The Northern Iowan/MACI SWANSON
Future of recently updated UNIFI looks uncertain in face of HB63
BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Executive Editor
House Bill 63, introduced to the Iowa House this January, aims to streamline the regent university general education requirements as determined by the Iowa legislature. If passed, this could mean that regent universities like UNI would be required by law to abandon the current curriculum they utilize for general education requirements and adopt the curriculum requirements passed into law.
As the bill currently stands, the new general education requirements would include six credit hours of English composition, six credit hours of mathematics and statistics, six credit hours of natural sciences, six credit hours of social sciences, six credit hours of humanities, three credit hours of western heritage and three credit hours of American heritage. The bill also includes six credit hours of world languages, which is an admissions requirement for prospective UNI students. Beyond new requirements for credit hours to satisfy general education requirements, the bill also denotes that “The bill requires [The Board of Regents] to adopt a policy to ensure that courses that satisfy the general education requirements do not distort significant historical events or include any curriculum or other material that teaches identity politics or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, or privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States of America or the state of Iowa,” the bill continues, “The policy shall not limit the academic freedom of any course instructor to direct the instruction within the instructor’s course or limit
the free discussion of ideas in a classroom setting.”
The bill is introduced to Iowa’s state house in UNIFI’s sixth semester.
UNIFI was created as a replacement general education program for UNI’s former Liberal Arts Core.
Jeremy Schraffenberger, an English professor at UNI and curriculum coordinator for UNIFI, began working with a curriculum committee to reassess general education requirements back in 2017. After five years of work, the program was introduced in the fall of 2022. “We had to create this system, or the process for proposing new courses, and then create a new process for assessing the learning outcomes of the program,” said Schraffenberger. “So it was really, completely from the ground up. We removed all of the courses and had to repopulate it.”
The 37 credit program amasses a wide variety of options for students to build their schedules and explore
classes that interest them while fulfilling their general education requirements. It also introduced general education course certificates, where students can group together certain courses to build a certificate. These general education certificates “focus on examining the subject from a variety of disciplines,” according to the UNIFI website.
HB63, if passed into law, would replace the current UNIFI general education program with a prescribed general education program from the Iowa legislature.
“This proposal would lead to less student choice,” said Schraffenberger. “And that’s troubling, on the one hand, because we believe students should have a choice in what courses they are interested in taking, while also covering the student learning outcomes that we recognized as important for an educated person.” According to Schraffenberger, student choice was built into the UNIFI curriculum, so stu -
dents could work through the general education curriculum while taking classes that intrigued them. Schraffenberger added that the UNIFI scaffolding was built by UNI faculty for UNI students, and that HB63 would prescribe a curriculum to UNI students and faculty. Currently, the bill explicitly prohibits any additional general education requirements from a regent university not included in the bill.
Hayden Burke, a senior psychology student at UNI, noted that freedom of choice in course selection is integral to universities.
“Our Iowa legislature has shown overwhelming and unsubstantiated bias when it comes to what topics are deemed appropriate or fit for school, which I personally don’t agree with and feel are abuses of power,” Burke said. “I would not trust the state to sculpt an encompassing or effective general education program.” Burke also noted that secondary education is an investment, an investment students see as a serious matter. “I pay thousands of dollars to exercise my independence to choose an educational institution and program that I want to acquire–having the government strip that right from me by implementing a statewide general education program would make me feel paralyzed as a student,” said Burke.
This current version of the bill has passed in the Higher Education Committee and awaits House approval to move to the Iowa Senate.
The Northern Iowan will continue to update this story and how general education programs could be impacted at UNI as the bill moves throughout the legislative process.
NEWS BRIEFS
The Office of Civil Rights Compliance is currently taking submissions for its annual “What Were You Wearing?” exhibit. This exhibit features replicas of outfits worn by sexual assault survivors along with their stories to encourage viewers to recognize that it was never about the clothes. Submissions are open to all and can be made anonymously.
Submit your outfit and story by Feb. 28 on the OCRC website. If you have any questions or concerns, visit civilrights. uni.edu or call (319)-2732846. You can also follow @uni_ocrc on Instagram.
The Planetarium is open for astronomy programs each Thursday night through March. The first show begins at 6 p.m., and the second show will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is free and all are welcome. The planetarium seats 25 people and all shows begin promptly on the hour. Planetarium shows will continue until mid-March. The planetarium is located at room 105 Latham Hall.
Do you have a research project to share? Internship, volunteer or study abroad experience to highlight? Submissions for the 2025 INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference will open this Friday, Feb. 21 and remain open through Friday, March 14. Learn more and submit your project online at inspire.uni.edu.
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COURTESY/Northern Iowa Archives
Jeremy Schraffenberger is a UNI English professor who helped update the core curriculum known as UNIFI.
