2-27-23

CEDAR FALLS, IA

OPINION

Opinion Columnist

Bailey Klinkhammer discusses Netflix’s recent pitfalls.

OPINION PAGE 3

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2023

CAMPUS LIFE

Read personal stories from some of Iowa’s Black leaders.

CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 4

Black-owned businesses bloom in the Cedar Valley

VOLUME 119, ISSUE 39

SPORTS

Women’s basketball loses to Belmont Bruins 82-77, takes down Murray State Racers 76-48.

SPORTS PAGE 6

Election Results: Taking your ABC’s into 2023 and 2024

With an 18.7% margin, Micaiah Krutsinger and Liz Montalvo will be your 20232024 student body president and vice president. This year’s voter turnout is three times higher in comparison to 2021, according to Northern Iowan Student Government (NISG) Chief Justice Parker Daniels. About 12% of the student body voted in this year’s election — this includes both part-time and full-time students based on spring enrollment.

COURTESY/FACEBOOK

Ebony King of Waterloo, Iowa, started her clay jewely business as simply a hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today she is the proud owned of Formed, specializing in jewelry design and workshops. She is pictured above with her husband Travor and her products on display at a vendor fair.

February is Black History

Month, a time when local communities are encouraged to think about the profound effect Black History has on American History. In the Cedar Falls area, there are

Traducción:

UNI desvela su plan estratégico para 2023-2028 con la consigna de “Crear. Empoderar. Innovar”. El plan consiste de cuatro metas. La primera meta es crear oportunidades equitativas, diversas e inclusivas, la segunda meta es de empoderar las comunidades a formar su futuro, la tercera meta es innovar para el éxito del aprendizaje y la cuarta meta es administrar efectivamente los recursos.

Drew Conrad es uno de los copresidentes del comité del plan estratégico de 2023-2028 (SPC por sus siglas en inglés) y ha trabajado en UNI por 30 años como el director institucional de hacer decisiones, lo cual es uno de los programas de extensión de desarrollo económico en UNI entre la división de

multiple opportunities for students and community members to show their support for the Black business community.

Joy Briscoe is the executive director of ONE Cedar Valley, a local organization devoted to removing barriers for multicultural business owners as a response to the

24/7 Wall Street Report listing Waterloo/Cedar Falls in the top ten of the worst metro areas for Black Americans in the United States. According to Briscoe, ONE Cedar Valley serves as a mobilizer for the local community.

 See BLACK BUSINESSES , page 2

A total of 945 votes were cast, with 700 of those votes being cast on Tuesday, Feb. 21. With the ice storm affecting university business and operations, 200 votes were reported on Wednesday.

Results:

Sam and Christelle 382 votes with 40.4 %

Micaiah and Liz 559 votes with 59.1%

Other write-in candidates: .04%

After weeks of competitive compaigning, Michaiah Krutsinger and Liz Montalvo won the election by over 150 votes.

On Instagram, Sam Caughron and Christelle Tungu made a statement formally congratulating Krutsinger and Montalvo on their win.

“Even though Christelle and I will not be serving in the roles we had imagined, both of us will continue to serve the student body and work our hardest to implement the changes you all deserve to see. Will continue to show up for you, day in and day out. This is our new pact, from us to you,” Caughron and Tungu said on their Instagram.

 See ELECTION RESULTS , page 2

UNI desvela un plan estratégico para el 2023-2028

los negocios y servicios para la comunidad de UNI (BCS en inglés). “El presidente Nook le preguntó a mí y a Nikki Skaar, profesora asociada y coordinadora del programa de psicología escolar, a copresidir para el plan estratégico de 20232028 (SPC) y ayudar a navegar el proceso de la planificación estratégico. Nosotros tuvimos un buen grupo de estudiantes, facultad y empleados que sirvieron en SPC. También tuvimos una buena facilitación de líderes por Randy Pilkington, director ejecutivo de BCS, y Andrew Morse, jefe anterior de gabinete del presidente Nook”, dijo Conrad.

De acuerdo con Conrad, el nuevo plan estratégico es un paso adelante hacia a un plan más grande que va a cultivar en el futuro para UNI. “El nuevo plan estratégico continuará a UNI en nuestro camino de tra-

bajar en la visión del futuro de UNI – lo que deseamos que sea UNI para 2051 cuando celebra su 175 aniversario. Yo creo que los estudiantes de ahora y los del futuro son el enfoque central de nuestro nuevo plan”, dice Conrad. “Esto también está reflejado con creando equitativas, diversas e inclusivas oportunidades al frente y al centro del nuevo plan, al lado del aprendizaje exitoso dentro y fuera del salón. La participación de la comunidad y también ayudando a construir un mejor Iowa está elevada con el nuevo plan”.

Hay más para el nuevo plan también fuera del salón. Una de las metas principales de UNI es crear más conexiones con la gran comunidad de Cedar Valley y crear oportunidades para los estudiantes en la nueva y en el desarrollo de la área de estudio.

“Yo creo que es un tiempo muy emocionante para UNI. El nuevo plan estratégico es parte de la agitación y va ha ayudarnos a quedar enfocados en nuestras prioridades. El nuevo plan estratégico también ha estimulado muchos esfuer-

zos de planificación estratégica sobre el campus por los colegios, departamentos académicos y otros programas. Es maravilloso”, dice Conrad.

