result in last minute changes to the ceremony. Finally, they discussed how to enforce mask wearing and social distancing, as well as addressing how students may be disappointed with the experience since it will not be normal.

See WITHDRAW, page 4

In-person commencement bill introduced CAROLINE CHRISTENSEN Staff Writer

In response to backlash against UNI’s decision to hold spring commencement online, the Commencement Committee (which consists

of students, faculty and staff) held an emergency meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 16 in order to discuss possible alternatives to a fully online ceremony. The committee noted that to hold a safe in-person ceremony, many traditional

CARTER NORDMAN/Courtesy Photo

UNI alumnus and newly elected Representative Carter Nordman introduces new bill that would require in-person spring commencements.

See COMMENCEMENT, page 2


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2-22-2021 by Northern Iowan - Issuu