4-7-2022

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UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA CEDAR FALLS, IA THURSDAY, APRIL 5 VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42

CEDAR FALLS, IA

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 47

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2022

OPINION

CAMPUS LIFE

SPORTS

OPINION PAGE 3

CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 4

SPORTS PAGE 6

Opinion columnist Mikayla Warrick writes on the impact of religion in politics.

College basketball crowns its champions.

Puppies took over Maucker Union Tuesday, in a “Puppy Yoga” event.

Ukrainian UNI professor weighs Giving in on war in her home country back for CAROLINE CHRISTENSEN News Editor

Oksana Grybovych Hafermann, Ph.D., is the Associate Dean and an Associate Professor within the College of Education at UNI. Originally from the city of Ivano-Frankivsk located in the southwestern part of Ukraine on the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, Hafermann described the city as “beautiful, clean and green place bustling with activity.

As any large city, it is home to several sports teams, universities, theaters, cinemas, parks and restaurants.”

Hafermann left Ukraine to pursue graduate school in the Netherlands, and then the United States. She originally came to the United States 18 years ago, and has stayed in the country ever since.

The Northern Iowan interviewed Hafermann regarding her love for her home country, her unique perspective on the current conflict in Ukraine and how people can support Ukrainians suffering from the war.

a better future

The truth is on our side, and it will not be defeated

Question: What do you love about Ukraine, its people, or its culture?

“Ukraine is a beautiful, peaceful, democratic country with a long and rich history. Located in the heart of Europe, it is a melting pot of cultures and religions that have been coexisting peacefully for centuries. The country boasts some of the most fertile land on earth and is known as the “breadbasket of the world.” It has a beautiful countryside including vast plains, Carpathian Mountains in the southwest, the Black Sea in the south and the Azov Sea in the southeast.”

Hafermann continued, “Ukrainian people are proud, friendly, welcoming and social. Ukraine is a traditional country with a rich cultural legacy where the observance

How students can partake in UNI’s 2022 Day of Giving

MALLORY SCHMITZ Staff Writer

COURTESY/College of Education

Professor Oksana Grybovych Hafermann is originally from the city of Ivano-Frankivsk in Ukraine. Hafermann has intermediate and extended family still living in Ukraine, as well as friends, classmates and colleagues.

of certain customs and practices plays an important role: we celebrate Christmas and New Year twice, prepare twelve meatless dishes for Christmas eve, paint deliberate Easter eggs, wear traditional embroidered cloth-

ing in daily life, plunge into ice holes, and absolutely love football (soccer). Most importantly, Ukrainians are free and democratic people who love their country.”

See UKRAINE, page 2

Teacher Convocation returns to campus After two-year absence, event celebrating those in Teacher Education Program returns to McLeod Center MADDIE DAVIS Staff Writer

The Teacher Convocation and Celebration has been an important event recognizing students in the Teacher Education Program since 1995. After a twoyear absence from this much-awaited celebration, this event has been brought back to life Wednesday, April 6, at 4 p.m. in the McLeod Center.

The last Teacher Convocation took place in the Fall of 2019 and was canceled in the Spring of 2020 amid COVID-19 restrictions.

Traditionally this event is held in Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, cel-

COURTESY/College of Education

Future teachers gather for the Teacher Convocation ceremony pre-pandemic. Two years later, the celebration returned to McLeod Wednesday, April 6.

ebrating 200 students or less that have just been admitted to the Teacher Education Program. This year nearly 500 students will be seated on the court with 1,200

guests, including family and friends witnessing their loved ones’ induction into the teaching profession from the stands above.

Many students have

felt the pandemic’s negative effects, such as isolation and putting in the extra work without validation or reward.

See TEACHER, page 5

COURTESY/UNI Alumni

Connecting Alumni to Students (CATS) kicked off Giving Week through a field of flags representing donors.

As the highlight of Giving Week at UNI, Thursday, April 7 marks the annual Day of Giving. The UNI Foundation has been working alongside CATS (Connecting Alumni to Students) in order to create a day of celebrating Panther pride and giving back to the university to give future students even greater opportunities.

Through their Giving Week campaign, the UNI Foundation encourages the community to “Live Purple, Give Gold.”

Connie Hanson, an alumni of UNI and the current associate director of student involvement, has been “living purple” since she was 18 years old.

“Living purple to me is representing UNI in all that you do,” she said.

“I tell students, when you leave UNI, whether you’re working in the corporate world, education, or not for profit, you’re representing us out in other states, communities and across the world,” she added.

