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THURSDAY, APRIL 5
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6
BLOOD DRIVE
LifeServe Blood Center hosts spring blood drive in Maucker Union. News PAGE 2
VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42
VOLUME 116, ISSUE 33
CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR
WBB
CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 5
SPORTS PAGE 6
The UNI Panthers edge Valparaiso Crusaders 77-70.
Campus life editor Sofia Legaspi bids farewell.
Caucus results cause delay, confusion ELIZABETH KELSEY News Editor
UNI students and community members turned out for the Iowa caucuses, but the caucuses didn’t quite turn out as planned. Technical difficulties with a new app-based reporting system used for the first time this year by the Iowa Democratic Party led to a delay in the results of the first-in-the-nation caucus on Monday, Feb. 3. Partial results were released on Tuesday afternoon, followed by additional results on Wednesday. As of Wednesday evening, with 86% of precincts reporting, Pete Buttigieg is narrowly leading the state, with Bernie Sanders in a close second and Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden in third and fourth, respectively. However, Buttigieg’s lead is complicated, and not only because results are not yet complete. This year, the Iowa
TONI FORTMANN/Northern Iowan
A group of Sanders supporters pose for a photo at Maucker Union’s mock caucus on Monday, Jan. 27.
Democratic Party reported not only each candidate’s state delegate equivalents (the percentage of Iowa’s delegates they won) but also their popular-vote numbers in the first and second alignment. And,
though Buttigieg is currently leading Sanders in state delegate equivalents (27% to Sanders’ 25%), Sanders is narrowly ahead of Buttigieg in the two popular-vote counts. The close Democratic
Association President Luma Yasin. “It’s literally a part of who she is and she is proud of it, as she is representing her religion.” The Hijab is a veil worn by some Muslim women in countries where the primary religion is Islam. The type worn most commonly in the west covers the head and neck while leaving the face clear. According to Yasin, the hijab serves different purposes for different people, including a way to demonstrate their religious devotion and freedom of expression. “The primary motivation for wearing the hijab is to obey God as it is a religious commandment, it’s something God has directed us to do,” said Yasin. “Moreover, it serves as a purpose of modesty and covering the beauty of women. However, Muslim females who wear the hijab also develop a personal connection, as many
see it as a kind of empowerment. Just as a woman has the right to show her beauty, she should also have the right to cover it.” Through this event, the Muslim Students Association aimed to address misconceptions about the hijab and about Muslim culture in general, a discrimination Yasin explained is still prevalent in contemporary society. “Muslim women know that the hijab is not a barrier,” said Yasin. “Unfortunately, the rest of the world does not, and that is due to the negative media coverage about Muslim communities and biased beliefs and stereotypes. It is also easy to stay thinking that women who wear hijabs are oppressed when you don’t know anyone personally who owns one.”
race also played out on UNI’s two precinct locations, one in the West Gym and one in the Maucker Union Ballroom. At both locations, hundreds of students and community mem-
bers packed the room to show their support for their candidate of choice. Erin Thomason, a senior Spanish and political science major, served as the precinct chair for the West Gym precinct, which she said was almost entirely made up of UNI students. “It was really high energy, especially being virtually all college students,” she said. “Almost everyone there, it was probably their first caucus, so it was really high energy and a lot of fun to be the one in charge helping to lead it and make sure everything went smoothly.” Both UNI locations awarded nine delegates. At Thomason’s precinct in the West Gym, Sanders received four delegates, Warren three and Buttigieg two, while across campus in the Maucker Union precinct, Sanders received three delegates with Warren, Buttigieg and Klobuchar each earning two. See CAUCUS, page 2
UNI celebrates World Hijab Day ANTHONY WITHEROW Staff Writer
The UNI Muslim Students Association celebrated World Hijab Day on Monday, Feb. 3 by encouraging people of all religions and backgrounds to wear a hijab for the day. Members of the organization set up a booth in Maucker Union to raise awareness and give students hijabs to wear. World Hijab Day is an annual event founded in 2013 by Nazma Khan. The event takes place on Feb. 1 in 140 countries. It is seen as an expression of solidarity and support for religious freedom. “The main takeaway is education and raising awareness of the hijab and to always remember if you see a Muslim female with her hijab on, just know that she has so much more to her experience than the hijab,” said Muslim Students
See HIJAB DAY, page 4
TONI FORTMANN/Northern Iowan
PAGE 2
FEBRUARY 6, 2020 |
NEWS
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
