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UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA CEDAR FALLS, IA THURSDAY, APRIL 5 VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42
CEDAR FALLS, IA
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
VOLUME 118, ISSUE 3
NEWS
CAMPUS LIFE
SPORTS
NEWS PAGE 2
CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 5
SPORTS PAGE 12
Dining centers on campus struggle to find workers amidst a national employee shortage.
A comparative experience between the 2020 and 2021 school year.
Panthers Jessica Heims and Erin Kerkoff participate in the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
Nook recovers from surgery DIAMOND ROUNDTREE
Staff Writer CAROLINE CHRISTENSEN News Editor As the 2021-2022 school year approached and the freshman class began to settle into life at UNI, a familiar face around campus was noticeably absent. Normally UNI President Mark Nook would make his presence known to the student body and welcome everyone back to campus personally, but a routine back surgery withheld him from being able to participate in welcome events, as well as the first day of classes. Administrators are ensuring that in Nook’s absence UNI is still successfully helping the campus community transition into the new school year. Nook is still rehabilitating from his surgery, althoughsome students may have seen him and his wife Cheryl walking around campus which is part of his physical therapy. His full time recovery is six months, but he plans to be back in the office part time by
Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. President Nook expressed his disappointment that he was unable to attend welcome events for new students, as he takes pride in the welcoming culture of UNI. Although being unable to participate in events has been hard on him, Nook did not fail to mention how Provost Jose Herrera stepped up to fill those big shoes. Because Herrera is new, the welcome address that Nook gives every year was different, but Nook wanted to give Herrera a chance to be heard. Nook noted that this was already a planned decision even before his surgery as he wanted to give a little more insight to the importance of a team behind the university. While Nook couldn’t be there in person, he recorded some of the things he had to say for his address. Nook notes the leadership team has done a great job picking up the pieces in his absence, and although Nook’s surgery was a surprise, the leadership team didn’t fail to do their job. From the con-
troversial decision made by the Iowa legislature banning masks on campus, to going from online to in person classes, there is a lot of change for this school year. New staff such as new interim vice president of student affairs David Grady and Provost Jose Herrera have also started their new positions this year in the midst of these changes. Despite obstacles and challenging times, Nook expressed it did not take much to execute administration’s goals at the beginning of this school year as UNI leadership helped with everything they had planned. As Nook mentions, being present is an important part of the UNI culture, and he wants every student to feel known on campus. “We want them (the student) to get to know heir faculty and staff personally and that includes us,” Nook said. “The leadership team cannot be absent. We’ve got to be getting to know the students as individuals and let them
Diamond Roundtree/Northern Iowan
President Mark Nook plans to return to his office Sept. 7 after a back surgery.
get to know us.’’ Nook also noted how amazing it is to have students back on campus again and expressed that he understood the class of 2024 did not have the same opportunities. However, more events will be available this year including the community fair. Nook expressed that getting involved with the community is important to him and the campus referencing the developing land steward-
UNI hires new African American studies prof MALLORY SCHMITZ Staff Writer
fessor of history, Professor Masghati brings a passion-
UNI is enthusiastic to welcome its newest faculty member, Professor Emily Masghati. Originally hailing from Augusta, Ga. Professor Masghati first completed her B.A. at Vanderbilt University before going on to earn her M.A. and Ph.D at the University of Chicago, graduating in 2019. Her areas of specialty are African American history, the history of education, and modern U.S. history. As a new assistant pro-
Professor Emily Masghati was recently hired as UNI’s new African American studies professor.
Courtesy Photo
ate and current perspective to the department. “It’s become more clear in the past few years that we can’t really understand the world that we live in without understanding how we got here,” explains Professor Masghati. “I’m committed to giving students the opportunity to explore big questions, problems and contradictions at the heart of American history and to think more critically about the world we live in now.” UNI’s emphasis on teaching provided a significant draw for her to continue her career at the university. She
finds her work as a teacher to be the most fulfilling part of her academic career, but she is also committed to her research on the inf luence of elite money in higher education, especially as it impacted African American scholars. She appreciates that UNI encourages its faculty not only in their high-quality teaching endeavors, but also in creating a balance between teaching and maintaining active and rigorous research programs. While UNI’s identification as a teachers college has been one of its major
ship between UNI and the Meskwaki Tribe. In his advice for the incoming class he states, “This is a campus where faculty and staff, even the administrators and even the president, want to get to know you.” Nook also expressed how his leadership continues to inspire him, and the grit of his leadership team to step up to help the university is what truly motivates him. See NOOK RECOVERY, page 2
staples for all of its history, Professor Masghati has a greater personal connection to it through the true dedication to teaching she holds in her life. “One of the things I always try to do in the classroom is engage in student-centered learning. For me it’s not just an empty phrase,” she explains “I want students to always be engaged and to always be doing the work of a historian from day one, instead of just being passive recipients of facts to regurgitate on a test.” Although she is just beginning her time at UNI, Professor Masghati is looking forward to serving UNI students. “I’m excited to bring some of the teaching techniques that I’ve developed over the years to UNI students and to see them grow as thinkers and as people.”