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THURSDAY, APRIL 5
VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42
THURSDAY, MAY 2 VOLUME 115, ISSUE 54 Executive editor bids farewell 3 ‘Avengers: Endgame’ review 5 Feature: Jaylin James 6
Student to compete on ‘Ninja Warrior’ ALLISON MAZZARELLA Staff Writer
Ever since he was in middle school, Jackson Twait has dreamed of becoming the next American Ninja Warrior. Those hopes of competing have now become a reality for Twait, a junior at UNI studying actuarial science and economics. “I knew right away,” Twait said, remembering when he first began watching the show, “this is something I want to do. This is my dream.” In eighth grade, Twait began pushing his physical limits and catering workouts towards the show’s competitiveness. His workouts have included pull-ups, CrossFit and pilates. Before the Ninja U gym opened in Cedar Falls, Twait also climbed the rock wall at UNI’s Wellness and Recreation Center several times a week. Now, he divides his time between the two gyms. “I think rock-climbing probably is better for Ninja than Ninja is for Ninja,” Twait said. “I would come here and climb every route on the wall above a 5.8 and I would just be
drenched in sweat at the end; my forearms would be dead.” Trying out for “American Ninja Warrior” consists of filming and submitting a video that showcases the applicant’s talent and personality. A friend studying digital imaging at Hawkeye helped Twait with filming. “Basically, you need to either be really ecstatic or have a sappy story,” Twait said. Twait said the acceptance rate is slim and that in 2016, only several hundred people out of roughly 80,000 applicants received a call. Twait had originally applied to compete at the show’s Seattle location. When calls for Seattle had passed and he watched his friends from Wisconsin and Ninja U get accepted, Twait began looking forward to next year. The next day, his phone rang. “I slowly pulled it out and I’m like…” Twait made a skeptical face as he recalled the incident. “It was a Los Angeles area code, so I knew right away.” Twait was helping run the scoreboard at a Hudson soccer tournament when he got the
call. “[I] was just, like, jumping up and down on my phone. Afterwards, I just started FaceTiming everyone,” Twait said. “I was just on top of the world. I thought it was just going to be a 30-second call but it ended up being like a five-minute call — at least it felt like it.” The Cincinnati competition includes six qualifying rounds. If Twait succeeds in all of those rounds, he progresses to four rounds in Las Vegas. The first round will consist of 120 competitors, with the top 30 progressing to the next night. From that group, the top 12 move on to Las Vegas. As he prepares to compete, Twait says he is sharpening his weaker skills. Of the six obstacles in the course, only two have remained consistent for him. He is most nervous for the balance obstacles. “Just thinking about the balance obstacles, my stomach just drops,” Twait said. “It just feels like I have a lump in my stomach; some nights sleeping is kind of hard because I’ll just think about that forever.” See NINJA, page 5
JACKSON TWAIT/Courtesy Photo
Jackson Twait, a UNI junior majoring in actuarial science and economics, will compete in the Cincinnati competition of NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” later this month.
UNI remembers Rettinger in Hawkeye matchup
TONI FORTMANN/Northern Iowan
FRANK WALSH
Sports Writer
The University of Northern Iowa softball team honored former center-fielder Micalla Rettinger with a moment of silence before they faced their in-state rivals, the Iowa Hawkeyes, in their final home
game of the season. Rettenger died early Sunday, April 28. From the first pitch, Jaclyn Spencer was consistent, pitching for seven straight innings. Spencer had a towering total of ten strikeouts and only walked one batter. The Hawkeyes were only able to score one run in the first
inning against Spencer. Offensively, Brittney Krodinger put the first run on the scoreboard, hitting a homerun to tie the game at the bottom of the first. The bulk of the Panthers offense came during the fourth inning. The purple and gold scored
three straight runs following Courtney Krodinger’s double that brought in right fielder Olivia Brooks. Spencer blasted a two-run home run to center field to help the Panthers seal the deal against the Hawkeyes with a 4-1 lead. The Hawkeyes were only able to score one more
run in the sixth inning, leading to the Panthers breaking a four-game losing streak and defeating the Hawkeyes by a final score of 4-2. Up next, the Panthers will travel to Chicago to take on Loyola in a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5.