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ELIZABETH KELSEY News Editor
VOLUME 116, ISSUE 33
Students donate at spring blood drive UNI students had many reasons that they decided to donate blood. While some had donated previously, for others it was their first time doing so. “In high school they had blood drives, but I never did them,” said freshman math education major Cassidy Bohr. “I decided to do it today as a new experience.” Senior health sciences
major Cassidy Utesch decided to donate because of the need for her specific blood type. She got a text saying that they needed her O+ blood, and she made it her goal to donate as much blood as she could due to the shortage. This was her first time donating blood since she had done so in high school. Cedar Falls site supervisor Marena Williams wanted to emphasize the importance of donating blood at these events. She said that she tries to educate people by telling them that each blood donation saves three lives. “Not a lot of people donate, so it’s kind of crucial in the winter months,” said Williams. “This is especially true with O- blood. We want to get students involved, so that’s why we went to UNI.” Williams says that this blood drive started around three to four years ago. She enjoys it because it gives her the opportunity to see changes on-campus while getting
students involved. According to territory representative Kathie Gayther, LifeBlood Service Center is a mobile blood drive that works with individuals, community/educational organizations and churches to host blood drives that help local hospitals. LifeBlood Service Center exclusively draws blood in locations where they’re the only ones donating to hospitals and clinics. “The important thing about people donating blood is that the only way that you can get it is through people donating,” said Williams. “Our mission is to save lives, and we can’t do that without people donating. The important thing with LifeServe is that we stay in Iowa and support local hospitals.” In regard to the blood types that are donated, Williams described O- blood as the universal blood donor. She explained that when someone goes to the hospital
in need of blood and they don’t know what blood type is needed, O- is the kind that one is most likely to receive. She said that a lot of the population has O+ blood, but the other types include A-, A+, B-, B+, AB- and AB+. Gayther wanted to let students know the significance of donating blood to their local blood drives. “Student demographics also drive the decision to host a college blood drive,” said Gayther. “The donor population is aging out. We must encourage and recruit younger donors. If we do not actively pursue this demographic, we will likely have a blood crisis by the year 2050. Students, especially student athletes, are great donors. Student donors have not reached an age where medications, and health ailments restrict them from donating. They are health-conscious and many work out, which can increase vein size and stability.”
But when Thomason and her precinct secretary attempted to report their results to the state party, they ran into the same roadblocks which were frustrating caucus organizers across the state. The reporting app experienced coding issues, according to party officials, leading to only partial reporting of results, and many precinct officials were unable to download the app at all. That was the case with Thomason’s precinct. “My precinct secretary was never able to get the app to work in the first place, so that was never an option for us at all,” she said. The backup plan was a hotline number from the Iowa Democratic Party, which Thomason said she used without incident earlier in the evening when the precinct ran out of voter registration forms. However, later
in the night, as the failure of the app at many precincts forced organizers to call the hotline, state officials became overwhelmed, leading to delays. “You could definitely tell that everyone was trying to call at the same time,” Thomason said. She said that her precinct secretary was on hold for an hour before his phone automatically hung up, forcing them to take their results to the Black Hawk County Democrats office in Waterloo. Once there, she said, they were told to take a picture of their results and submit it via email to the state party. “So yes, we had some issues, but we were able to get it in, and it was fine,” she said. “And what the Iowa Democratic Party is really emphasizing is that there’s a good paper trail, it’s not like anything was hacked or anything. The app was just doing partial reporting, so they weren’t able to get all
the results. They’re just trying to make sure everything is accurate and thoroughly checking it before they release everything.” Regardless of the bumps in the reporting process, UNI students who participated in the caucuses viewed the experience as a positive one. Freshman undecided major Mia Schemmel, who caucused for Buttigieg at the Maucker Union location, was excited to participate in her first Iowa caucus. “I’m from Illinois, so this is a totally new experience for me and really awesome to be a part of,” she said. “It was complicated, but it was just super cool and not what I was expecting.” Schemmel was joined at the Maucker Union site by Kendall Doerr, a junior social studies education major. “I was really excited about the turnout we had here, and honestly so proud of UNI as a community for pushing people to caucus,” said Doerr,