See GIVING WEEK, page 2

PAGE 2

APRIL 7, 2022 |

NEWS

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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CAROLINE CHRISTENSEN News Editor

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 47

UKRAINE

continued from page 1

Question: What was your initial reaction to Russia’s invasion?

“Anger, pain and disbelief. We have an aggressive neighbor that has attacked us numerous times throughout history. The older generation still vividly remembers the horrors of the last century. But we are in 2022.

Ukraine is a democratic, peaceful country that gave up its nuclear weapons back in the 1990s in exchange for security guarantees. So much for those agreements.”

She continued, “As I write this, it’s been 40 days since Russian occupants began killing civilians, bombing cities and destroying my homeland. The level of death, destruction and suffering has been abhorrent.

This past weekend the world saw #buchamassacre. The

COURTESY

The Ukrainian city of Ivano Frankivsk, pictured above, is where UNI professor Oksana Grybovych Hafermann is orginally from. Hafermann settled in the United States 18 years ago.

world learned of thousands of civilians who may have died in the besieged port city of Mariupol, and thousands who remain trapped in the city with no way out, no food, no water, no medicine. The world saw millions of refugees, those who have been displaced and lost everything. Children who

have been forever scarred and traumatized.”

Question: What are some ways you suggest people can support Ukraine?

“The world has united around Ukraine with an incredible outpouring of love and support. For those of you who would like to help - pray

GIVING WEEK

continued from page 1

“So whether that’s our gear, or you have a coffee mug at your desk at work, or you’re talking to your family or your friends about what a great experience you had at UNI, that helps us recruit new students to have those same, hopefully amazing experiences at UNI. I think it’s a way of life, living purple is a way of life.”

The “give gold” part of the slogan refers to giving generously to UNI. While giving back to the university can take a number of forms, a key part of the Day of Giving is monetary donations. The UNI Foundation has set a goal of receiving 1,876 donations on April 7 in honor of the year UNI was founded. Out of that number, they have a goal to receive 250 donations from current students.

In addition, a 2016 UNI graduate has agreed to donate $10 for every student donation up to $2,500.

The concept of donating additional money to the university after paying tuition costs is not always met with enthusiasm from students.

Hansen however believes that giving back plays an instrumental role in preparing students for their own futures.

She encouraged students to start small. “If every student on campus could give up an iced mocha coffee one day, and instead take that four or five dollars and donate that back to UNI, imagine the impact that our students could have on our

institution financially.”

“We’re not asking you to give thousands of dollars.

We’re not asking you to give hundreds of dollars,” she reminded. “A $5, one-time gift every year starts you on the path of what it looks like to give back financially.”

Donors have the ability to choose which area of the university they want their money to go toward, however the UNI Foundation

NORTHERN IOWAN

EDITORIAL STAFF

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CAROLINE CHRISTENSEN News Editor chriscbi@uni.edu

KARLA DE BRUIN

L011 Maucker Union Cedar Falls, IA 50614 www.northerniowan.com northern-iowan@uni.edu 319.273.2157

NIXSON BENITEZ Executive Editor benitezn@uni.edu 319.273.6826

KARLA DE BRUIN Managing Editor debruik@uni.edu 319.273.6420

EMMA KOEHLER

Associate Managing Editor koehlere@uni.edu

COURTESY/UNI Alumni

CATS hosted a health and hygiene drive benefiting the Panther Pantry, and packed the goods into kits at their Giving Week Stop and Serve

CATHERINE CROW Campus Life Editor catherine.crow@uni.edu COLIN HORNING Sports Editor chorning@uni.edu SOPHIE HOFFMEIER Copy Editor hoffmeis@uni.edu

Webmaster Graphic Artist

ADVISORS ANELIA DIMITROVA anelia.dimitrova@uni.edu

CHRIS MARTIN

christopher.martin@uni.edu

CIRCULATION

DORI CLAUSEN Circulation Manager

been endorsed by many).”

Question: Do you have family in Ukraine? Is there any way you can support them?

“Most certainly. I have immediate and extended family in Ukraine, as well as many friends, classmates, and colleagues who are now living through horrific realities of the Russian invasion.

Some have joined the armed forces, some are volunteering and helping any way they can - fundraising, purchasing, collecting and delivering supplies for refugees and territorial defense forces. I help directly whenever possible.”

for Ukraine, pray for peace, speak up, and don’t be silent.