PAGE 2
MAY 2, 2019 |
MICHAEL OASHEIM
NEWS
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
|
News Editor
VOLUME 115, ISSUE 54
UNI professor organizes photo display ANNA FLANDERS Staff Writer
“Barefoot and gingham dress on the front porch—it doesn’t get more classic than that,” said Philip Hopper, UNI Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, while admiring a black and white image of a young American girl from the Depression era (pictured right). The young girl is one of the sixteen photographs that Hopper selected for the Rod Library display case. The images will be there May 2 through June 1. These photos were taken between the mid-1930s and mid-1940s as part of the Farm Security Administration’s (FSA) efforts to fight against rural poverty during the Great Depression. Each photo features people and places affected by that poverty. Today, the negatives from these black and white photos— over 175,000 in all—form the Farm Security Administration/ Office of War Information Collection that resides in a Library of Congress archive. Students of UNI Professor of Communication Studies Bettina Fabos worked on digitizing some of these negatives as a class project. Originally, the photos were going to be put into Fortepan Iowa, a digital archive of photos that tell the stories of average, everyday Iowans in the nineteenth and twentieth centu-
PHILIP HOPPER/Courtesy Photo
UNI Assistant Professor of Communication Studies Philip Hopper helped to organize a photo display at Rod Library containing black and white images from the Depression Era. The photos will be on display from May 2 through June 1.
that’s important.” According to the display monograph, there is only one image in the FSA collection that features an African-American. Because of this, Hopper thought it was important to also include images that were taken postWorld War II in the display, as they show more people of color. As an award-winning photographer himself, Hopper admires the talent behind the photos. “They’re taken during the era of black and white photography,” Hopper said. “What you see in these photographs from an aesthetic point of view is a sensitivity to tonal gradation, tonal variation. That’s how you tell a story with black and white, right? There has to be a range of tones and if these photos don’t have a range of tones, there’s a reason.” Ultimately, Hopper hopes that when people look at the photos they recognize that although these photos come from a different time, the people and places in them should still be familiar. They are not so different from people and places today. “I think the commonplace is as important as so-called important people and important places,” Hopper said. “I think the commonplace is something we really need to really think about and look at.” For the complete collection of images, go to the Library of Congress’ website and search for “Farm Security Administration Iowa.”
ries. Fabos is one of the founders of Fortepan Iowa. Because of Hopper’s involvement with Fortepawn Iowa, he was asked to look through the FSA photos. “Subsequently, Fortepan decided that because there were some professional photographers involved that they didn’t really want to use the photographs, but I’d already fallen in love with them,” Hopper said. “I think these photographs are great. They’re a real slice of Mid-twentieth century American rural life.” After finding out that the library display case was avail-
able, Hopper volunteered the Department of Communication Studies. The Art Department printed the photos, and Rod Library Learning Commons Coordinator Gail Bunz and Library Assistant II Julie Ann Beddow also helped make the display a reality. Although the FSA took photos from all over the Midwest, the collection prominently features Iowa. Many of the images were taken in a modest town on the Des Moines River, according to Hopper. There are also photos from the Iowa State Fair, including some from a horse show. “The expression on this man’s
face as he leads his prize horse by the judges is just, he knows he’s going to win,” Hopper said with excitement. “He’s got the prize stallion. He’s got it.” Many of the photos in the overall FSA collection feature fields and building, but the ones Hopper finds the most compelling are those with people. The display will only feature images with human subjects. “I think that we can learn a lot about history by looking at photos that aren’t of famous people and famous events,” Hopper said. “So these photos are about everyday lives, everyday people, and I kind of feel like
The official Student Fee proposal for the 2019-2020 academic year was sent to Northern Iowa Student Government on Tuesday, April 30, after being reviewed by both the Iowa Board of Regents and UNI President Mark Nook. The proposal included
a $90,000 re-allocation to the Panther Shuttle, which will allow the shuttle to maintain its usual schedule during the winter months, specifically between homecoming and spring break. This decision comes less than one month after the Student Fee Committee voted to defund the Panther Shuttle and Weekend SafeRide bus on Wednesday, April 10, which would have
been effective in the fall semester of 2019. The initial decision was met with much resistance from the UNI community. “This decision comes as a result of numerous deliberations between students and administrators,” said NISG in a press release. “Students contributed and influenced the final proposal on a level not seen in prior years.”
The 2019-2020 Student Fee proposal was released on Wednesday, May 1. The proposal included a $90,000 re-allocation to the Panther Shuttle.