who caucused for Warren. “In every class I went to today, the professor said, ‘Hey, it’s caucus day, get out and vote.’ [It’s] just recognizing how special it is that we are the first in the nation.” That first-in-the-nation status, and the media and candidate attention it brings to Iowa, were both already under scrutiny in this year’s election cycle. The caucus process itself has been criticized as undemocratic because of the in-person requirements which limit voter participation. In addition, many have pointed out that Iowa, both in terms of demographics and delegate power (Iowa awards just 41 pledged delegates, or 1% of the total, to the national convention), is hardly representative of the nation as a whole. Now, Monday’s reporting difficulties have cast even greater doubts on a process that many were already questioning. Both media outlets
such as the Washington Post and political figures like Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) have called for the 2020 Iowa caucus to be the last. “I think the Democratic caucus in Iowa is a quirky, quaint tradition, which should come to an end,” Durbin said on MSNBC on Tuesday. However, Thomason said that she “doubts” that the difficulties will signal the end for the Iowa caucus. “It won’t be the end without a very big fight from both the Iowa Democratic Party and the [Iowa] Republican Party,” she said. “Both of them hold their first-in-thenation status very close to their hearts, and they’ve made that very clear with any controversy or criticism, [both] of Iowa being first and just of the whole caucus event. If the National Democratic Party steps in, maybe, but it definitely won’t be without a fight.”
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COLBY WEBER Staff Writer
On Tuesday, Feb. 4, UNI students stopped by the Old Central Ballroom in Maucker Union to donate blood for the LifeServe Blood Center spring blood drive. The event was a collaboration between the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NCA) and the Office of Community Engagement. GABI CUMMINGS/Northern Iowan
CAUCUS
continued from page 1
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OPINION
GABRIELLE LEITNER Executive Editor
FEBRUARY 6, 2020 |
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
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VOLUME 116, ISSUE 36
Disclaimer: The opinions featured in The Northern Iowan do not reflect the views of The Northern Iowan staff as a whole.
National debt is actually good MOHAMMED RAWWAS
Opinion Columnist
A 2019 Gallup poll found 50 percent of Americans worry a “great deal” about “federal spending and the budget deficit,” 30 percent a “fair amount,” 15 percent “only a little” and 5 percent “not at all.” In 2018, there were continued efforts in the Iowa legislature to call for a convention to add a Constitutional Amendment that would force the federal government to pass balanced budgets. More recently, former mayor Pete Buttigieg has frequently stated that he believes the Democratic Party should start caring more about the deficit, joining right-“libertarians” in echoing Republican talking points. And yet, not only is this worry misguided and unnecessary, but actively damaging both to political discourse and material reality. In fact, the exact opposite position is that which actually holds true. Before we can talk about how debt is good, we must first establish that it is not a detriment. This is simple enough: no one can point to any material harm being caused by the national debt. But of course, things are not so simple; they may point to some potential future event, such as “forcing future generations to pay off debt” or defaulting on the debt. The problem with this, of course, is that both of these events are impossible, and
belies a complete misunderstanding of federal budgeting. Future generations won’t pay off the debt because taxes don’t fund the federal budget. The basic tenant of Modern Monetary Theory is that the government, as a sovereign entity, is the source of money, this construction and as such it does not require taxation to fund its efforts. Taxation is an inflationary measure, not the government’s source of income. The only limit to how much a government can spend is determined by the wealth that the country produces. Furthermore, we cannot default on our debt because large sections of the U.S. debt is money that the federal government owes to itself. Nearly 30 percent of U.S. debt is held by the U.S. government itself, with the Federal Reserve holding over 10 percent. U.S. and foreign investors make up the rest, with approximately 30 percent each. Furthermore, the Federal Reserve can engage in quantitative easing, as it did in the wake of the 2008 financial recession with QE1, 2 and 3, in which banks were bailed out and the debt was simply written off. Furthermore, having foreign investors invested in our debt means that other countries now have a vested interest in the continuing prosperity of the United States economy. The fact that China holds some of our debt is a very positive development, as the success