Stay current on world events using credible news sources. If you want to support financially, you can start with the list of foundations at https://helpukrainewin.org (the first three under “find more ways to donate” have

Question: Any other thoughts you would like to share?

“Ukrainian military and civilian people are showing unbelievable courage and resilience. The truth is on our side, and it will not be defeated.”

encourages donating to the Annual Fund, giving the university the most flexibility in order to equitably utilize the funds.

Hansen still emphasized the importance of students thinking about their passions when beginning to donate.

“I’ve always given back to athletics because that’s also a passion and entertainment of mine,” she said. “I love to go to Panther athletics, so I love to see that I’m able to maybe help some student athletes.

Not everybody is on a fullride scholarship.”

In addition, giving back will look very different for each and every student depending on their situation.

Giving does not only have to include money. Hansen has seen firsthand how students giving of their time, talents, and treasures makes a difference through her position on campus.

“Being in charge of the Panther Pantry on campus, we could not do what we do if it wasn’t for the generosity of not only donors, but our students that have given back, whether that’s food products, volunteered their time to help us in the pantry, or students that have given

back monetarily as well,” she explained. “Students helping students is probably one of the coolest things I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of.”

Lastly, Hansen challenged students to look at the bigger picture.

“We’re asking you to make an investment in the institution that you attend, and that money may help your roommate, your best friend, your partner, or someone sitting next to you in class who is just struggling to make ends meet. When you’re able to give back, then we’re able to give a scholarship back to that person, or make more facilities or better laboratories,” she said.

“Anything that you see on campus, somehow we’ve had to finance, so everybody wins,” Hansen added.

“You may not see it directly impacting yourself, but everybody wins in the end.”

Students and community members looking to donate can visit dayofgiving.uni. edu. The minimum donation amount is $5. More fundraising tips and challenges can also be found on the Day of Giving website.

The Northern Iowan is published semi-weekly on Monday and Thursday during the academic year, except for holidays and examination periods, by the University of Northern Iowa, L011 Maucker Union, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0166 under the auspices of the Board of Student Publications.

Advertising errors that are the fault of the Northern Iowan will be corrected at no cost to the advertiser only if the Northern Iowan office is notified within seven days of the original publication. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement at any time.

The Northern Iowan is funded in part with student activity fees.

All material is © 2021 by the Northern Iowan and may not be used without permission.

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PAGE 3

OPINION

NIXSON BENITEZ Executive Editor

APRIL 7, 2022 |

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

|

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 47

Disclaimer: The following opinion articles featured do not reflect the opinion of the Northern Iowan newspaper or staff as a whole.

Religious impressions on American politics MIKAYLA WARRICK

Opinion Columnist

Undeniably, Christianity has roots in American society and politics. There are governmental measures that ensure the freedom of religion in America as well as not favoring one religion over another. I will be focusing on the topic of favoring the Christian faith over other religions in American society.

I interviewed Cara Burnidge, an Associate Professor in the Philosophy & World Religions department.

The idea of religion affecting politics is nothing new, yet it may not affect politics in the way most people think.

“There is observable evidence that Christianity influences America’s political climate because Christianity is a significant portion of American culture. Even if you are not Christian yourself, you are likely to have been impacted and encountered it in some way,” Burnidge explained when discussing the idea of Christianity affecting U.S. politics. There is evidence that religion has and is affecting political ideologies and decisions around the world because religion is a foundational part of society. Countries have many different types of religions throughout the world, yet not all have direct influence on the government.

Religion and politics have a unique dynamic that has to be discussed in depth to understand the intricacies of their relationship. The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause clearly states that one religion cannot be favored over any other religion, or nonreligion favored over religion. However, it is clear that U.S. politics have begun to change within the last 10 years, especially more recently after the COVID-19 pandemic, social issues and the widening gap of the two major political parties.

“Thinking about President Biden and more that he is both a Democrat and Catholic. Yet many Conservative Catholics questioned his Catholicism throughout the election, even now. He identifies as Catholic. He comes from a Catholic family. There is no question that he participates in the Catholic faith, yet his Catholicism and Christianity are called into question by people of a different political persuasion”, says Burnidge.

There are some people in America who have noticed the recent activity of Christian ideologies being brought up in legislation debates such

Pexels

Religion has always been integrated into the American political sphere. Now more than ever, religion has become a catalyst for several discriminatory policies and legislation across the country.

as the right to abortion, the nomination and confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson or the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Many questions asked of Jackson during her nomination process talked about whether or not she was religious, as well as if she could judge a trial fairly based on her religious beliefs.

