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UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA CEDAR FALLS, IA THURSDAY, APRIL 5 VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42
CEDAR FALLS, IA
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023
VOLUME 120, ISSUE 14
The fight for DEI
Board of Regents accepts DEI recommendations amidst student rally CAROLINE CHRISTENSEN Executive Editor
OPINION
Opinion Columnist Marquette Milliam discusses the “Sexiest Man Alive” contest after actor Patrick Dempsey secured a controversial win. SEE PAGE 5
After two days of student protests, six months of review from a regent DEI Study Group and a lengthy discussion by regent members, the Iowa Board of Regents (BOR) voted to approve the recommendations made by their DEI Study Group on Nov. 16. The recommendations most notably include a suggestion to restructure DEI-related departments and offices necessary for compliance and accreditation. The recommendations come from a study group which was formed after Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill earlier this year directing a “comprehensive study and review of the diversity, equity and inclusion programs and efforts of each institution of higher learning under [its] control.” JACOB KURT
See DEI RALLY, page 2
Students advocate for drug education KORBYN RYAN Staff Writer
CAMPUS LIFE
Take a closer look at UNI’s parking policies and how they affect students. SEE PAGE 6
SPORTS
Volleyball secures an NCAA tournament appearance following a conference championship win. SEE PAGE 11
“I don’t know about you, but in high school my drug education basically consisted of ‘don’t do it,’” says Elijah Switzer, a junior here at UNI. Switzer founded a Students for Sensible Drug Policy chapter, or SSDP, on campus earlier this year. SSDP has over 300 chapters in 32 different COURTESY/INSTAGRAM countries, and UNI is home The Students for Sensible Drug Policy chapter at UNI is the first one in to Iowa’s first and only chap- Iowa. The international organization has over 300 chapters in 32 different ter. SSDP is focused on harm countries. reduction and drug education, dent body, SSDP put together but still have room to grow. to help eliminate harm caused UNI’s first ever “Psychedelic “We have a no strike poliby the war on drugs. Conference”, with a lecture by cy. The punishments are very Switzer believes that by Matthew Johnson, Ph.D., from ambiguous and arbitrary,” he having a lax Johns Hopkins said. “It is on a very case by education on University in case basis.” drugs in high- You shouldn’t Maryland. The Student Conduct Code school can The confer- lists possession or use of illecause more be punished for an ence featured gal controlled substances in harm than good. unhealthy coping i n f o r m a t i o n section nine under “Prohibited “The dangers of about the pos- Conduct.” that is it leaves mechanism. itive mediciAccording to the Student the research nal benefits of Conduct Code, any student Elijah Switzer and it leaves the psychedelics who commits, attempts to UNI SSDP founder experimenting when treating commit, or assists others up to the indiPTSD, depres- in committing “Prohibited vidual. People start using sub- sion, anxiety and most impor- Conduct” will be subject to stances and they don’t know tantly, drug addiction. “disciplinary sanctions.” the risks,” he said. Switzer believes that UNI’s In order to educate the stu- drug related policies are good, See DRUG POLICY, page 3
News briefs UNI Director of Athletics departs Director of Athletics David Harris has accepted a role as Athletic Director at Tulane University in New Orleans. Expected to start his new position in January 2024, President Nook said he intends to appoint an interim Athletic Director as soon as possible. Nook said they expect high interest from athletic directors across the country saying, “I’m extremely confident that we will be able to identify and hire a new Athletic Director who can build on our rich history and winning tradition. We will have no further comment on our search process until we name our interim Athletic Director.” UNI Alum picked as director of National Cancer Institute President Biden announced he is planning to appoint Dr. Kimryn Rathmell as the next director of the National Cancer Institute. A 1991 graduate from UNI with degrees in biology and chemistry, Dr. Rathmell has been nationally recognized for her contributions to kidney cancer research. The National Cancer Institute is the federal government’s principal agency for cancer research and training. Panthers represent Team USA at Parapan American Games Current UNI sophomore Cali Prochaska and former Panther Jessica Heims represented the United States on an international stage in Chile at the seventh edition of the Parapan American Games. The Parapan American Games are held every four years and bring together athletes with disabilities from North, South and Central American countries to compete. Prochaska, a swimmer, came home with four medals, two gold, one silver and one bronze. Heims, a former UNI discus thrower, received a silver medal in women’s discus throw F64.