of the U.S. economy is now directly correlated with them being able to collect on their investments. This fosters a more diplomatic and mutually beneficial relationship between China and the U.S., as it does for other countries who hold U.S. debt. Not only is debt not a problem and not only is debt actually a positive development, but current narratives about how worried we should be about our debt is actively damaging, both to political discourse and in material reality. This is a bipartisan narrative; in fact, it was Bill Clinton who ran budget surpluses during his tenure as President. The poll I cited above showing 95 percent of Americans are to some extent concerned about the national debt also speaks to the bipartisan nature of this belief. And yet, the truth is that this talking point is cynically weaponized in order to push for austerity measures that usually include cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and welfare programs. This narrative actually has an impact on the working class, as the one-sided class warfare continues to rage. No policy is inherently a problem because it costs a certain amount; the question always relates to the benefit that such a policy would provide. Funding for the border wall, for example, is bad because the border wall is itself a harmful policy, and thus the government should
Public Domain
Opinion Columnist Mohammed Rawwas explains misconceptions on national debt in the United States.
not waste money on something that is not only unnecessary but actively harmful and immoral. But the determinant factor is never the cost. Finally, we understand that the budget narrative is selectively utilized to attack social democratic reforms but not addressed when it comes to military spending, which Republicans increase more than Democrats. We all know that the left is actually more mindful to the budget than the right. In the U.K., for example, the Labour manifesto was fully costed, while the Conservative manifesto was not, and yet the Conservatives still attacked Labour on the premise that their policies would be too costly. In the U.S., Democrats (who are decidedly not left but are further left than Republicans) have had a much better track record when it comes to the budget: Clinton
was the last to run a surplus; Obama cut the deficit in half while Bush and Trump increased it. Bernie Sanders’ proposals for Medicare for All, tuition-free college and student debt cancellations all come with tax policy that will fully fund these programs. The crucial point here, however, is not to point out Republican hypocrisy or commend the Democrats for paying mind to the debt. Rather, it is to press them to be less concerned with the debt, and to focus more on helping the working class, regardless of its cost, because such a hypothetical, nonexistent “cost” is irrelevant compared to the actual cost of maintaining a system of poverty, homelessness and exploitation. Buttigieg is the perfect exemplification of a right-wing hack who wants to move the Democratic Party in the opposite direction.
Columnist Bennethum gives Cedar Valley recommendations ABIGAIL BENNETHUM
Opinion Columnist
In light of entering the fourth week into the new semester, I feel we all tend to get busy and forget some of the awesome events that go on around campus and the Cedar Valley area. As important as studying and preparing for our future is, I also believe in having fun with friends and making some memories. Here are some fun things you can do
in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo Area. If you are into solving puzzles and critical thinking, take a trip to Escape Cedar Valley. You and your friends can be put to the test with challenges and other mind engaging activities. With an impressive 5/5 stars, people praise the company for their well-organized establishment and helpful staff. Next, if you want to jump around with some friends, Get Air in Waterloo is the per-
fect place to go. Get Air offers different types of deals and promotions to accommodate anybody that might want to participate. You can find more information on their website. Another great place to go if you want to run around and have some fun is Adrenaline X Laser Tag. This company goes above and beyond by accommodating to the customer by taking their company to them! It is great for all ages and will ensure fun for everyone!
If you want something more adult, Cedar Valley and Waterloo area accommodate to every age group. If you are into painting and something more adult, no worries! Cedar Valley Art and Wine has got you covered. With a whopping 4.5/5 stars, people describe it as versatile, fun and artist-friendly. Another popular attraction is Hurling Hatchet. They are the Cedar Valley’s urban axe throwing company. They
accommodate private events, special occasions and much more. Every event has a dedicated axe throwing lanes and axe throwing coaches to ensure safety and will also teach you how to throw an axe while playing fun games. Visit their website for more information. If you don’t want to leave campus, no worries. UNI Events has many fun and exciting seminars, theater events and much more scheduled up until the end of the school year!