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PAGE 3
SYDNEY HAUER
OPINION
Executive Editor
MAY 2, 2019 |
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
|
VOLUME 115, ISSUE 54
Executive Editor bids farewell SYDNEY HAUER
Executive Editor
As my five years at UNI come to an end, it’s hard to believe that I am about to walk away from what has been my home for a half of a decade. It’s hard to emotionally process it all with all that still needs to be accomplished before I walk across the stage at graduation. Having been granted the opportunity to be the Executive Editor of the Northern Iowan over the past school year is something I will never forget. The position is exciting, and you end up knowing way more about the innerworkings of campus than you’d ever expected to. In this position, you are an open receptacle that people continually drop information in, hoping you will be able to do your due diligence and share it with the student body. My time as Executive Editor has not been easy, and it would have been unimaginable without my incredible staff by my side. I’ve learned that having a reliable team is the most important thing, and I want to thank each and every one of them for what they’ve done for the newspaper this year. To Gabby, my successor:
You keep us afloat. Your passion and love for this newspaper is unmatched and I am more than confident in your ability to take over my position next year. I see you already settling in to the position and taking even more initiative than you already have in the past, and I’m so happy that I’m leaving the paper in such qualified hands. Thank you for your willingness to go above and beyond for the sake of the paper each and every time, and for the help you gave me especially as I was just starting out in the position. We couldn’t be luckier to have someone like you on our staff. In addition to all of that, thank you for being an amazing and supportive friend. I will never forget our New York trip. “There she is. Lady Liberty.” To Eliot: You have really grown into your position over the past semester and I believe that you now have the skillset to find a great job in the field. You stepped into the position as a natural leader, and one who was not afraid to get serious if things weren’t going the way you wanted them to with your sports writers. Thank you for your hard work. To Sofia: Having you on our staff as the Campus Life Editor
has been a blessing. Your organizational skills and forward thinking set you apart and we are so lucky to have you. I have loved working with you each and every layout, and I know you will absolutely find success in your future. To Brody: I am so glad you applied to become our new copy editor in the fall. Working with you has been delightful and I’m glad you got to read so many books during down time. I hope that someday you start your own “Sex and the City,” Carrie Bradshaw-style advice column. I would read it, and I think others would too. But on a more serious note, your opinion columns often moved me to tears. You’re going to do great things post-graduation. To Michael: I feel so terrible that you had so much trouble getting people to take your stories and had to often write stories last minute at layout, but you always made the best of it and made us all laugh while doing it. You always had something interesting to say at every layout and it’s been a pleasure working with you. I wish you the best of luck in your future with your acting pursuits. I believe in you. To Sierra: Without you, the paper literally would not be
for whites to be elevated once more to the detriment of African-American, Latinx and other minority students. He has brought forth multiple lawsuits regarding affirmative action, mostly with white students complaining about “reverse racism,” which of course does not exist. The results of these cases have been catastrophic, with states such as North Carolina seizing on the opportunity that one of Blum’s cases had resulted in a rescindment of a key provision of the Voting Rights Act in order to enact voter suppression against African Americans. Attacking affirmative action is a common trait of white supremacists: When former Grand Wizard of the KKK David Duke announced his bid for Congress, he stressed his fight against affirmative action and the court cases he had won to this end. This is Blum’s first lawsuit in which the “victims” have been Asian-Americans, in a clear strategy to reframe his case so that unwitting liberals will fall into his trap and support him. Let one thing be clear: Blum does not care about Asian-Americans. His end goal is white nation-
alism. Dismantling affirmative action is one way of moving towards his ultimate vision. And for an article supposedly explaining this lawsuit, failure to mention this crucial fact is very irresponsible. As an Asian-American, I am uncomfortable being used as a pawn in order to bludgeon other racial minorities, which have fared much worse in the US. I am also uncomfortable with this article’s author pretending to care about “discrimination” against my identity to this end. Furthermore, I don’t think that not being admitted to Harvard constitutes oppression. I think that, as Asian-Americans, we need to recognize our privilege with respect to other racial minorities. Most racial oppression is subsumed by class oppression, which is why different racial groups in the US experience oppression in different ways, and to differing extents. Asian-Americans have more class privilege than even white Americans do. And for this author to equate the discrimination we may face to that of Jews or blacks is absolutely horrendous. But let us get to the heart
Courtesy Photo
Executive Editor Sydney Hauer bids farewell to her staff and the readers of the Northern Iowan upon graduation.
able to function. Your role is so crucial and you do it so well. I don’t know what we would do without you. It’s been great being able to work with you and talk to you when we occasionally cross paths in the office. To Laura: Thank you for everything you’ve done to help us out this year, from organizing and teaching the writer’s workshop to helping us come up with better ledes and headlines. You enhance the paper with your creativity, and we all sincerely appreciate it. And Michele: Thank you for your dedication, taking care of all of us, and believing in me.