NI ARCHIVES

El plan estratégico para el 2023-2028 incluye crear más oportunidades equitativas, diversas e inclusivas para los estudiantes fuera y dentro del salón. La imagen arriba representa dos estudiantes participando en UNI’s Rainbow Reception que sucedió en agosto–un celebración de estudiantes LGBTQ+–una parte de la diversa población de estudiantes.

ERIN MCRAE Escritora YESSENIA RODRÍGUEZ Traductora

ERIN MCRAE Staff Writer

NIXSON BENITEZ Executive Editor

NIXSON BENITEZ & MALLORY SCHMITZ

N.I. EN ESPAÑOL

BLACK BUSINESSES

continued from page 1

“We are providing equitable career readiness programming that not only assists with upskilling while addressing barriers to meaningful employment, we are seeking to be the bridge for employers to work with nonprofits to create stronger, more vibrant communities,” Briscoe said.

Some of the services that ONE Cedar Valley provides include local youth internships, connecting businesses with Black-owned suppliers, and facilitating information on increasing diversity in local organizations.

For Briscoe, Black History

Month is a time for Americans to remember not only our history but where we are going. “It’s a time to recognize Black leaders who have paid the

price and continue to pay the price for democracy. We have to look back to go forward and not make the same mistakes of the past,” Briscoe said. “We can and should always connect Black history to a need for financial freedom as well. This is where businesses come into place and where we as a community can look to create a more equitable business environment.”

For individuals interested in contributing to a more equitable business environment, Briscoe said there are steps consumers and businesses can take. “Shop with local Black business owners, ensure they are a part of your supplier list and when they are a part of your diversity supplier program don’t just have them as a name, but use their services and products. This can take a little more work to research and find Black-owned businesses, but the benefits of increasing economic mobility for our community is priceless and worth the investment,” Briscoe said.

to be a statistic,” King said. “I didn’t really get a say when I was younger, so I vowed to make something of myself and really try to encourage other at-risk youth to do the same.”

After experimenting with clay jewelry-making during the COVID-19 pandemic, King quickly discovered that a lot of people were interested in purchasing her products. Her business took off quickly, and King was featured on the popular Magnolia website founded by Chip and Joanna Gaines as one of the top 50 Black artisans to watch. “Business came sweeping in, and I made a decision to see where this would go,” King said. “I started selling at markets in 2021, in addition to my online shop.”

COURTESY/LINKEDIN

Joy Briscoe, executive director of ONE Cedar Valley, encourages both consumers and businesses to shop with local Black business owners to work toward creating a more equitable business environment in the Cedar Valley.

PLAN ESTRATÉGICO

extendida de página 1

“Tienen a individuos y unidades sinceramente pensando en donde ellos quieren estar en cinco años y lo que necesitan para completar lo que han imaginado y cómo sus prioridades van a ayudar a lograr las prioridades en el 2023-2028 plan estratégico de UNI y ayudar la universidad en conseguir su visión del futuro”.

Para más información del 2023-2028 plan estratégico de UNI, visita a strategicplan. uni.edu

NORTHERN IOWAN

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319.273.6826

EMMA KOEHLER

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319.273.6420

Ebony King is the owner of Formed, a business in Waterloo that specializes in clay jewelry designs and workshops. For King, the journey to owning her own business was not an easy one.“I was born and raised here in Waterloo, Iowa. I was raised in foster care from the age of 2 until I aged out at 18.

I have always wanted to make sure my life was showing other children and youth in foster care that you don’t have

ELECTION RESULTS

continued from page 1

Krutsinger and Montalvo thanked Caughron and Tungu as well for their hard work for the past two weeks.

“With the engagement both campaigns showed with the student body, we are looking forward to continuing this engagement next year within NISG,” Krutsinger and Montalvo said from their official Instagram page.

College Elections

For the College of Business no senate candidates were running, and no write-in candi-

EDITORIAL STAFF

MALLORY SCHMITZ News Editor schmimbt@uni.edu

DIAMOND ROUNDTREE Campus Life Editor diamondr@uni.edu

DAVID WARRINGTON Sports Editor warringd@uni.edu

SOPHIE HOFFMEIER Copy Editor hoffmeis@uni.edu

KARINA ORTIZ Spanish Editor ortizkac@uni.edu

But her success was not without struggle. In the early stages of building her website, King encountered many obstacles as a young Black business owner. “I was not being seen on platforms even though I was doing the work, posting every day, posting at peak times, trending sounds, etc.,” King said. “I even hired a service to help. I have to work extra hard to be seen and appreciated. I also still have people making racial comments when I sell my items in person. It’s pretty crazy.”

King emphasized that Black History Month means reflecting on the sacrifices other Black Americans made. “I’m a firm believer that Black History is everyone’s history, and should always be celebrated. I don’t want some -

dates were made, leaving three vacant seats unfilled.

For the College of Education no senate candidates were running for these seats and there were no write-in candidates. The senate seats remain unfilled.