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SOFIA LEGASPI
CAMPUS LIFE
Campus Life Editor
Academy Awards predictions FEBRUARY 6, 2020 |
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
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VOLUME 116, ISSUE 33
HUNTER FRIESEN
small contingent of extremely passionate voters behind his anti-hate satire. Just like the original screenplay category, you can flip a coin between the two of them. I’m going with Gerwig, but that may change a couple of times come Sunday.
Film Critic
Writer’s Note: There are dozens of precursor award shows leading up to the Oscars that factor heavily when making predictions for the races. Notable precursor awards are the Golden Globes, SAG, PGAs, Critics Choice and BAFTAs. This Sunday, Feb. 9, will mark the 92nd edition of the Academy Awards as it honors what it deems the best films of 2019. As the ceremony draws near and the ballots are tallied up, here are my predictions for each of the above-the-line categories. Best Supporting Actor NOMINEES: Tom Hanks, Anthony Hopkins, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Brad Pitt He may already have an Oscar for producing, but Brad Pitt still doesn’t have an acting award to his name, which is something the Academy will look to rectify this coming Sunday. Having already swept the award season with his zen-like role as Cliff Booth in “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood,” Pitt is primed to walk up those stairs and claim the statuette that has eluded him all these years. Best Supporting Actress NOMINEES: Kathy Bates, Laura Dern, Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, Margot Robbie Just like Pitt, Laura Dern has been overdue for an acting award for a few decades now. So far this season, every awarding body has seized the opportunity to recognize her for her career-defining work in “Marriage Story.” Also, there isn’t a solid second place dark horse. This is one of the few categories that is a virtual lock.
Tribune News Service
Film Critic Hunter Friesen makes his predictions for this Sunday’s 92nd Academy Awards in the categories of Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Leading Actor, Best Leading Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and Best Motion Picture.
Best Leading Actor NOMINEES: Antonio Banderas, Leonardo DiCaprio, Adam Driver, Joaquin Phoenix, Jonathan Pryce What seemed to be a tight race between Adam Driver and Joaquin Phoenix at the start of the season has dissolved into utter domination by the latter. Phoenix’s mesmerizing turn as the titular Clown Prince of Crime has netted him wins at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, SAG and BAFTAs. He is now firmly planted as the one to beat. Plus, he has the overdue factor that gives voters just another reason to name him on their ballots. Best Leading Actress NOMINEES: Cynthia Erivo, Scarlett Johansson, Saoirse Ronan, Charlize Theron, Renée Zellweger Already with an Oscar to
her name, Renée Zellweger is as close to a sure thing to win her second come Sunday night. Even though the film itself wasn’t well reviewed, her performance as the great Judy Garland received universal acclaim and prominent awards attention. Like the Supporting Actress category, no other nominee seems strong enough to steal this is one from her. Take Zellweger to the bank and prepare to cash in. Best Original Screenplay NOMINEES: “1917,” “Knives Out,” “Marriage Story,” “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood,” “Parasite” Currently, Bong Joonho’s “Parasite” has replaced Quentin Tarantino and “Hollywood” as the frontrunner to take home the prize. Tarantino picked up the Golden Globe and Critics
Choice early, but Joon-ho has surged late with back-toback important wins at the Writers Guild and BAFTAs. Tarantino has also won this award twice before, which may produce voter fatigue against him. If I were to place a bet, I would put it on Joonho, but I wouldn’t feel very confident in doing it. Best Adapted Screenplay NOMINEES: “Jojo Rabbit,” “Joker,” “Little Women,” “The Irishman,” “The Two Popes” One of the hardest categories to predict, Taika Waititi’s “Jojo Rabbit” and Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” are the two strongest contenders here. After erroneously snubbing Gerwig for Best Director, voters may feel more compelled to award her here. Waititi is just as loved as Gerwig though, and there is a
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Best Director NOMINEES: Bong Joon-ho, Sam Mendes, Todd Phillips, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino Bong Joon-ho and Sam Mendes are neck and neck here as they each have been showered with awards this season, most notably with a tie between them at the Critics Choice. Despite being a previous winner in this category, Mendes does have a clear advantage with his string of wins at the Golden Globes, Directors Guild and BAFTAs. Joon-ho is capable of pulling off the upset, but it seems Mendes has this in the bag. Best Motion Picture NOMINEES: “1917,” “Ford v Ferrari,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Joker,” “Little Women,” “Marriage Story,” “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood,” ‘’Parasite,” “The Irishman” At this final stage in the awards season, it’s between “1917” and “Parasite” taking the top prize. “Parasite” is trying to make history as the first foreign-language film ever to win Best Picture. It seems likely it could pull that feat off as it picked up other major nominations along with the coveted SAG Ensemble award. “1917” is right in this race as well with its Golden Globe, PGA and BAFTA wins. It will come down to the wire with my prediction leaning towards the more conventional “1917” being crowned the ultimate winner.