Not one of us has ever doubted how much you care about the NI or us as individuals. We appreciate everything you do for us. I also want to thank our readers. Without you, the work we do here would have no point. Thank you for letting us keep you in the know, and please allow the NI to continue doing so. I will miss you all greatly, and it feels weird that it is suddenly coming to an end. I am excited to see from afar what the NI will do next year, and I have no doubt whatsoever that it will continue to do great things in such good hands.
of the matter. The author finds no issue with admitting based on “academic achievements” and “extracurricular activities,” finding that they can be “measured quasi-scientifically.” However, what are we really measuring when we measure academic achievement? The answer is, of course: Class privilege. People who come from higher socioeconomic statuses are afforded better educational opportunities, and perform better in school. Measuring academic achievement, then, is simply classism: What you are really measuring is the opportunities that were afforded to these students. Public schools are funded through property taxes, which means that living in richer neighborhoods means more funding to schools for proper resources and better teachers. Rich parents can hire private tutors and are more likely to be able to help their children with homework. This also means that it is less likely you will need to get a job during high school to support the family, meaning more time to focus on studies. I don’t think Asian Americans, or white Americans, should
be rewarded for their class privilege by admitting them to prestigious universities. And I think students that have not been afforded the same opportunities should be awarded them. Of course, I am only talking about averages here. Not all Asian Americans have class privilege, but on average, we do. Affirmative action is a good method of trying to counteract the classist reasoning of “meritocracy” by attempting to break the cycle of inequity rather than duplicating it. None of this amounts to discrimination. The real problem with Harvard’s admission policy is not affirmative action, but rather legacy admissions. If we actually care about a fairer, more equitable admissions process, why don’t we target legacy admissions, which have the most privilege and are leveraging their wealth and connections in order to actually unfairly be admitted in what is tantamount to nepotism. Rather than directing our ire towards African-Americans and other racial minorities being admitted, why don’t we instead direct our ire against the most privileged among us?
The actual problem with Harvard’s admission policy MOHAMMED RAWWAS
Opinion Columnist
An article appeared in the April 29, 2019, issue of the Northern Iowan in which the author argues against Harvard’s admission policy. The most egregious fault is the comparing of this admission policy, which is implicitly considered discrimination against Asian Americans, to the historical, systemic discrimination against Jews, blacks and other minority groups. However, by framing this issue in such a way, the article minimizes the institutional racism faced by these other groups. Furthermore, by presenting this clearly sympathetic, but formally “neutral” “analysis” of this lawsuit while neglecting to mention pertinent information, the article is helping white nationalists in their fight against African Americans and other racial minorities. The man bringing forward this lawsuit, Edward Blum, is a white nationalist whose sole purpose in life is to eradicate affirmative action and even to overturn provisions within the 1965 Voting Rights Act, in order
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MAY 2, 2019 |
CAMPUS LIFE
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
|
SOFIA LEGASPI
Campus Life Editor
VOLUME 115, ISSUE 54
Hagemann secretary retires after 2 decades SOFIA LEGASPI
Campus Life Editor
A familiar face on campus is retiring this semester after 24 years at UNI. Clarine “Louie” Hartman has spent two decades serving as the secretary for Hagemann Hall. Her job involves making purchases, paying the bills and completing a whole lot of paperwork. Her biggest responsibility, however, is to make Hagemann Hall a welcoming place for all who walk through its doors. “My motto in life has never been to make someone’s day worse,” Hartman said, “so always try to be friendly and build people up, and just do something to make their day a little better.”
My motto in life has never been to make someone’s day worse, so always try to be friendly and build people up, and just do something to make their day a little better. LOUIE HARTMAN
Hagemann Hall Secretary
During her time at Hagemann, Hartman has bettered the days of an estimated 7,000 students — not to mention their families, her coworkers and others who have visited the residence hall. Before Hagemann, Hartman spent four years in the office of the Dean of Education. She had been working various office jobs, from optometrists and med-
ical clinics to law offices and loan processing, since the age of 13. While her own children were attending UNI, Hartman fell in love with the school’s atmosphere and decided she wanted to be a part of it. “The problem with that: I was so [in] over my head. I’d never been to college. Back then, you didn’t have to,” she said. “So I knew none of the language, degrees, just the whole terminology. I had to learn everything about campus, about college.” Nonetheless, Hartman was hired. Her daughter, who had lived in Hagemann for two years, was also working in the dean’s office at the time. “I didn’t know anything!” Hartman recalled. “All I remember saying at the interview was, you know, I’m in the private sector, used to doing all the jobs — I said, I’ll make coffee, I’ll fix the copier, whatever it takes. And that’s what got me the job, was that kind of attitude.” Most people know Hartman as “Louie.” The youngest of six girls with a 13-year gap between her and the next youngest, “Louie” was the name she would have had if she had been a baby boy. On her first day of work at UNI, Dean of Education Thomas Switzer decided that she would be called by her given name of “Clarine.” “And that lasted till noon,” Hartman said with a laugh. “And they came back and they said, ‘Nah, we’re just gonna call you ‘Louie.’” After some time at the dean’s office, Hartman decided it wasn’t for her. In 1999, she heard that the current Hagemann Hall secretary was retiring, applied for the posi-
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Louie Hartman poses in front of Hagemann Hall at the beginning of the Fall 2004 semester.