Some saw this as another example of Christianity specifically becoming more and more involved and/or discussed in the highest levels of our government. If someone is not religious, then they might be seen as someone who could not hold a political position in the U.S. government. According to the Public Religion Research Institute’s 2020 Census of American Religion, “both major political parties are majority Christian, with 83% of Republicans and 69% of Democrats identifying as Christian,” which shows that there are politicians on both sides who identify with the Christian faith. Religion is a bipartisan factor within the officials who make the rules in the U.S. government, yet only one side seems to be using religion as a major

talking point in their campaigns and legislation.

Breaking down the history of the relationship with the Republican Party and Christianity, Burnidge explains that, “it’s an important reminder that the current expression of the Republican Party and its relationship to conservative religious practices is recent. It’s very recent. It wasn’t that long ago when it was perfectly normal for a Republican to not have a strong religious affiliation.” It’s clear that today’s Republicans tend to use their Christian ideologies to explain their decisions rather than having non-religious points to solving the country’s problems. For example, in the right to abortion debate, most of us have heard the phrase, “Well, all life is sacred.” The clear use of the word “sacred” comes with the connotation of this reasoning to be coming from a religious standpoint. It’s easy to see and/or believe that there is a connection between the Republican Party and Christianity in America. There is a fine line which may seem to become more blurred on the idea of favoring Christianity over

any other religion and it has concerned many people, especially those who have differing religious ideologies and beliefs.

UNI Buddhists President Finn Mor ris-McEwan believes that, “all non-Christian faiths are being targeted in the U.S., what is especially disturbing is the amount of Islamophobia and antisemitism in our current political climate.” There are many Americans who associate the Islamic religion with terrorism, as well as people with a heightened interest in understanding people who are not like themselves. People have used events of terrorism to further their racist and discriminatory opinions by equating a small amount of bad people with an entire race or religion. “I believe that the Republican Party is not a party about ideals. It is a party which has given into the very worst impulses of its members, and has taken every possible opportunity to spread and promote hateful ideologies,” says McEwan.

Many people believe this due to the increased ideas about keeping certain people out of America as well as many

Pexels According to Professor Burnidge, “even if you are not Christian yourself, you are likely to have been impacted and encountered it in some way.”

phrases being heard on T.V. and social media along the lines of “go back to where you came from.” Racism and discrimination of religion are key factors in these comments.

Many minorities and religious faiths have received this kind of hate for many years, yet more recently have been shown in the public eye coming from people who are “Christian Republicans.”

However, Burnidge brings up the fact that, “there isn’t a single Christian position on any of these political issues.

So if you’re interested in or concerned about reproductive rights, for example, there are strong Christian activists on many sides of that issue.

The focus tends to be on Christians who would like to limit reproductive rights or overturn Roe v. Wade, but there are Christian activists and more generally religious activists who are also supportive of the right to abortion.” Christianity is not a one-sided religion and it has many people feeling misrepresented when people combine Republicans and Christians together. This brings up another issue of some people turning away from religion as a whole due to a misrepresentation being seen and believed on social media. Students who have seen “protestors” who come to campus and tell every one of us that we are going straight to hell, may have noticed that the Wesley Foundation United Methodist Campus Ministry has advocates come to counterprotest with signs of love and acceptance.

Although this may seem like a very complex idea that can be difficult to discuss within a single newspaper column, we can begin to understand and navigate religion and politics in the U.S. by learning about their relationship. “What we see in the religion program is that if you’re wondering why nobody’s talking about religion and politics, there’s a class for that,” says Burnidge.

UNI offers a wide variety of religion and politics classes in the fall which would be highly advised for students who want to know about these two subjects as well as their relationship in the U.S. Having a discussion with classmates, friends and family can help one better understand their own ideologies along with having meaningful discussions that bring people together in a sense of understanding one another.

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CAMPUS LIFE APRIL 7, 2022 |

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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CATHERINE CROW Campus Life Editor

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 47

Panther portrait : CATS giving week

NORTHERN IOWAN / CATHERINE CROW

Through out the week of April 4 - 8, connecting alumni and students are hosting a variety of activities to give back to our campus and students. Such activities include an Instagram giveaway and packing health and hygine kits for the panther pantry. Other activities going on the rest of the week will be consisting of getting coffee and a free cookie on April 7, as well as nominating a fund for students to support on April 8.