HIJAB DAY
continued from page 1
Despite this, Yasin states UNI has shown great support for the event and that she has had a great experience at UNI. She has faced no direct discrimination from anyone on campus. Yasin said that everyone she has dealt with has always been willing to learn more about the hijab and encourage diversity. “I am so thankful for all the faculty and staff who I have dealt with, as they were always so welcoming,” Yasin said. “It’s really great to see other people appreciate the hijab and try it on and ask about it.”
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CAMPUS LIFE
SOFIA LEGASPI
Campus Life Editor
FEBRUARY 6, 2020 |
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
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VOLUME 116, ISSUE 33
Legaspi says farewell as CL editor SOFIA LEGASPI
Campus Life Editor
As I begin writing this, I’m sitting in front of a blank computer screen at a loss for words. Finding something to say has been one of my lifelong struggles. Journalism drew me in because it allowed me to use my voice to share stories that already existed, waiting to be told. And wow, has it been an incredible twoplus years with the NI doing just that. Over five semesters, I have met nearly 100 people through interviews, covered 53 events, published 136 bylines and laid out 207 pages. Yes, I counted. Thank you, UNI, for the stories you gave me to tell. From local musicians and ice cream clubs to beloved employees’ retirements and professors’ love stories — it has all been a delight.
More importantly, UNI, thank you for writing yourself into my own story. Through you, I’ve met some of my closest friends, made some of my best memories, learned some of my hardest lessons and through it all, grown as a person, a student and a follower of Jesus. Thank you, NI, for pushing me farther out of my comfort zone than I ever thought I could venture. I started here as a timid sophomore, insecure in my journalistic faculties and terrified of approaching strangers for an interview; I leave as a stillvery-quiet but much more confident soon-to-be graduate, ready to face the world. Leziga, thanks for convincing me to apply for this job with that surprisingly well-planned presentation in the middle of Piazza. Anna, thanks for being my cheerleader, finding all those winning story ideas and proba-
COURTESY PHOTO
There is so much good in this life. Don’t forget to notice it. SOFIA LEGASPI
Campus Life Editor
bly breaking the NI record for most assignments taken. Abigail, Ian, Mom and Dad — thanks for listening to me vent about this job when I needed to. And Mio, here’s your pity shoutout for reading a draft of this letter and demanding to know why you weren’t mentioned. To my coworkers in the newsroom, past and present: thank you for enlightening me to the wonders of classic internet memes, Netflix comedy specials and mainstream cinema. Thank you for giving your time and talent to be in my crazy short film! Gabby, you’ve been a phenomenal executive editor and so much fun to work with, and I hope you get your gavel one day. Cece, there is no one else to whom I would rather pass the campus life baton — you’re going to crush it! Hunter, you are still the actual best; thank you for consistently making my job easier. Michele, you have cared for your NI kids so well, and the paper won’t be the same
COURTESY PHOTO
Campus Life Editor Sofia Legaspi reflects on her time with the Northern Iowan and at UNI.
without you. And to the readers: thank you. You are the reason we are here. So much of journalism entails the messiness of crime, accidents, politics, disasters, controversies and tragedies. The world is a dark place and it’s heartbreak-
ing. But piercing through the darkness are moments of hope, generosity, laughter, solidarity and kindness. Those are the moments that make it worthwhile, and those are the stories we need to tell. There is so much good in this life. Don’t forget to notice it.