For the College of Humanities Arts and Sciences: Geneva Bell received 89.8% with a total of 265 responses. James Carolus received 56.3% with a total of 166 total responses. About 4.4% of the votes went to the other category, but they weren’t sufficient enough to offer a seat. Two of the seats are now filled and the other two remain vacant.

For the College of Social

PRODUCTION

Ebony King finds joy in her jewely business, but still faces many obstacles as a Black business that impact her visability and her experiences with customers. She wants people to support her and her business not only during Black History Month, but year-round.

one’s business if it’s only in February. I want people who choose to support me 12 months out of the year because they believe in what I do all year… Not just when they feel obligated in February,” King said.

For more information about Formed, including market dates, workshop events and private party booking,

and Behavioral Sciences, Caleb Gehle received 76.2% with a total of 147 total responses, and Cooper Messina received 62.2% with a total of 120 responses. The last candidate, Joshua Walsh received 54.9% with a total of 106 responses. Anna Singelstad got 3% of the vote with five total responses. It only takes five people to write-in a candidate to earn them a seat, according to Daniels. All four candidates filled their seats leaving zero vacancies.

For the graduate college, two senate seats are left vacant. The same goes for the interdisciplinary and exploratory college. EMMA

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visit this website: https:// formedclaydesigns.wixsite. com/formed

For more information about ONE Cedar Valley, visit this website: https://www.onecedarvalley.com/

COURTESY/SAM CAUGHRON

While they will not be filling the roles of student body president and vice present, Sam Caughron and Christelle Tungu stated on Instagram that they will continue to serve the student body in other ways.

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COURTESY/FACEBOOK

Netflix: The rise and fall of the streaming empire

In 2007, Netflix began its on demand streaming program in the United States. Taking the leap from DVD rentals to streaming was a giant risk with a dramatic payoff. Now, Netflix serves 230 million subscribers across the globe and is ranked 115th in the Fortune 500. But, as the field of streaming becomes more crowded, will the company that started the streaming fire be the first to burn out?

Netflix launched in 1997 under its two founders, Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings. Upon entering the at-home entertainment market, Netflix originally allowed renters to rent a title, and have it shipped to them through the mail, and then return the title with no late fees, handling fees, or shipping fees. After launching this, CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, offered the two founders $16 million dollars for the company, which Hastings eventually shot down. As Netflix transitioned to a subscription method, where subscribers pay a flat fee to rent movies monthly at their convenience, Netflix began to flounder financially. On top of changing a subscription

method, the company followed the ‘dot com’ movement of the 2000s, creating a website for their company. Due to their financial struggles, Randolph and Hastings offered their company to Blockbuster for $50 million dollars, to which Blockbuster CEO John Antioco laughed at.

But, despite Netflix’s financial struggles, a large layoff, and bringing the company public, Netflix was just beginning to grow. In 2003, Netflix turned its first profit, and by 2005, the company was shipping out an estimated 1 million DVDs a day. In 2007, Netflix established its online streaming service. But, the rental service still proved to be far more popular considering the vast amount of titles available to rent, compared to the 1,000 titles available on the streaming service. Finally, in 2009, just two years after its introduction, Netflix’s streaming service profits overtook its DVD rental service. People in entertainment could no longer ignore the power that Netflix had when it came to distribution of media. In 2010, Netflix made deals with production companies such as Warner Brothers, Universal and

20th Century Fox to delay streaming new releases to almost a month after the release so that production companies could still profit off of DVD releases. Also in 2010, Sony Pictures distributed the rights of Breaking Bad to Netflix, in hopes that online streaming ratings would save the show. Their hopes were fulfilled, and “Breaking Bad” ratings had more than doubled by the airing of its fifth season, largely due to subscribers being able to binge the past four seasons on Netflix.

Beginning in 2013, Netflix began a runaway train of producing original content, starting with “Orange is the New Black” in 2013. On top of producing their own original content, Netflix began signing contracts to produce original content for Marvel and Star Wars, Disney’s largest franchises. In 2016, just three years after Netflix began producing original content, Netflix’s original catalog had ballooned to 126 TV shows and films. Netflix’s success in this era cannot be understated. Well-loved shows like The Office, Friends, Community and Seinfeld brought subscribers to the platform, and Netflix’s massive original catalog kept viewers paying Netflix’s monthly price. Netflix has had an incredible run when it comes to creating a streaming empire. For so long, they’ve been considered the standard when it comes to on-demand content. But, as more and more production companies and television networks realize they can turn a similar profit to Netflix, the streaming field becomes more crowded, and streaming services that once aspired to be Netflix are now surpassing them.