De-stressing with puppy yoga

NORTHERN IOWAN / CATHERINE CROW

To help students de-stress during the last few weeks of classes, puppies were brought into the Maucker Union Ballrooms for a meet and greet, as well as some yoga time with the furry friends.

PAGE 5

CAMPUS LIFE

CATHERINE CROW Campus Life Editor

APRIL 7, 2022 |

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

|

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 47

Panther portrait : Xi man

NORTHERN IOWAN / TONI FORTMANN

On Monday April 4. Alpha Xi Delta hosted the Xi Man event in the Maucker Union Ballrooms. This event consisted of a talent show and a few questions to find out who will be crowned Xi Man.

TEACHERS

continued from page 1

Alex Powell, a senior studying early childhood Education and recent Teacher Education Program admittee said, “Because of Covid, we haven’t been able to do a lot like in-person observations and have our usual events. It’s been so much work without a lot of reward. Now it’s like I have something to show.”

Faculty will be seated alongside students providing their support and celebrating an important milestone in teacher preparation. The party sitting on the platform includes four academic deans.

This party includes Director Benjamin Forsyth, the Director of Educator Preparation, Keynote Speaker, UNI Alum, and current Charles City Community Schools District Superintendent, Mike Fisher, MC Catherine Miller, the Educator Preparation Faculty

Chairperson and Director of the Iowa Department of Education, Ann Lebo.

Students participate in the “walk of recognition” and receive a pin paired with a card stating a pledge about being a teacher inductee. Forsyth said, “Every student will receive a pin that’s been used the last 25 or so years. It was originally designed by a student, so it connects multiple generations of alumni from the Teacher Education Program.”

All students will be asked to put on their pins and recite a pledge to symbolize their achievement and the beginning process of becoming an educator.

Forsyth believes holding a celebratory event in honor of students in the Teacher Educations makes students feel seen and heard. He recognizes the hardships the pandemic has created for everyone, especially teachers.

Forsyth stated, “There is a

lot of press right now about how there are fewer teachers coming into the profession, but at UNI, we haven’t felt those effects the way other places have because we are a premier place to become a teacher. We want to remind not only the candidates, but also the guests in attendance that UNI has not gone away.

We are still a powerhouse when it comes to preparing teachers, and we do it well.”

PAGE 6

SPORTS

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

APRIL 7, 2022 |

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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COLIN HORNING Sports Editor

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 47

College basketball crowns its champions

Tribune News Service

Kansas won their second national championship under head coach Bill Self, defeating North Carolina on Monday night.

DREW HILL

Sports Writer

Both the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments finally came to a close this past weekend. After nearly three weeks of edge-ofyour-seat action, upsets and dominant performances, the champions have cut down the nets and made their mark on history.

In the women’s Final Four, with the semifinal games being played on Friday and the championship on Sunday, familiar faces dueled it out.

First, No. 1 overall-seed South Carolina took down Louisville 72-59 behind 23 points and 18 rebounds from player of the year Aliyah Boston. Then, in a tight game, Connecticut (UConn) upset the defending champion Stanford Cardinal 63-58 to set up a championship game with South Carolina.

Unlike the Final Four game between Stanford and UConn, this game was not very close, with South Carolina winning 64-49 to claim its second championship of the last five tournaments, with the other in 2017. Coincidentally,

2017 was the first time in five years that UConn did not win a championship, snapping a four-in-a-row streak that began in 2013. The last time the UConn women had a national title drought five years or longer was before 1995, the first of their women’s championships.

The men’s Final Four started off with a near blowout, as the lone surviving oneseed, the Kansas Jayhawks, took down Villanova 81-65.

Villanova was missing key starter Justin Moore, who was injured in their previous game, and it showed in the defeat.

The other semifinal game was a legendary matchup sports commentators and reporters dream of: Duke versus North Carolina. Strangely, despite incredible NCAA tournament success among both teams, with the teams combining to claim nine of the thirty championships from 1991-2021, the two rivals had never faced in the NCAA tournament. What made the game even more monumental was that this was the last game of Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, arguably the greatest coach in NCAA basketball history, with 1,202 wins. The teams had split the season series, with each team winning at the other’s home

court.

The first half saw both teams go back-and-forth in a battle of explosive offenses. With Duke leading in the second half, North Carolina did what they have done all tournament, nailing three three-pointers in a row, followed by two more baskets to take a 47-41 lead. Duke responded with a 6-0 run to tie the game.