tion and has been there ever since. “I have loved this job,” she said. “It has so suited me.” Hartman said it’s the problem-solving nature of the job she most enjoys. She also appreciates “seeing the growth” in students through the years. “And then I could always joke with the kids. I never had to do the discipline end of it, you know,” she said, laughing. “I could just have fun.” One of Hartman’s favorite memories involves dressing up as Elvis Presley during the holidays for a “Cider with the King” program. She has organized countless other projects to make Hagemann a welcoming place, from serving red velvet shakes on Valentine’s Day to bringing in her own plants from home to spruce up the hall’s lobby. Amidst all the good days in Hagemann have been the not-so-good ones. Hartman recalled worst day on the job: Sept. 11, 2001. “We just shut the office, put the sign on it: ‘Come down to the rec room.’ We had [the news] on down there,” she said. “And then we just hugged kids.” Through the years, Hartman said she has seen the level of interaction among both staff and students decrease. “We’ve really had fun,” she
said. “A lot more laughter used to go on. I don’t hear much laughter anymore, but I think people are on their devices.” MUSTAFA AKBAR/Courtesy Photo New technologies have Louie Hartman with freshman economics major Akbar during Hagemann Hall’s “Cider brought other Mustafa with the King” program in 2016. Akbar lived in changes to many Hagemann for two years and is now a senior aspects of the majoring in finance. job, from the package-logging system to “You know, I was 50 years the way hall staff communi- older than the freshman class cates with residents. Hartman this year, and I noticed that.” After retirement, Hartman explained how re-contracting to live on campus used to be is looking forward to focusan on-paper, in-person pro- ing on her other career in cess instead of a few clicks real estate. Outside of work, she also enjoys tending to online. “I would try to get here her garden and lawn, being real early, but the kids would outdoors, reading and spendcome and spend the night ing time with her children out here [outside the office]. and grandchildren. She and They’d be sleeping, they her husband Ron, who is also would line up,” Hartman said. retiring, plan to take their “Because we took first-come, camper and “bum around the first-serve, you know. But oh, United States” for a while. As much as Hartman may it was so hectic because it was be looking forward to retirelike, ‘Let me open the door!’” After having spent so ment, saying goodbye is never many years in Hagemann and easy. “It’s hard,” she said. “You seeing the changes come and go — including working with get attached; they leave. You seven different residence life get attached to students, you coordinators — Hartman said leave. Everybody leaves the her upcoming retirement felt nest.” Although Hartman, may “surreal.” Although she will miss the job, Hartman said be leaving the UNI nest, too, the time feels right to move it will be a long time before the impact she has left on on. “Honestly, the generation the campus community disgap is showing,” she said. appears.
CAMPUS LIFE
SOFIA LEGASPI
Campus Life Editor
MAY 2, 2019 |
FILM REVIEW
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
|
PAGE 5
VOLUME 115, ISSUE 54
‘Avengers: Endgame’ is one for the ages HUNTER FRIESEN Film Critic
It’s taken 11 years and 22 films, but the “Avengers” saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has finally reached its long-awaited bittersweet conclusion. Thanos has snapped his fingers and half of all life on Earth is gone. With the few remaining heroes left, the Avengers embark on a revenge quest against the villain who has stolen their friends and loved ones. But just like all plans, this one goes awry and the team must now band together for one final showdown in order save the universe and set things right once and for all. *For the sake of avoiding spoilers, this review may a bit shallow at times and free of specific details. So please give me the benefit of the doubt as I try to be careful with my words. Directing: 4/5 After now four outings, brothers Anthony and Joe Russo have firmly planted their position as the MCU’s best directors. Whether it be during somber conversations between characters or in “The Lord of the Rings” style final battle, the amount of detail and effort that goes into each frame is unparalleled by any other blockbuster. Regular Marvel cinematographer Trent Opaloch’s compositional lighting and camera movement is simply outstanding and keeps the
NINJA
continued from page 1
Last year, Twait tried to walk on the show in Minneapolis. For about three days he camped in a park, waiting. When no one else showed up, Twait was not sure what to do, but for fear of losing his spot, stayed at the park. A security guard eventually kicked him out, and he ended up sitting in a lawn chair overnight outside of U.S. Bank Stadium. “[I] stayed awake the entire time because I was scared,” Twait said. “[I] had someone ask if I could bum them a cigarette and had another guy just walk up to me and be like, ‘You okay?’” What Twait had not understood was that walkons arrived at a given time to a specified location and were being checked in. When people started showing up to his location in the morning, Twait was told he