UNI College of Education seeks to restructure departments
BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Executive Editor
Upon UNI’s announcement of the School of Health and Human Sciences, administrators and faculty within the College of Education realized the need to restructure the college. Before the School of Health and Human Sciences was established, majors like kinesiology and athletic training were a part of the Department of Health, Recreation and Community Services. As these programs left the College of Education, Provost Jose Herrera and Dean Colleen Muhlholland encouraged administrators to review the structure of the college and how it could change to benefit students and faculty alike.
Ronald Rinehart, Head of Educational Psychology at UNI, explained that this change is fundamental to the success of students and faculty at UNI. Not only is this change fundamental, according to Rinehart, but it came as no surprise to the college. “We all knew something like this was going to come, due to the number of faculty reorganized into a different and strategically purposeful organization,” Rinehart said. The College of Education alignment committee, made up of administrators and faculty members, applied multiple phases that spanned over a year to consider departmental changes. Rinehart says that although the department has a new structure, minimal
changes are still being made to accommodate faculty. The first phase included finding guiding principles for the structural changes, exploratory groundwork and initial models. According to Rinehart, the six core guiding principles, efficiency, balance, interdisciplinarity, belonging, collaboration and student-focus, paved the way for the following conversations with faculty. The groundwork laid by the alignment committee allowed for the listening sessions in phase two to help form the departmental structures. According to Rinehart, the five listening sessions hosted by the align -
ment committee allowed for faculty and students alike to provide feedback and insight into what the college needs during the restructuring. One idea brought up during a listening session included how the college can organize itself horizontally to allow for more collaboration. “It was a very serious faculty suggestion… there’s this desire to work in an interdisciplinary fashion,” said Rinehart. “That was a call back to us and the broader committee to say, ‘Let’s think bigger, how can we get to the root of this problem?’”
These discussions led to what was recently passed by
the faculty senate, the matrix organizational management chart, which condenses the College of Education into four departments and encourages horizontal collaboration. According to Rinehart, this is to “foster innovation, develop a shared purpose and establish belonging.” The horizontal programming also allows for faculty to attend program meetings even if they might not physically be located in the same department that program is in. Rinehart also says that faculty talked about being “siloed” in their department during the phase two listening sessions. “If you think of a grain
silo, it has walls intended to keep material in and keep other material out, a boundary. In this particular case, what we were looking for is, how can we collaborate across silos?” Rinehart said. “It’s a known, long standing problem in academia, collaborating across silos.” The alignment committee took the faculty’s need to work interdisciplinarily seriously. All of this leads phase three, and how the alignment committee began to form the matrix organizational management structure.
According to Rinehart, these changes won’t just be more effective for the college as a whole, but also individual faculty, which will in turn impact students. “At the end of the day, this all goes back to, ‘How can we best serve our students?’” said Rinehart. “Programs exist to serve students, and faculty serve in programs to serve students. Both, at the end of the day, come back to how we can serve our students better.”
While the official department changes that have been confirmed by the Faculty Senate won’t be implemented until July 2025, Rinehart notes that changes will continue to occur even after the program is officially in place. Specifics such as changing offices and workspaces, updating the college website, as well as team building in new programs are all subject to change as the program is implemented this July.
COURTESY/UNI PHOTOSHELTER
The restructuring of the College of Education aims for more horizontal communication among the departments, as well as to benefit students at the Univeristy of Northern Iowa.
N.I. EN ESPAÑOL
Los senderos de la Prairie Preserve de UNI contribuyen al ecosistema del Cedar Valley
ADDIE BUSEMAN Escritora invitada
SARA PETERSON
Estudiante del curso SPAN 4045
Los senderos de la Prairie Preserve de la Universidad del Norte de Iowa son el tesoro escondido de Cedar Falls, Iowa. Los senderos de la pradera se componen de tres ecosistemas únicos que incluyen la Daryl Smith Prairie Preserve, los Tallgrass Trails y los Wetland Trails. Los senderos de la pradera de UNI están cerca del campus pero permiten sumergirse en la naturaleza y transportarse a un nuevo mundo secreto. Estos senderos son solo una de las cosas que hacen que el campus sea único y permiten muchas oportunidades diferentes como las clases al aire libre, el senderismo y la relajación. Estos senderos vienen con una historia profunda. En los 1970s, las facultades de biología por todo el estado empezaban a darse cuenta de que Iowa se había convertido en campos de maíz y soya cuando siempre había estado compuesto principalmente de praderas. Las facultades empezaron a preguntarse si sería posible plantar las praderas a pesar de que la tierra estaba cultivada. Empezaron a comprar semillas de compañías en Nebraska y Kansas. Las praderas comenzaron con solo las hierbas y
después gradualmente trasplantaron flores silvestres y otras especies raras de las praderas originales de Iowa. Junto con las hierbas diversificadas y las flores silvestres, el proceso trajo insectos y pájaros nuevos al área también.