Both teams kept battling in the second half. With North Carolina up by one with about 25 seconds left, guard Caleb Love hit a three-pointer to extend the Tar Heels’ lead to four. Love made three out of four free throws to close out the game and give North Carolina an 81-77 win over their hated rivals. It was a game that neither team will soon forget.

The title game looked like it would not be quite as exciting at several points. North Carolina proceeded to close the half on an 18-3 run to take a 40-25 lead into halftime.

They were 46-0 when leading by ten or more at the half in the NCAA tournament, and all momentum favored the Tar Heels going forward.

However, Kansas had no plans to roll over and quit. In less than ten minutes, the Jayhawks tied the game at 50.

Less than a minute later, they had a six-point lead at 56-50.

North Carolina kept fighting, and they finally regained the lead at 69-68 with about 1:40 to go. Kansas’ David McCormack nailed a hook shot to give Kansas back the lead. On the next play, Armando Bacot, North Carolina’s star who became the first player to get a double-double in six games in the NCAA tournament, injured his ankle, which forced him to sit out the rest of the game.

With him out, McCormack scored another hook shot to give Kansas a 72-69 lead. North Carolina missed two threes, and then threw the ball out of bounds to give it to Kansas with 4.3 seconds left.

The game appeared to be over. Following a KU turnover Love missed a lastchance three, and Kansas won the championship.

It was Kansas’ first championship since 2008. They made history by overcoming the largest deficit in championship history, being down 16 at one point. If North Carolina had won, they would have made history by being just the second ever eight-seed to win a championship.

Now that the tourney is over, college basketball fans are left asking, “What next?”

It’s going to be a long eight months until college basketball starts again in November.

GOLF

What does Tiger’s return mean for the Masters?

HUNTER FRIESEN Sports Writer

Is there some unknown deep-seated hatred toward March Madness from some of our biggest athletes? NFL quarterback Tom Brady stole the spotlight from Selection Sunday when he announced his surprising un-retirement and return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for one more season. And now this past Saturday, on the day of the Final Four, golf superstar Tiger Woods made headlines when he announced that he would be a game-time decision for playing in this weekend’s Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia.

Of course, I am kidding.

But it does seem that athletes around the world are jealous that college basketball gets a whole month dedicated to them. And never mind that the term “game-time decision” has never been used to describe a golf player.

Tiger’s comments may seem a bit like he’s trying to

lead us on. One could say it’s a conspiracy by the Masters brass to drum up interest in their annual tournament. It’s not an unsubstantiated theory considering Tiger’s previous win at the tournament in 2019 drew 10.81 million viewers, while last year’s tournament without him attracted 9.45 million.

But even if Tiger participates in this year’s tournament (which is getting more and more likely by the day), will he be able to compete for his sixth green jacket? It’s only been 13 months since he was injured in a brutal car accident that resulted in substantial damage to his right leg, along with other minor injuries. You never know how Tiger will play these days. He’s had on and off results at tournaments over the years, with some missed cuts and some wins.

This year’s prestigious event is packed to the brim with previous tournament winners and highly-decorated stars. Since Tiger’s relative demise over the years due to injuries, golf has seen a surge

in parity. Every tournament has at least a dozen names with an equal chance of winning, and The Masters will be no different.

Cameron Smith and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler are the ones at the top of the betting odds. Each has been surging at the smaller tournaments over the past few months but hasn’t had much success in the majors. On the opposite side sits Brooks Koepka, who seems to always overperform when the lights are brightest.

He’s finished in the Top 10 twelve times in the past 16 major tournaments, including four victories.

The previous World No. 1, Jon Rahm, is a beacon of consistency, as he’s finished in the Top 10 in each of his previous four Masters. The same goes for Tony Finau.

He’s had a bit of a rough stretch these past few months but could make the necessary adjustments before this weekend.

The one fan-favorite who will not be playing this year is three-time win-

Tribune News Service

Tiger Woods recently announced that he would be playing in this year’s Masters tournament, a little over one year after he was in a major car accident resulting in multiple injuries.

ner Phil Mickelson, who’s still embroiled in controversy over his actions and comments over the previous months. Apart from his surprise PGA Championship win last year, Phil hasn’t been as competitive as he used to be, so it’s not like this weekend’s event lost one of its top contenders. It’ll be

interesting to see who will don the coveted green jacket this Sunday. I could quadruple the length of this article and still leave off quite a few names worth mentioning. It just goes to show that there isn’t a better tournament out there to get golf back on the menu for sports fans around the world.