As of right now, Netflix’s real competition lies in four specific streaming services. Of these

include Hulu, who reported 47.2 million subscribers at the end of 2022, Disney+, who reported 164.2 million subscribers, HBO Max, who reported 48.6 million subscribers, and Paramount+, who reported 66.5 million subscribers in quarter 3 of 2022. Of these services, Netflix is the most established and longest-running streaming platform, giving it a leg up over other streaming companies. Along with this Netflix, doesn’t feature ads on the platform (yet), making it a bit more desirable than other streaming platforms that have an ad plan. But, Netflix finds itself stumbling to be able to keep subscribers, for a multitude of different reasons. One of these reasons includes the mass cancellation of shows that people are genuinely interested in. A few of the more popular original titles that have fallen victim to mass cancellation include The Society, Anne With An E, Santa Carita Diet, and The Patriot Act. As Netflix continues to dump shows that viewers love, the streaming giant has garnered many people who are turning on the streaming service, and instead turning to Netflix’s competitors. Hulu and HBO Max have seen a sharp upturn in subscriber ratings as they climb the totem pole of streaming services. HBO Max’s original content such as Euphoria, The White Lotus, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us and Succession have garnered a large following online and mass critical acclaim, alongside a long list of award nominations and wins. A part of these shows’ cultural success is the method HBO Max uses to distribute the content. HBO Max, unlike Netflix, utilizes a weekly release schedule. HBO Max’s original TV content usually runs in a 10-week 60 minute slot,

dropping episodes at 9pm ET on Sunday nights during a show’s run. HBO Max’s current 9pm Sunday slot is occupied by The Last of Us. In the past, it’s been occupied by “Euphoria,” which was one of the most live-tweeted shows of all time in 2022, and the 9pm Sunday slot will return to Succession for its season four run after The Last of Us season one’s finale. This model has garnered acclaim from subscribers as making content more digestible and more enjoyable to watch. Some could even accredit HBO Max with bringing back “water-cooler” discussions, finding many people discussing Sunday night’s episode Monday morning with friends or co-workers. Compared to Netflix’s most recent episode release model, releasing the first half of a season and then the second half of a season the next month, the weekly episode drop is far more successful at maintaining people’s attention.

On top of not being able to keep up with subscriber episode release preferences, Netflix has also successfully shot themselves in the foot with their recent password sharing updates. Netflix’s new user guidelines for password sharing involves users sharing an account to be connected to the same WiFi, which is their ‘Home WiFi Source’. If devices linked to a shared account move from their Home WiFi Source, or do not reconnect to their Home WiFi source at least one time in the span of a month, they will effectively be blocked from the account. For the college students still on their parents, friends, or family’s Netflix account, these new guidelines put students at risk of being blocked from the streaming platform.

BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Opinion Columnist

PEXELS

Streaming services have boomed in popularity, and now Netlfix has competition with other streaming giants.

The untold stories of Iowa’s Black leaders

Why do we focus on Black trauma rather than Black joy, achievement and success?

was brave enough to stand up to injustice? Things came to a head for me when in a high school history class a student asked the teacher why enslaved people never rebelled against their oppressors. The teacher literally stood dumbfounded and had no answer. I decided that day that I would seek the answers.

state and national levels, to advance human and civil rights for Black Americans.

MAYA BUCHANAN Guest Columnist

Editor’s Note: This op-ed is apart of the NI’s Black History Month Coverage.

When I was in elementary school, I was always excited when Black History Month was celebrated. When I was in middle school, this excitement started turning into dread and shame. We would learn about enslavement, beatings, rapes and murders — but never about the range of Black Americans who fought from the inception of slavery to today to achieve freedom and equity.

I often asked myself if this was all there was to our history. Did my ancestors just bow their heads and allow this to happen to them until Abraham Lincoln delivered their freedom? Or did we just have one hero, Martin Luther King Jr., that

I majored in African American Studies and immersed myself in a project called the Colored Conventions. This project changed my entire perspective on Black history, specifically Black achievement. We learn about some of the greats like Madame C.J. Walker or George Washington Carver, but what about those who paved the way for them — those whose names are not written in the history books?

I would like to tell the story of three important Iowans who have slipped through the cracks of our books.

From 1830 until long after the Civil War, the Colored Conventions took place. They were gatherings of Black American delegates from different communities throughout the country. These conventions were political meetings, held on

Throughout Iowa’s history, there were a series of Colored Conventions, and Iowa sent a delegate to the national convention in Washington D.C. This delegate, Alexander Clark, was a barber in Muscatine, Iowa. Alexander dedicated his life to advocacy and the advancement of Black Americans. His most notable petition was for integrated schools in Iowa. Clark’s daughter, Susan, attended the colored school in Muscatine which only went to 8th grade.

Susan wanted to continue her education, which meant she could only attend the white schools. Iowa schools were segregated and would not allow her admittance. Clark sued the public school system and ultimately the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in his favor. Clark’s case desegregated schools in Iowa 90 years before the rest of the country.

Clark’s experience with the Supreme Court led him to apply to University of Iowa Law School where he was denied entry because he was Black. Clark fought for his son, Alexander Jr., to attend the law school, where he became the first Black

graduate — Alexander Sr. became the second. Father and son later practiced law together in Iowa and Illinois.

Often overlooked was the role Black women played in Black activism. Mary Dove and Charlotta Smith were two Black mothers who fought for their childrens’ right to equal education.

After Clark’s landmark case desegregating schools, the two friends, Smith and Dove, found themselves fighting against the school board of Keokuk, Iowa to allow their sons into the white public schools. Dove wanted her son, Charles, to attend the white school, only three blocks from their house, because he had an illness that made it hard for him to walk to the Black school 11 blocks away.

She was given a battery of excuses from the principal and school board. Dove went through the court system alone and won. Charles was able to begin attending the school near his house. Smith’s son, Geroid, finished 8th grade and was unable to continue his education at the white school.