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PAGE 6
SPORTS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
FEBRUARY 6, 2020 |
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
COLIN HORNING Sports Editor
|
VOLUME 116, ISSUE 33
Panthers remain undefeated in McLeod BRIELLE KIEWIET Sports Writer
UNI women’s basketball is now 13-7 on the season and remains undefeated at home after beating the Crusaders of Valparaiso 77-70 in the McLeod Center on Sunday, Feb. 2. “I thought our young women did a terrific job of adapting,” said UNI head coach Tanya Warren. “We had
to play small, which is very out of the norm for us. But I thought we did a terrific job of adjusting.” The Panther offense started out strong in the first quarter with a 13-0 run, giving them the lead 17-4 with 1:44 remaining. They ended the first quarter ahead 20-10. Valpo quickly caught the lead 23-22 in the second quarter after a 13-2 run. The Panthers returned with a 9-2
COURTESY PHOTO/UNI Athletics
run and regained the lead 31-25 going into the half. They held the lead throughout the third quarter. “I thought every time they made a run, we answered the door and that’s what you have to be able to do,” said coach Warren. The Purple and Gold hit two three-pointers to start the fourth and quickly gain a 16-point lead. The Crusaders cut the lead 70-67 but were unable to catch up. Karli Rucker hit a three-pointer with 1:06 left in the game and the Panthers held the lead until the end. “For the most part I thought we defended extremely well,” said coach Warren. “I thought offensively, once we understood what they were really trying to do, we did a nice job of adjusting and hitting some big shots down the stretch.” The Panthers outrebounded the Crusaders 39-31, with four Panthers scoring in double figures. Nicole Kroeger led the Panther offense with
a season-high 18 points, followed by Karli Rucker with 17 points and a team-high five assists. Kristina Cavey tallied 12 points and Abby Gerrits had 11. “I had some people say to me, ‘I thought you would win by a little bit more than that.’ I don’t think people really understand how good this league is,” said coach Warren.
“And you’re never going to hear me complain about winning, not as good as this league is.” The Panther women return to the McLeod Center for two games next weekend against Missouri Valley Conferenceleading Missouri State on Friday, Feb. 7 and again versus Southern Illinois on Sunday, Feb. 9.
OPINION
NBA trade deadline: speculation and predictions COLIN HORNING
Sports Editor
If you’re an avid follower of the NBA, you know that the two greatest days of the calendar year are the start of free-agency on July 1, and the trade deadline in early February. With regards to the trade deadline, most teams will tend to put off making any sort of big blockbuster deals until right at the very last minute, making the final possible day of trading the most exciting. Often times, our phones will be bombarded with rumors, speculation, and of course league-altering trades within the span of just hours — all
while general managers and league front offices scramble to work out the best possible deal to improve their teams come playoff time (or to sell of as many pieces as possible in order to tank for a higher draft pick). With Tuesday’s massive four team, 12-player deal between the Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets, it appears that this year’s trade deadline on February 6 will likely be no different from past years. So buckle up, it’s going to be a hectic 24 hours. One of the biggest names to be mentioned in trade rumors this season has been
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Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson attempts a shot. Thompson has seen his name in trade rumors over the past few weeks.
Golden State Warriors combo-guard D’Angelo Russell. The Ohio State product signed a four-year, $117 million deal with the Warriors this past offseason, as part of the signand-trade deal that sent Kevin Durant to the Brooklyn Nets. However, rumors began to swirl instantly after Russell’s signing that the Warriors were not looking to keep him in their long-term plans, and were instead trying to make the 20192020 season a rebuilding year with star players Steph Curry and Klay Thompson both sidelined with injuries. Russell, who can play both point and scoring guard, would not fit well alongside Curry and Thompson, as Curry mainly plays point guard with Thompson as the scoring guard. This means that either one of the three players would need to play out of position, or that Golden State was only looking to keep Russell for a short period of time and potentially move him for more assets in the future. The latter looks to be the most likely outcome, as rumors have been abundant regarding Russell’s future in the Bay Area. The Minnesota Timberwolves, who were also linked to potentially signing him last offseason, have again expressed profound interest in acquiring the 23-year old. Another team, the New York Knicks, were also said to be “aggressively pursuing” Russell in a deal with the Warriors. Keep an eye on him as the February 6 deadline approaches.