PAGE 7

SPORTS

COLIN HORNING Sports Editor

APRIL 7, 2022 |

BASEBALL

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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VOLUME 118, ISSUE 47

MLB season preview: storylines and what to watch DAVID WARRINGTON

Sports Writer

Another MLB Opening Day is upon us, and with it comes 30 teams who all have clear visions of a deep postseason run this fall. After an extended labor stoppage that had people wondering if we would get a 2022 Opening Day at all, it is refreshing for fans and players alike for regular-season games to be getting underway.

The Atlanta Braves, the reigning champions of baseball after winning the World Series a season ago, expect to compete among the league’s best once again. They did lose longtime first baseman Freddie Freeman when he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but with that, they did gain first baseman Matt Olson from the Oakland Athletics to try and cut their losses at first base, as well as picking up closer Kenley Jansen and reliever Collin McHugh, who had a 1.55 ERA a season ago. They were also without star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. for their postseason run last year. His return should give Atlanta a big boost as they vie for back-toback championships.

The reigning American League Champions are the

Houston Astros, who were just a couple of games shy of a championship last year. Many expect the Astros to compete deep into the postseason again this year, despite the offseason departure of All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa. Kyle Tucker had a breakout season for Houston last year, and rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena has the potential to be a respectable replacement for Correa. A lot of Houston’s fortunes will be on the shoulders of starting pitcher Justin Verlander.

Verlander, who turned 39 in February, has been a dominant pitcher in the MLB for well over a decade. Whether or not he can continue that dominance as he pushes 40 will go a long way towards determining what kind of season the Astros will have.

A team that came one series short of the World Series last year, the Los Angeles Dodgers, is seen by many as the favorite to go all the way to a championship this season.

The aforementioned Freeman is now wearing the Dodger blue, and they also picked up closer Craig Kimbrel this offseason to add to what was an already stacked lineup last year. If the Dodgers can stay healthy and get production from their starting rotation, they should be in good shape

when October rolls around.

An interesting storyline to follow this season will be that of the St. Louis Cardinals. After winning 17 games in a row late in the year, the Cardinals barely squeaked into last year’s playoffs before falling to the Dodgers in the Wild Card Game on a walk-off. This season will be something of a last dance for the Cardinals. Yadier Molina, who has been the catcher for the Cardinals since 2004, signed a one-year contract extension with St. Louis this offseason and confirmed that he plans to retire once this season concludes. Adam Wainwright, a starting pitcher for the Cardinals since 2005, hasn’t officially said one way or the other about retirement, but the 40-year-old did say this is likely his last season. Add in the return of Cardinals legend Albert Pujols, who is also retiring after the year, and the three players who won World Series for St. Louis in 2006 and 2011 will have one more chance in 2022.

Heading into the 2022 MLB season, there are countless storylines to watch and 30 teams vying for a World Series championship. 18 of those teams will get their journey started on Thursday, with the other 12 starting their season on Friday.

Tribune News Service

The 2022 Major League Baseball season will begin on Thursday, April 7.

Many teams are looking to get into the swing of things following the lockout over the offseason.

BASKETBALL

Preview: 2022 NBA playoffs are fast approaching CADEN SHEA

Sports Writer

The NBA regular season is quietly coming to an end, which can only mean one thing: the NBA playoffs are approaching. Many teams have been working the whole season just for this moment.

Stars will be made, legendary moments will occur and a champion will be crowned.

It’s time to look at some of the most intriguing teams and stories that will emerge from the playoffs.

The Western Conference is led by the defending conference champions, the Phoenix Suns. This Suns team has the best record in the league (by a lot) with a current record of 62-16. They have looked like the most dominant force in the league led by Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton. Don’t be surprised if they make another deep run in the tournament this year, possibly capped off holding the trophy. A surprising team is in the No. 2 slot in the West: the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies went from being a team that routinely missed the NBA Playoffs to being one of

the best teams in the league.

Led by all-star point guard Ja Morant, the Grizzlies look to become one of the teams to watch out for in the future.

The No. 3 slot in the West belongs to the Golden State Warriors. This team has been plagued with injuries the whole year. When one star player comes back, it seems like another one gets injured.

Despite all this, the Warriors are sitting at the No. 3 slot in their conference. If players like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson can be healthy by the start of the playoffs, this will be one team that will definitely be a must-watch.