Smith, like Dove, took her case alone through the court system up to Iowa’s Supreme Court. She won. Geroid was able to contin -

ue his education despite the mass of people against him and his mother.

It is important to learn about the trauma Black people have endured throughout American history, but I think we must also learn about the ongoing fights that have led to a lasting legacy on our communities. The achievements of Clark, Smith and Dove have been instrumental in the history of Iowa. These narratives are important for young children, especially Black children, to understand that Black history is larger than trauma.

Black history is pride — pride in the fight for equal rights from the stories of small communities of Iowa to the stories of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Black history is vibrant. I hope not another Black child feels the sadness and shame I did in my history classes, but instead feels the pride that I do now.

The current Y2K scoop & the Black influence

TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest have presented different modernizations of the popular lowrise jeans or brands like Juicy Couture with their tracksuit and funky minibags. What are the roots of this fashion era? When looking back at this unique era, many looks were derived from Black culture.

EMIJAH JONES Guest Columnist

Editor’s Note: This op-ed was originally published online on Wed. Feb, 22 2023 due to the cancellation. This op-ed is apart of the NI’s Black History Month Coverage.

A specific style of fashion has been resurfacing in pop culture. Y2K, which is just a nickname for the year 2000, began to surface in mainstream media:

The year 2000 was a prime time for Black Hip-Hop and R&B artists who became loud and proud fashionistas. Artists such as Missy Elliot, Alicia Keys and Destiny’s Child all made immensely influential outfits that left a huge imprint during this time.

According to The Crozier, Dapper Dan and Kimora Lee Simmons were some of the beginning Black designers that made a bold voice in fashion. Dapper Dan of Harlem was the spark for logomania – in which luxury fashion brand logos were printed all over an outfit.

Dan started this trend by placing bootleg logos on his own pieces and his clientele would wear the fit and spread the word. He’s since grown from an underground designer to collaborating with luxury brands like Gucci.

Another trendsetter in the fashion industry would be Simmons and her Baby Phat brand. The company was founded on the basis of getting women of color into the fashion world with clothing solely for them. Her brand is known for its velour tracksuits and popular rhinestone cat logo.

Despite the known brands of the era, many fits would be made locally and DIY-ed. Since denim and accessories held a huge impact at the time, denim was often bedazzled and glammed up at home for a twist, while accessories were bought from the neighborhood beauty supply store.

We can see this with the girl

group Destiny’s Child. Many of their outfits were worked on by Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, due to the fashion industry’s lack of diversity at the time. During the original Y2K era, the style was often labeled “Ghetto Fabulous”’ and “low-budget.” The same musicians we admire and draw inspiration from now were labeled as “Ghetto Singers” at the time due to their outfits. Now, with perseverance their clothing is finally recognized and respected. It was common that Black fashion would face criticism when worn on Black individuals, but when presented on a non-POC, would get praised.

We can see this with looks from Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Spears is known for her tracksuit fits and Hilton’s cropped top and low-rise jean combo. Their outfits accentuated their titles as “The It Girls,” and magazines

discredited black people and their fashion culture.

Though adversities continued to arise in the Black community, black business still rose during the era. Jay-Z’s clothing brand Rocawear is a great example. The Sport’s Man notes that the brand’s foundation resides in the hip-hop world, and was founded in 1999.

With Jay-Z as the musical spotlight and collaborating with entrepreneur Damon Dash, the business flourished. Rocawear fits would be showcased in Jay-Z music videos and his tours until investments eventually skyrocketed. This is an example of Black fashion making a voice in a historically discriminated fashion industry.

The current Y2K comeback that started in 2020 has modernized and accentuated some aspects of the style. For exam-

Theatre UNI presents Radium Girls

ERIN MCRAE Staff Writer

TheatreUNI will perform “Radium Girls” by D.W. Gregory on March 1-4 at 7:30 p.m. and March 5 at 2 p.m. in the Strayer-Wood Theatre on the University of Northern Iowa campus. “Radium Girls’’ is the final show for TheatreUNI’s 2022-2023 season. The show is directed by Katherine Hahn, an assistant professor of acting at UNI.

“Radium Girls” follows a young woman named Grace Fryer as she fights for justice against the U.S. Radium Corporation in the face of corporate negligence. As a dial painter in the early 20th century, Fryer was one of many young women who suffered from radium poisoning after working in a factory with little to zero safety regulations.

“Radium Girls” focuses on many important themes, specifically scientific justice. In her program note to the audience, Director Hahn said, “Many of my collaborators on this project are also educators. The arts educators have created a vibrant world that amplifies

Y2K FASHION

continued from page 4

ple, brands like Bluemarine have taken denim to an exceptional level with their cut-out denim tops and long denim skirts featuring cargo pockets. Juicy Couture has repolished their velour tracksuits, and people are catching on. Lastly, Brandon Blackwood, a Jamaican-Chinese designer, elevated his luxury handbag brand in which minibags are the core of the business.

