9-17-2020

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THURSDAY, APRIL 5

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42

VOLUME 117, ISSUE 9

STD TESTING

STUDY ABROAD

BIG 10

NEWS PAGE 2

CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 4

SPORTS PAGE 6

The Sudent Health Center decides to cut free STD testing.

Study Abroad Center holds virtual study abroad fair for students.

The Big 10 announces fall season.

UNI announces shifts to spring semester ELIZABETH KELSEY News Editor

When Parker Sherwood learned that his freshman year at UNI would not include the long-standing tradition of spring break, he was surprised but not opposed, he said. “I was a little shocked to hear that spring break was cancelled, but I knew it would be for the best,” said Sherwood,

an undecided major. “Stupid people do stupid things on spring break.” The cancellation of spring break was one of several major coronavirus-related changes to the spring 2021 academic calendar announced by UNI administration on Monday, Sept. 14. Other modifications include the postponement of the second semester start date to Monday, Jan. 25 (a two-

week delay) and the addition of optional three-week and six-week winter term classes in December and January. In an email to the Northern Iowan, Provost Jim Wohlpart explained that by delaying the start date, UNI officials hope to create a buffer between the holiday season and the return to campus to avoid students bringing COVID-19 back to UNI.

TONI FORTMANN/Northern Iowan

“Students, faculty, and staff may gather with family and friends over the holiday,” he wrote. He noted that since the new start date is more than three weeks after the holiday period ends, “this gives a period within which anyone who might contract the virus from these gatherings would move through contracting it and, hopefully, getting over it.” The modified calendar was actually a positive sign for Sherwood, an encouraging signal that the university is projecting a continuation of in-person learning for the spring. “I’m kind of glad to hear that there’s changes, because that means that there’s plans for us to be here in the spring,” he said. His fellow students, including freshman undecided major Kayley Gehrels, agreed. “I’m just glad they’re allowing us to be on campus for the second semester,” she said. “I was happy about that, because I wasn’t sure that was a thing that was going to

be happening.” The changes to UNI’s spring academic calendar align with similar moves made by Iowa’s other two Regents universities. The University of Iowa and Iowa State University also cancelled their spring breaks, and both likewise plan to return for spring classes on Jan. 25. For ISU, like UNI, this will be a two-week delay from the typical start date, as opposed to a one-week delay at the University of Iowa. Both ISU and UNI also plan to end their spring semesters together, with finals to be held May 3-7. However, the University of Iowa will end its semester one week later, on May 14. This means that students and faculty on the Iowa City campus will be following the traditional 15-week semester schedule, while their peers in Ames and Cedar Falls will operate on an abbreviated 14-week plan, thus receiving one week less of instruction.

sume their food or beverage while seated. The College Hill Partnership released a statement on Wednesday afternoon reaffirming businesses’ commitment to public safety and encouraging patrons to follow all protocols. “As bars and nightclubs reopen, the majority of locally owned businesses on College Hill are committed to the College Hill Promise to keep

the community safe,” the press release stated. “Moreover, we request that people in Cedar Falls observe the mask requirement and social distancing recommendations on all city sidewalks, streets and public spaces.” The Northern Iowan will continue to report on this developing story and its impacts on the UNI campus community, in upcoming issues.

See SPRING CHANGES, page 2

Bars set to reopen earlier than expected ELIZABETH KELSEY News Editor

For the past two weekends, College Hill has been largely quiet due to Governor Kim Reynolds’ proclamation closing bars in six counties, including Black Hawk County. This weekend, things may look very different. Reynolds announced Tuesday afternoon that bars in Black Hawk, Dallas, Linn and Polk counties would be permitted to reopen at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16—four days earlier than her original proclamation’s expiration date. However, bars in Story and Johnson counties, home to Iowa State University and the University of Iowa, respectively, are to remain closed until at least Sept. 20. “The changing public health conditions in the state

of Iowa, especially in Black Hawk, Dallas, Linn, and Polk counties, warrant adjusting the reasonable measures to reduce the transmission of COVID19,” Reynold’s proclamation stated on Tuesday. However, all bars and restaurants must continue to abide by social distancing protocols, which Reynolds further clarified in her proclamation. Establishments must

EMMA’LE MAAS/Northern Iowan

ensure at least six feet between each group or individual dining alone, although patrons may be seated closer than six feet if their booths are “separated by a barrier of a sufficient height to fully separate seated customers.” Bars and restaurants must also limit patrons from congregating within six feet of each other, and all patrons must have a seat and con-

BEN THESSEN/Courtesy Photo


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