The last team in the West that has definitely clinched a playoff spot so far is the Dallas Mavericks. With players like Luka Doncic, Spencer Dinwiddie and Jalen Brunson, this team is dynamic and fun to watch. Doncic is a guy that can elevate his team to win on any given night. The Mavericks are looking very good at the No. 4 spot.

There are a bunch of teams in the West that are still trying to make it, whether that be clinching a playoff spot or getting into the play-in tour-

Tribune News Service

The Phoenix Suns have been the best team in the NBA all season long and will look to get back to the NBA Finals after losing to Milwaukee last year.

nament. These teams are the Denver Nuggets, the Utah Jazz, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Clippers, the New Orleans Pelicans and the San Antonio Spurs, in that order. One of the most surprising teams on this list is the Lakers. This team was hailed as a super team going into the regular season, boasting players like LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook, but were officially eliminated from playoff contention on April 5, completing

one of the most disappointing seasons in the history of the franchise.

The Eastern Conference is also very competitive at this time. The Miami Heat are currently in control at the No. 1 seed. Boasting players like Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry, this team looks to get back in the championship this year. Not far behind them, however, are the Jayson Tatum-led Boston Celtics. This team has been very chippy and have earned every game

to get them to this point. This Celtics team will be very fun to watch in every game they play in these playoffs, but the current NBA champions are not far behind them, however. The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to defend their crown against anyone who tries to take it from them. The Bucks are captained by a once-in-a-generation player in the form of Giannis Atntetokounmpo who is wanting to keep his championship and legacy in these playoffs.

The East is filled with competition throughout the playoffs.

The new-look 76ers team with James Harden and Joel Embiid are sitting at the No. 4 seed and could also be true contenders. The Chicago Bulls have been the surprise story of this whole tournament with players like DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavine stepping up and playing incredible basketball.

The NBA play-in tournament begins on April 12 and will determine the No. 7 and eight seeds in each conference, with the playoffs beginning on April 16. This season has a lot of intriguing storylines and will be interesting to see how things unfold over the course of the next few months.

PAGE 8

CLASSIFIEDS APRIL 7, 2022 |

Today's Horoscope

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

|

KARLA DE BRUIN Managing Editor

EMMA KOEHLER

Associate Managing Editor

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 47

April 7, 2022

Today's Birthday (04/07/22).

Fortune flows through friendship, teamwork and collaboration this year. Disciplined, steady participation realizes shared dreams. Spring profits allow support for a shared endeavor this summer. Joint ventures pay off next autumn, providing ease with a winter financial challenge. Pull together for fun, ease and victory.

der. Listen to good music. Put things away while you organize plans. Align your course and vision.

To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) – Today is a 9. Your work is gaining attention. Polish portfolios, websites and resumes.

Smile for the cameras.

Discover fringe benefits. Your status and influence are on the rise.

Aries (March 21-April 19) – Today is an 8. Fill your home with love. Beautify your spaces. Cook up something fragrant and delicious. Talk with family about upcoming plans.

Listen carefully. Teamwork pays off.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) – Today is a 9. Follow fascinating ideas. Read, research and study. You can see what wasn't working. Make adjustments.

Edit and refine. Add illustrations, maps and link sources.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) – Today is a 9. Financial deals come together naturally.

Discuss possibilities and set the budget. Words and actions align. Follow rules carefully.

Take care of business.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) – Today is a 9. Develop practical personal plans. You know what you want. Dare to dream big. Talk about it with people you trust. Advance with help from friends.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) – Today is a 7. Sink into peaceful reverie and let your mind wan-

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) – Today is a 9. Friends are a big help. Pull together for a common dream. Teamwork attracts good fortune. Talk about the plan. Reinforce the basics. Strengthen support structures.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) – Today is an 8. Enjoy a dreamy situation. Love and luck come together. Make long-distance connections. Discuss possibilities and align on the best direction. You're learning something fascinating.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) – Today is a 9. Take advantage of lucrative conditions.

Collaborate to harvest what you can. Stick to practical financial priorities to maximize savings. Build for the future.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) – Today is a 9. Love feeds your spirit. Pull together with your partner. Contribute to strengthen collaborative efforts. Support each other.

Shared dreams can get romantic.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) – Today is a 9. Keep practicing.

A dream lies within reach.

Adapt and adjust with expert support. Nurture yourself for

optimal physical performance.

You're building strength and endurance.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) – Today is an 8. Creative muses inspire your artistry. Discover unimagined beauty. Fun and romance blossom naturally.

Have fun with someone attractive and interesting. Share a delicious treat.

Visit our website for more information:

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