Other well-known names around the league have been brought up in rumors as well. Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson is another name to keep an eye on come Feb. 6. He has been averaging around 12 points and 10 rebounds per game for a Cleveland team that is sitting near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, and who are likely looking to acquire young pieces to build around in an otherwise lost season. Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma has been brought up in rumors ever since the Lakers received AllStar center Anthony Davis in a trade last summer with the New Orleans Pelicans. Kuzma, while only in his third season, has been a very productive player during his time in a Lakers jersey. However, his production has dipped a bit this season due to him playing third-fiddle to LeBron James and Davis. The Sacramento Kings and New York Knicks, both rebuilding teams looking for a solid young piece, have been linked to Kuzma’s services. Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier and New York Knicks Julius Randle forward have also both been brought up in trade rumors so far, despite both players signing contracts with their respective teams this past offseason. Randle is still young and could easily help provide a playoff-contender with size and physicality up front, while Rozier is entering the prime of
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his career and could be a solid backup guard for a contender or a decent starting guard with a reliable output every night. While no one knows exactly how the NBA trade deadline will go, we can alway speculate on which players are going to which team. It is very likely that many of the players mentioned above will either stay put through the deadline, or that other players who have had no rumors attached to their names will suddenly be traded at the last minute. This is of course why the trade deadline is such a fun time: the unpredictable nature and excitement truly makes it enjoyable to be a fan of the NBA.
SIERRA STEEN Managing Editor
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FUN & GAMES FEBRUARY 6, 2020 |
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27 No longer in style 34 Public tantrum 37 Hydroplaned 38 Writer Ferber 39 Novelist Levin 40 Charge card charge 43 Tarzan player Ron 44 Owlet’s home 46 With everything in place 47 ER images 49 Work out regularly at the gym 52 __ ring: foot jewelry 53 Postgame rundowns 57 Domed hall 61 Watergate pres. 62 Sigma follower 63 Soft palate part 64 Fungus on an old loaf 67 Latish wake-up hr. 17 Bit of insurance paper- 68 James of “Elf ” Across 69 Charitable offerings work 1 Depletes, with “up” 70 Catch by trickery 19 Earlier offense 5 Pod in Creole cuisine 71 Prefix with formal or 9 Theme park that retired 20 Series-ending abbr. final its IllumiNations show in 21 Set as a price 72 Potter’s material asso22 Accumulates 2019 24 Letters shown in the ciated with the end of 17-, 14 Tall and skinny “Wheel of Fortune” bonus 27-, 49- and 64-Across 15 Umpire’s call 16 Greek played by round 26 PC panic key Anthony Quinn
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Down 1 Worrier’s stomach woe 2 Seasons with crystals 3 Make official 4 Tackle moguls 5 Cancel out 6 Eccentric sort 7 Capek play about automatons 8 __ mater 9 Toll-paying convenience 10 Sports car that has two syllables in German 11 NFL analyst Collinsworth 12 Slender wind 13 Seasoned sailors 18 “Hamilton” creator Lin-__ Miranda 23 Victor at Gettysburg 25 Chaney of silents 28 Bone: Pref. 29 Pet peeves? 30 Saks __ Avenue 31 Mental flash 32 “I’m __ human” 33 Negative votes 34 Act the fink 35 First Nations tribe 36 “__ of Eden” 41 Paid for a hand
42 Use, as energy 45 In name only 48 DVR button 50 Like a generic brand 51 Designer Giorgio 54 Ring-shaped reef 55 Director Brian De __ 56 Like dishwater 57 Boring routines 58 Baking appliance 59 Fish in cat food 60 Preschool basics 61 Paper quantity 65 Grammy winner Corinne Bailey __ 66 PC alternative
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SIERRA STEEN Managing Editor
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