film running on all cylinders throughout its massive threehour runtime. Also keeping the energy high is the lightning pace the brothers infuse into the film’s second and third acts. They may miss the mark a bit during the first hour, but they more than makeup for it in the latter two-thirds as they deliver some of the most entertaining material put to screen. Lastly, aiding the brothers is a sweeping score by the ever-underappreciated Alan Silvestri. His music is swiftly able to go from epic to intimate in the blink of an eye and is a key driver behind many of overwhelming emotions felt. Writing: 4/5 Co-written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, “Avengers: Endgame” may mark the first film in the franchise to look back in the past as opposed to solely setting up the future. The specific medium it uses to reminisce may not be the most logical or neat, but the end product is a string of touching moments that pleasantly rewards fans that have stuck around all these years. After some time away from each other during Phase Three, the main core of the Avengers is finally back together, albeit under less than ideal circumstances. This initial tighter cast allows the main troupe to get their time to shine in what could be a few send-off performances. Things do start to get
was number 24. “I was kind of mad for five minutes, then I got over it,” Twait said. After years of both training and setbacks, Twait will finally be appearing on the show in May. “It still hasn’t really hit
TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
The culmination of 22 films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe “Avengers: Endgame” was released on April 22. DIrcted by Anthony and Joe Russo and boasting a long list of A-list actors, the film received a 96 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
messy when the entire roster is put back together. Some characters get the shorter end of the stick in terms of screentime, but I don’t know how it could all be properly done unless this movie was another six hours longer (which I would still approve of). Since day one, Marvel films have been built on their ability to blend comedy with high emotional stakes. The stakes have never been higher here, and the same can go for the number of quippy jokes. The quality of the humor is surprisingly high throughout, but the sheer amount of one-liners during what should be tense moments verges on borderline overkill. Acting: 4/5 With its bafflingly long cast list, “Endgame” boasts quite a few key acting high-
lights. The co-leads of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans shine brighter than they ever have before. They’ve gotten better with each performance and leave it all on the screen as they share immense chemistry with each other and everyone around them. Josh Brolin is still great as Thanos. While he doesn’t reach the high bar he set for himself in “Infinity War,” he still delivers another powerful performance that towers over all the other Marvel villains. Both Karen Gillan and Paul Rudd surprisingly stand out as Nebula and Ant-Man, respectively. They each have a more grounded personal story that offers a stark contrast to the epic main narrative. I realize I’m leaving a lot of great performances on the cutting room floor,
but it would take a novel to talk about them all. Basically, everyone either did well or just all right. Nobody was outright bad. Overall: 4/5 Arguably one of the biggest pop culture moments of all time, “Avengers: Endgame” is a film that arrived with an infinite amount of expectations and meets each and every one of them. Within its 181-minute runtime, you’ll laugh, you’ll more than likely cry (I did) and most importantly, be amazed at how a legendary never-ending franchise can reach such a satisfying conclusion that both respects the past and inspires confidence in the future.
me,” Twait said. “I feel like it won’t really hit me until I’m standing there on the platform about to go.” Twait’s competition will be in Cincinnati over Memorial Day weekend and will air on NBC on Wednesday, July 3.
JACKSON TWAIT/Courtesy Photo
PEXELS
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MAY 2, 2019 |
SPORTS
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
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ELIOT CLOUGH Sports Editor
VOLUME 115, ISSUE 54
Panthers invited to NFL camps FOOTBALL
JACOB POTTER
Associate Sports Editor
After the NFL draft, opportunities of a lifetime are still up for grabs for undrafted talent from the collegiate level. Five of those coveted minicamp spots were filled by Panthers, who earned invites from several NFL teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, the Chicago Bears, the Minnesota Vikings and the
Kansas City Chiefs. Tight end Elias Nissen received an invite from the Bears, who are entering their 100th season as a franchise. Prior to the draft, Nissen told radio sports talk show, Clough and Q Sports Talk, “Doing some research on different depth charts and places that I could possibly fit in and be able to contribute, and a place where I could not just be a camp guy but
some place I can solidify myself on a roster.” The Bears look to be a good fit for Nissen considering that the lone solidified spot at tight end is Trey Burton. Linebacker Rickey Neal Jr. and defensive tackle Bryce Douglas were invited to the Minnesota Vikings camp. Neal’s ability to play multiple positions on the football field likely aided in his camp invite.