With Y2K fashion back on the rise, people have again thrown their labels onto the style. However, with the help of the BIPOC Community on social media and growing diversity in the fashion industry the labels and stigmas have loosened their roots compared to the early 2000s. Though it is only one resurface of fashion, much of the fashion world is influenced by Black culture. Despite the short month of February that declares Black History Month, Black culture is rooted in all parts of society and taking the time to dive deeper into the next fashion trend can help bring light to those corners.

the stories and their significance. The science educators have been instrumental in connecting the themes of the play to advancements in chemistry, physics and environmental science.”

Hahn also reiterated the importance of timing in the performance of this particular show in her note to the audience, “We chose a play about terrifying historical events from 100 years ago

that reverberate through the ages. ‘Radium Girls’ shows us what can happen when women fight back against those in power who exploit them, gaslight them and attempt to silence their voices,” Hahn said.

In addition to the show, audience members are encouraged to visit the lobby before and after to view the “Know Better, Do Better’’ display which fea -

tures women in science who challenged scientific practices in order to help others. There will also be a panel discussion held on Feb. 27, featuring local experts on the themes from the show. This will be held in Room 108 of the Communication Arts Center.

Eric Lange is the head of the theatre department at UNI. For Lange, it was important to find a show that

worked for all students. “We were searching for a play that provided lots of opportunity for actors as well as design students, and it was important to us to select a title which was written by a female playwright. This play has a strong message that it delivers,” Lange said.

Theatre students have been hard at work over the last couple of months preparing for audiences. The show stars UNI students Julie Matta and Catherine Henry. “Rehearsals began at the beginning of the semester. Typically shows rehearse about 20 hours each week,” Lange said.

Although this show is set nearly 100 years ago, for Lange, “Radium Girls” is still relevant today. “There are still so many examples of things in the world where doing what is right to help humans takes a back seat to choosing a course of action for profit motive,” Lange said.

Tickets to “Radium Girls” are available at UNITix.uni. edu or at UNITix box office locations.

NETFLIX continued from page 3

On top of Netflix’s talk to add an ad payment plan similar to Hulu or HBO Max, this jeopardizes the streaming platform’s subscriber rate massively. Netflix doesn’t understand that now that streaming is such a crowded market, college students who are at risk of being blocked from their parent’s account might not return to the service at all, contrary to what Netflix is hoping for. With a vast variety of platforms to choose from to go to instead, Netflix serves little to no purpose for that audience anymore. Canceling the shows that a large majority of students enjoy, preventing students from watching the little content they still enjoy from the platform, can lead to Netflix’s inevitable downfall.

Netflix revolutionized the way we consume media. It brought streaming to the

forefront of entertainment, and borderline destroyed the physical forms of media, such as DVDs, in favor of streaming. But, as time goes on and more and more networks or production companies enter the streaming industry, Netflix doesn’t have as large of a pull on audiences as it has in the past. Making sweeping changes to its interface, its catalog, and its user guidelines could destroy the very service that pioneered the streaming service empire.

COURTESY

“Radium Girls” is the last show Theatre UNI will perform for this season. For more information about the show and where to purchase tickets, visit theatreuni.edu.

PEXELS

Y2k is making a comeback. Social media creators of this time have credited the original Black designers of this fashion.

UNI drops road game to Salukis

CADEN SHEA Sports Writer

UNI played their final road game of the season on Wednesday in Carbondale, Ill. as they played the Southern Illinois Salukis.

UNI struggled to defend the onslaught of 3-pointers that the Salukis threw their way. The team could not find a way to get shots to fall, which ultimately hindered their ability to make any true progress. Starting guard Bowen Born was injured for the majority of the game, leaving the team without a crucial part of their offense. This was also the Panthers’ penultimate conference game this season.

The Panthers struggled early from the field, missing all seven of their first shots. UNI’s defense did put on the pressure at the beginning

of the game, although that would not remain the case.

Tytan Anderson finally got something going for the Panthers as he went on a run of six straight points about a quarter into the first half.

The defense started ramping up as well, shutting the Salukis out for four straight possessions while forcing three turnovers.

The Panthers would attempt to get something ignited about halfway through the first half but it would be for naught.

Southern Illinois began to bring the heat to UNI from beyond the arc. The Panthers were unable to stop them as the Salukis went 8-14 from three in the first half. This would continue to be a theme as the game progressed. UNI was trailing 34-23 as the first half came to a close.

UNI came out of the

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

locker room aiming to get back into the game that the Salukis had controlled since the beginning of play. The Panthers would hit about half of the shots they attempted in the second half but the Salukis were one step ahead of them, shooting 63%. The Panthers dominated their opponents in the paint but the Salukis continued to fire from all cylinders from behind the arc. Southern Illinois made nine of their 17 attempted threes in the second half. This was the most threepoint attempts that a team has made on the Panthers all season. The constant attack from the three-point line would be too much for the Panthers as they would go on to lose to Southern Illinois 86-63.

Anderson was the leading scorer for the Panthers with 21 points, making it

his second game with 20 or more points this season.

Anderson also led the team in steals with four and had five rebounds. Landon Wolf followed Anderson with 17 points for UNI while also going a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line. James Betz collected the lone block for the team along with one steal. Ege Peksari led the team in assists with four.

Trey Campbell had seven

points for the team and Drew Daniel had five, rounding out the bulk of the scoring for UNI. This would move the Panthers to a record of 13-16 as well as a record of 9-10 in the conference.

