3-1-2021

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THURSDAY, APRIL 5

VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42

VOLUME 117, ISSUE 37

COVID-19

CONCERT

MEN’S BBALL

NEWS PAGE 2

CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 4

SPORTS PAGE 6

UNI’s on campus positivity rate stays below 10% for the fifth week in a row.

The Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra presented their winter concert online and limited in-person.

Panthers pounce on Redbirds and come out on top Friday and Saturday.

CRRSAA funds to be distributed soon ELIZABETH KELSEY News Editor

More than 3,300 UNI students will soon receive COVID-19 relief funding as part of the latest federal aid package, which gave the university more than $3.8 million to distribute to students with “exceptional need.” This funding is available through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA). Signed into law in December 2020, CRRSAA gave the U.S. Department of Education about $22.7 billion to distribute to institutions of higher education through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II). As part of HEERF II, UNI is receiving $3,809,369 in relief funds for students, the same amount the university received under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) of March 2020. However, the two federal

relief packages have several important distinctions which will affect the way students receive funding, according to Timothy Bakula, Director of the UNI Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. “To me, CARES is a separate program that is essentially completed,” he said. “This is a new legislative action that is passed. A lot of students still tie the two together and there are similarities in that, but there’s also… some differences. They shouldn’t be viewed in the exact same light, other than they both helped students through the pandemic.” One crucial difference is that unlike the CARES Act, the CRRSAA requires that institutions prioritize students with “exceptional need,” such as (but not limited to) students who receive Pell Grants, when awarding aid. With this guidance in mind, Bakula said UNI decided to take a different approach when distributing the HEERF II funding. Rather than asking all students to apply for

GABI CUMMINGS/Northern Iowan

Unlike the CARES Act, students do not need to apply for CRRSAA as funds are to be distributed based off of need.

funding, as the university did with CARES, grants of $1,000-$1,200 will be directly distributed to students with exceptional need, based on their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) identified in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). “Our office and (Senior

Leadership Team) decided how we should set these parameters to help as many students as we can while still giving a nod to students with greatest need,” Bakula said. He added the new funding will provide assistance to just over 3,300 students, which he said is about one-third of the

university’s spring enrollment. Eligible students have been notified via email and do not need to complete any additional application to receive the funding, which will credit on or around March 12, according to Bakula.

Penguins. Both teams came into the game with a record of 0-1 on the season. UNI head coach Mark Farley entered the game with 99 career conference wins, and after a strong performance in which the defense dominated, he left as the first coach ever to reach 100 conference victories when the Panthers won 21-0. The Penguins won the toss and deferred their choice to the second half, so the Panthers got the first crack at things offensively. The UNI offense looked strong early, putting together a 15-play, 61-yard drive that took 8:23 off of the clock. However, they stalled out in the red zone and had to settle for a field goal. A 32-yard field goal off of the foot of Matthew Cook put the

Panthers ahead 3-0. On the Penguins first drive of the day, the UNI defense was stout, picking up a sack and forcing a three-and-out. In the second quarter, the Panthers put together another long drive, but again couldn’t punch it in for a touchdown. They settled for a field goal from Cook, this one from 41-yards, to move ahead 6-0. Right before halftime the UNI offense looked poised to put more points on the board, but a pass from quarterback Will McElvain was intercepted, and the teams went into the break with UNI leading 6-0. The Penguins got the ball to start the second half, and they put together their best drive of the day. They drove all the way to the UNI 21-yard line, but

the 38-yard field goal attempt from Colt McFadden was wide to the right, and the Panther defense maintained their shutout. The teams traded punts before the UNI offense started putting together a strong drive to end the third quarter. Just three plays into the fourth quarter, the Panthers finally found the end zone when running back Dom Williams punched it in from two yards out, putting UNI ahead 13-0. After another defensive stop, Williams would run in another touchdown, this time from one yard out. A two point conversion pass from McElvain to Deion McShane would put UNI up 21-0, a score that would hold until the end.

Panthers beat Penguins, Farley gets 100th MVC win DAVID WARRINGTON

Sports Writer

The fifth-ranked UNI Panthers football team trav-

eled to Stambaugh Stadium in Youngstown, Ohio on Saturday for a Missouri Valley Football Conference matchup against the Youngstown State

TONI FORTMANN/Northern Iowan

Coach Mark Farley earned his 100th Missouri Valley Football Conference win against Youngstown State.

See CRRSAA, page 2

See FOOTBALL, page 6


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