“I’m an in-betweener,” said Neal in an interview with Clough and Q Sports Talk. “But I know I want to be a linebacker in the NFL.” Kicker Austin Errthum was invited to the Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Eli Dunne was invited to the Atlanta Falcons. Each Panther will look to prove themselves on an NFL team with the goal of making a 53-man roster.
ELIOT CLOUGH/Northern Iowan
ing South Dakota State, the University of South Dakota and of course, UNI. “When I actually came to UNI, I literally felt like it was my second family. It probably helped that my brother was already here, but it was like I could have moved in that day and been perfectly fine, just because I felt that close with everyone here. So, I think that family-type environment really pushed me to come here.” When thinking of individuals who made UNI home, James immediately thinks of his brother, as well as the aforementioned Fountain, someone who James holds in regard as one of his mentors. “I can’t even begin to describe how much Reece [Fountain] helped me,” said James. “Especially outside of football and in my faith.” Fountain was the first person to introduce James to the UNI football team’s Bible study. “Growing up I had never been a true Christian or anything. I believed in God and went to church here and there growing up but didn’t go really at all in high school,” says James. That story changed in James’ collegiate days. “I came here, and Reece was going to
Bible studies. One day, he said something to me about it, and I kind of just blew it off,” said James. “Then I had another guy come up to me and tell me I should go, so I finally went. When Reece first introduced me to it, I was kind of light-hearted about it, I guess. I wasn’t really all in.” Then James had a spiritual experience he couldn’t even describe. “Actually, just before Reece left, I had this weird thing happen. I didn’t see God or see Jesus or anything, but I had this weird feeling like I needed to give my life to Christ.” James made sure to once again credit Fountain with his finding of Jesus. “Besides football, Reece has helped me a lot, ways people couldn’t even imagine.” Strong, brother-like friendships like James has with Fountain weren’t the only thing that got James into the purple and gold of the Panthers. “I don’t think the school is too big; it’s not too small. I can get away from some people if I have to,” James said with a smile. “I think UNI is an awesome school.”
Faith, family, football — the Jaylin James story FEATURE
ELIOT CLOUGH
Sports Editor
Daurice Fountain, who led UNI in catches as well as receiving touchdowns in 2017, was taken by the Indianapolis Colts in the 5th round of the 2018 NFL Draft, leaving the Panther football team for good. It was someone else’s turn to step up. Enter Jaylin James. “Last year, Daurice was the definition of the guy, making plays here and there on every single drive that we had,” said James in an interview with Panther Sports Talk. “I kind of want to echo what he did and make plays when people rely on it. The main thing for me is just being able to make plays. When people aren’t expecting [players] to make plays, or when it comes down to the end of the game, when we need a big play and someone to rely on, I want to be that guy.” One can sense the passion behind James’ statement. James certainly possesses more than just that passion. He’s got the athleticism, speed and confidence to follow through. Football must run through
NI Archives
the veins and minds of the James family, considering James’ dad, Carlos, played cornerback for the University of Iowa in the late 80s and early 90s, receiving Big Ten All-Conference honors. Carlos also spent some time with the Chicago Bears, being picked up as an undrafted free agent, and later going on to play arena football with the likes of Kurt Warner and the Iowa Barnstormers. Xavier, Jaylin’s
brother also played wide receiver for the Panthers from 20132017. “Football has always kind of been my go to,” said James. “I watched [my dad] when I was growing up [and] football has always been in my blood, I guess.” While this may be the case, only three division one (DI) FCS schools brought scholarship offers to the table in James’ time of recruitment, includ-
NHL playoffs remain underrated despite upsets OPINION
COLIN HORNING
Sports Writer
Many people would say springtime is the best time of year for sports. Baseball is starting back up, NBA playoffs are in full swing, March Madness recently finished and the Masters kicks off golf season for the summer. A lot of sports fans usually forget about the NHL playoffs, which is often overshadowed by all of these new happenings in sports. This season’s NHL postseason has so far proven to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable playoff tournaments; all while gaining little-to-no attention aside from
diligent hockey followers. Never before has an NHL postseason (or postseason for any league, for that matter) seen this many first-round upsets. Only three higher-seeded teams out of the eight firstround matchups were able to advance, including three of the four top-seeded teams getting bounced out of the first round of the tournament (the Predators, Flames, Capitals and Lightning). Both the Bruins and Sharks took seven games to avoid being upset by their lower-seeded opponent as well. What’s truly amazing about this season’s NHL playoffs is not only how unlikely first-round upsets typically occur in seven-game
playoff series, but how we’ve seen five of the eight matchups result this way and seen very little attention regarding the Stanley Cup playoffs. When we think of upsets in sports, the first one to come to mind for most people is likely the NCAA basketball tournament. This is valid; March Madness is famous for its wild finishes and Cinderella teams making deep runs into the bracket. However, it only takes one game for an upset to occur in this setting. One game for the better team to go out and lay an egg and lose a game they should have won, or for the underdog to have a hot shooting game and pull off an
unexpected victory. In the seven-game playoff setting that both the NBA and NHL go by, this one game can easily be swept under the rug. The superior team can forget about the first game, because they potentially have six other chances to right the wrongs of the opening contest. This is why first round upsets hardly ever occur in the NBA and NHL: In a seven-game series, the better team will come out on top the vast majority of the time. Take the first round of the NBA playoffs this year: The Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets and San Antonio Spurs all came out victorious in their Game One matchups despite
being the lower-seeded teams, yet still wound up losing the series. This is precisely why the Stanley Cup playoffs for this year have been so amazing. Not only are these firstround, best-of-seven upsets extremely uncommon, but they have happened in the majority of series in this postseason. Along with two other lower-seeded teams winning their series, this season’s playoffs have been completely under-appreciated. While the NBA playoffs are in full swing and baseball has started back up, one must keep in mind that we as sports fans might be witnessing one of the greatest Stanley Cup playoffs in history.