UNI concludes the regular season on Sunday, Feb. 26, hosting the Belmont Bruins. The Bruins are currently 13-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Panthers stay in title hunt after road split

DREW HILL Sports Writer

The UNI women’s basketball team finished their final regular season road trip before the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 25. They first traveled to Nashville, Tenn., to face the Belmont Bruins on Thursday, Feb. 23, before going to Murray, Ky., to face the Murray State Racers. After dropping a tight matchup against the Bruins, 82-77, UNI dominated the Racers, 76-48.

UNI came into the matchup with Belmont 18-7 overall and 13-3 in conference play. Belmont came in 17-10 overall and 13-3 in the conference as well. They

were also riding a 10-game win streak. UNI looked to split the season series after Belmont won 67-61 in the McLeod Center on Jan. 8. The winner of this game would solidify their place atop the MVC standings. Both teams started out hot early in the first quarter. The score was tied at 11 after four minutes of play, but Belmont started to build a lead towards the end of the quarter. Belmont eventually stretched their lead to eight at 27-19 before finishing the quarter up 29-22. The Panther defense stifled the Bruins for the first half of the second quarter, holding them to three points as UNI pulled within two at 32-30. The final three minutes saw a flurry of scoring from both

teams as Belmont remained ahead 42-39 at the half.

In the third quarter, Belmont again started to pull away, eventually building a 12-point lead at 56-44. UNI kept battling, though, and cut the lead in half by the end of the third, getting within six at 62-56. After going back and forth for the opening part of the fourth quarter, it looked like Belmont had finally seized control with an eight-point lead at 71-63. However, that was the largest the lead would be for the rest of the game, as UNI used a 9-2 run to get within one at 73-72. A big 3-pointer extended the Bruin lead back to four, and UNI could not quite come all the way back, as Belmont closed out with an 82-77 win.

UNI was led in scoring and rebounding by Grace Boffeli, who finished with a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double. Maya McDermott added 16 points, and Cynthia Wolf nearly added a double-double of her own with 14 points and nine rebounds. The other two Panthers to score in double figures were Cailyn Morgan with 12 and Emerson Green with 11.

Murray State came into the matchup with UNI 13-13 overall and 6-11 in confer-

ence. They had won two of their last four following a seven-game losing streak. UNI won the first matchup with the Racers 81-54 in the McLeod Center on Jan. 6.

Early in the first quarter, both teams struggled to score. With the score tied at 10 with two-and-a-half minutes to go in the first quarter, Wolf was injured going for a layup and was unable to play for the rest of the game. UNI managed to close the quarter up 14-10. After battling back and forth early in the second quarter, UNI pulled ahead by 10 at 24-14 after back-to-back threes. The Racers responded with an 8-0 run to cut the lead to two at 24-22. UNI ended up going into halftime with a 28-24 lead.

The game seemed like it might come down to the wire, but midway through the third quarter, UNI ripped off a 21-3 run that turned a two-point lead at 31-29 into a 20-point lead at 52-32. The third ended with UNI in full control with a 54-37 lead. The fourth quarter saw UNI continue to dominate as they eventually won 76-48.

Boffeli finished with another double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. McDermott posted 13 points and three assists. Ryley Goebel turned in a strong

defensive performance, posting four blocks and a steal to go along with nine points.

After the full weekend of results, Illinois State and Belmont were tied atop the MVC at 15-3, with UNI and Missouri State just behind at 14-4. UNI still has a chance to win the regular season title outright if they win their final two home games and Illinois State and Belmont lose both of their games. If either of those teams win one of their two remaining games, UNI can still win a share of the regular season title. Even if UNI doesn’t grab a share of the conference title, they will still likely receive a top four seed in the MVC tournament, considering they have a two-game lead on fifth-place Drake with two games remaining for each team. UNI also swept Drake, giving the Panthers a potential tiebreaker. If UNI were to win the conference tournament, they would make it back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017. UNI’s last two regular season games are in the McLeod Center against Southern Illinois on Thursday, March 2, and Missouri State on Saturday, March 4.

STEPH STARK/NORTHERN IOWAN Grace Boffeli (42) continued her strong play, pitching in double-doubles in both of UNI’s games over the weekend.

COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS

Tytan Anderson (32) finished with a team-high 21 points in UNI’s 86-63 loss to Southern Illinois.

Sammy Moss working hard on and off the field

PAIGE BECK Guest Writer

Sammy Moss finds fourleaf clovers wherever she goes. She looks for them in the outfield, by the batting cages and when she is walking around. “I just look down and see one,” Moss said. It all started with her great-grandma who would also find four-leaf clovers before she passed away. Moss claims that she got this lucky gift from her. However, it isn’t luck that gave Moss her starting spot as a right fielder on the University of Northern Iowa’s softball team.

When Moss was a freshman in 2020, she knew that she was going to have to work hard to earn her starting position. Every year has been a competition to prove to her coaches that she deserves to be playing on the field. New athletes come in every season, and it takes a lot of dedication to be able to play.

“One of my biggest accomplishments that I have achieved through soft -

ball is winning a spot on the field and being a starter every year,” Moss said.

Moss has been playing softball for 13 years. She started her athletic career in her hometown of Mount Vernon, Iowa. Moss has lived there all her life with her parents and two younger siblings.

“My mom played college softball (at Mount Mercy) and was a coach, so she influenced my decision in playing softball,” Moss said. Moss started playing T-Ball when she was nine and fell in love with the sport just like her mom did. Today she is a college athlete as a redshirt junior, meaning she will get to play for five years instead of four because of COVID-19.

It’s not just the sport itself that she loves though. Softball has given Moss once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and life lessons that she said she will cherish forever.

Every year the softball team goes on a two-week trip to play against other schools. One of Moss’ favorite memories is going

down to the University of Arizona during her freshman year. She said she loved experiencing the feeling of playing at a big school in a stadium underneath all the lights.

In her sophomore year, right before Moss was supposed to leave for Alabama, she broke her nose during practice and had to have surgery. She was playing center field when her teammate threw a ball at her and hit her in the nose. She had a cast on it for two days and got it off before the team left. She was still able to go down to Alabama, but she lost her starting position.

“It was difficult for me to overcome trying to fight back and put in all of the hard work to earn my spot back,” Moss said. However, she eventually recovered and earned her spot back.

Being a student-athlete has its challenges because time management plays an important role in classes, practice and games. The team is expected to have all of their classes done before 1 p.m. when they are in season every spring.

Moss explained that the professors are understanding and flexible with student-athletes because they know that they have to balance school and their sport. Moss said she enjoys the structure that softball has given her when she is planning out her classes and workout times because it helps her manage her time more efficiently.

One thing that the team teaches the athletes is that school and family come before anything else. The family team atmosphere is what holds the team accountable so that they not only achieve their goals on the field but also achieve their academic and career goals. Their motto is four for 40, which means, “These four years of college are what lead to the next 40 years of your life,” Moss said.

After Moss graduates, she would like to become a Physical Education teacher and also teach students how to lift weights. Along with teaching, Moss wants to continue her softball career by becoming a coach

for the sport. She hopes to inspire young athletes and to continue to teach them what UNI has taught her. “Coaching is not just about the sport, but it is also about teaching the athlete life skills that they can use their whole lives,” Moss said.

Softball performs well at Panther Invitational

ADAM JOHNSON Sports Writer

The UNI Panther softball team was busy last week, as they played five games in just four days. The Panthers started off with a game against Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tenn. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, and then played in the Panther Invitational from Friday, Feb. 24 through Sunday, Feb. 26.

Things started out perfectly for the Panthers against Austin Peay. In the

top of the first with two outs and a runner on second, Madison Parks hit a tworun homer. In the bottom half of the inning, Austin Peay managed four runs on three walks and one hit. The Governors added one more run to go up 5-2 in the second. Two-run shots were the story of the day for the Panthers, as Brooke Snider hit a home run to put the Panthers within one in the top of the fourth. A solo shot for Austin Peay in the bottom half extended their lead to 6-4. The

Panthers got nothing going in the fifth, but Austin Peay added two more in the bottom of the inning. In the sixth, the Governors added two more, and it was a dominant day for them. UNI’s Faith Standerski hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh, but that would be it for the Panthers. They dropped this game, 10-5.

The Panthers looked to rebound with good play in the Panther Invitational. They had two games on Friday, the first of which was against Western Carolina.

UNI’s Kailyn Packard and Western Carolina’s Tessa Juett were dealing early, giving up nothing in the first four innings. The Panthers were able to break it open in the fifth, scoring three runs on five hits. The Panthers added two more in the sixth, and four more in the final inning. The Lady Catamounts would never score a run. Kailyn Packard threw the complete game shutout, and gave up only two hits. The Panthers took the first of the day, 9-0. Their next game was against Georgia State. The Panthers got things going right away in this one, getting three runs in the first. Samantha Heyer made quick work in the bottom of the first, striking out the side in order. The Panthers added three more in the second, and had a 6-0 lead. Heyer struck out the side in the second as well, although not until the bases were loaded. The rest of the game was smooth sailing, as the Panthers would win 9-0 in five innings. Heyer had a complete game no hitter with 11 strikeouts.

The next games for the Panthers came on Saturday, the first of which was against Tennessee State. UNI’s Kylee Sanders led the game off with a home run. Heyer was back in the circle, and she struck out the side in order. The Panthers added one more in the top of the fourth. They added one in each of the sixth and seventh innings, and at the same time, Heyer shut them down. The Panthers won 4-0. The second game of the day was a rematch with Georgia State. The Panthers got on the board first in the second inning, bringing two runs home. In the third, they scored four more, and broke out to a 6-0 lead. In the last inning, the Panthers tagged on one more, and Georgia State was finally able to cross a couple runs, but not enough to make a difference. The Panthers picked up the victory, 7-2.

UNI completes competition at the Panther Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 26. UNI will then play next on Tuesday, Feb. 28 in Macon, Ga. against Mercer University.

COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS

Sammy Moss is a standout on the UNI softball team.

COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS

Samantha Heyer had an exceptional game on Friday, pitching a no hitter while striking out 11 batters in UNI’s 9-0 victory.