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FUN & GAMES SUDOKU TWO SUDOKU ONE SIERRA STEEN Managing Editor
MAY 2, 2019 |
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
SUDOKU THREE
CROSSWORD
Across 1 Meh 5 Crude, as behavior 10 Journey 14 “I wish __ told me” 15 Trash bag brand 16 Oxen connector 17 Coffin carrier 19 Writer of verse
20 Words before time or clip 21 MIT Chapel designer Saarinen 22 Sewn dress edge 23 Chinese toy dog 25 Blood-typing letters 27 Sales team member 30 Alien-seeking gp.
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VOLUME 115, ISSUE 53
KenKen
31 College student’s federal subsidy 34 Carry with effort 37 Stirs up trouble 38 Prescription meds scheduling aid 41 Column base 42 Prefix with graphic or centric 43 One sampling opinions 45 Early color TVs 49 Cold-sounding product prefix 50 Summer in Paris 51 Veteran sailor 54 TiVo predecessor 56 Baseball family name 57 Progressive insurance spokeswoman 58 “Piano Man” Billy 60 One whose batted balls rarely go to the opposite field, in baseball lingo 63 Opposite of baja 64 Where to find Delhi sandwiches 65 Pay to a worker 66 Dog : woof :: cat : __ 67 State sch. near Hartford 68 Singles
Down 1 Road that avoids town traffic 2 Hate 3 Literally, “with milk,” as café 4 Good cholesterol, briefly 5 __ Whiz: processed spread 6 Rise defensively on two legs, as a horse 7 Picked hairdo 8 Sault __ Marie 9 Damascus is its cap. 10 Key in 11 Hotel cost per night 12 ‘50s White House nickname 13 Adopted cat, e.g. 18 Raise or call, say 22 Stymie, in a porcine way 24 Early Jewish scholar 25 Pond organism 26 Flashy jewelry 28 U.S. dept. with a bolt on its seal 29 TD’s six 32 Sharp-eyed bird 33 Sideburns trimmers 35 Coat named for an Irish province 36 Was able to reach
Goodbye, fun & games readers! Good luck on all of your finals and other things, I believe in you! See you next semester, or, if you’re graduating, have fun with wherever life is taking you! -Your friendly local Managing Editor :) How to play KenKen: Fill in the blank squares so that each row and each column contain all of the digits 1 thru 5. The heavy lines indicate areas (called cages) that contain groups of numbers that can be combined (in any order) to produce the result shown in the cage, with the indicated math operation. For example, 12x means you can multiply the values together to produce 12. Numbers in cages may repeat, as long as they are not in the same row or column.
38 Lowly worker 39 “My pleasure!” 40 Tool with teeth 41 Second afterthought, in a ltr. 44 Arrive, as fog 46 Lounging robe 47 Assert sans proof 48 Target and Walmart 52 Lindsay of “Freaky Friday” 53 MADD concern 55 Curved hammer part 56 Designer Gucci 58 Fruity toast topper 59 Fútbol cheer 60 More, musically 61 Auntie’s hubby 62 Not quite a crowd?
Puzzle answers on page 8
PAGE 8
MAY 2, 2019 |
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HIS T NEW R: YEA ER! L GG U J A
SUDOKU THREE
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KenKen
CROSSWORD
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U=U
UNDETECTABLE MEANS UNTRANSMITTABLE
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