Las praderas cercanas a la Universidad del Norte de Iowa se establecieron cuando se formó el Comité de Reservas Biológicas de UNI y adquirió tierra para las praderas. El comité gestiona los senderos, las preguntas sobre los senderos, el mantenimiento, los incendios controlados de las praderas y muchas responsabilidades más.
Laura Jackson es la presidenta del Comité de Reservas Biológicas actualmente y la directora de la reserva. Ella explicó que las praderas tenían una valla a su alrededor en los 1970s. No se podía entrar en las praderas sin un permiso y estos eran solo para investigaciones especiales y clases. El área estaba prohibida y sólo permitía a la gente entrar en el área de demostración pública en el frente.
Las restricciones sobre la pradera cambiaron hace 15 años. Jackson explicó que “en 2008, dijimos abrámosla. Vamos a quitar las señales y poner algunos senderos por aquí e involucrar a más personas, y eso fue cuando
empezó todo.” Esto permitió no solo a los investigadores acceder a las praderas pero también a más clases y al público en general.
Kathleen Scholl es una profesora de educación y recreo al aire libre en la Universidad del Norte de Iowa. Ella trabajó con el comité de reservas y el antiguo arquitecto paisajista y estableció el Upland Forest Trail y (como se le llama de manera informal) el Panther Ponds Wetlands Trail.
Scholl recibió una subvención del condado de Black Hawk para construir una terraza en el estanque de la pantera para que todos la disfruten. Ella explicó que la terraza intriga a la gente, así que ellos “se preguntan qué hay allí y van a investigar.” Eso hace el espacio más utilizable.
El Panther Pond es comunitario entre la ciudad y la universidad en lo que se llama un Acuerdo 28 E. Esto es porque la universidad posee el terreno que está a lo largo del arroyo y entonces al otro lado está el terreno de la ciudad. Este acuerdo permite a UNI usar el estanque para piragüismo y actividades de clase, mientras todavía permite que la ciudad lo use para el control de inundaciones. Vanessa Naranjo es una estudiante del Colegio Comunitario de Hawkeye pero vive en Cedar Falls.
Su experiencia con los senderos de la pradera ha sido tranquila y buena para su bienestar mental y físico. Ella encontró los senderos con su novio cuando hacían jogging. Exploraron alrededor del Dome de UNI y siguieron el camino al estanque.
“Se siente un poco como si se entrara en un mundo completamente diferente,” dijo Naranjo. “Estás rodeado de árboles y pradera y está escondido pero todavía hay un camino despejado que está mantenido.”
Entonces Naranjo explicó cómo no piensa que muchos estudiantes los conocen.
“Siento como que son tesoros escondidos esperando a ser encontrados. Son una gran evasión de la vida que avanza alrededor y puedes ir allí y relajarte.”
Jackson enfatiza que los senderos son “para todas las
personas, así que vengan y disfrútenlos”
Una cosa importante para recordar si se decide salir a los senderos de la pradera es que se necesita ir a pie. El mantenimiento del sendero no tiene la capacidad suficiente para mantener los senderos para el tráfico de bicicletas. También, los perros necesitan ir con correa y sus excrementos necesitan ser recogidos después. Los senderos de la Prairie Preserve de la Universidad del Norte de Iowa se establecieron no sólo para conservar el hermoso y diverso ecosistema de la pradera de Iowa, sino para ser disfrutados por el público y los estudiantes. Los senderos de UNI están abiertos del amanecer al anochecer, con muchos senderos extensos para que la gente en el Cedar Valley los recorran.
Cortesía/ADDIE BUSEMAN
Cortesía/ADDIE BUSEMAN
Professor: School of intellectual freedom could ‘make universities great again’
BROOKLYN DRAISEY Iowa Capital Dispatch
A University of Iowa professor told Iowa lawmakers Wednesday a new “school of intellectual freedom” could “make universities great again.”
Iowa lawmakers are working to pass legislation that would require the University of Iowa create a “school of intellectual freedom,” according to House Study Bill 52. There is a companion bill in the Iowa Senate, Senate File 127.
Luciano I. de Castro, a research fellow and professor in the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, presented to the Iowa House Higher Education Committee Wednesday about how the new school could help bring about more diversity of thought, and how it needs to be protected from left-leaning members of the college community.
“We have an opportunity here to create a leading school, a truly remarkable opportunity that we have in front of us,” de Castro said. “It will be good for Iowa, but it can have an impact even beyond the borders of our state, we can pioneer a new educational model rooted in American values.”
Higher education is difficult to change from both the inside and outside, de Castro said, for multiple reasons. Faculty, whom de Castro said are majority left-leaning, and donors, taxpayers and other overseers of public higher education have an influence on what kind of education students are getting, causing them to come out of college with certain perspectives.
with this statement. Faculty have little incentive
This bill is not funded, and this bill is not what Iowa is about.
here, but I learned to love this country because of the values that it was created in,” de Castro said. “It’s just a great country, it’s the greatest country on Earth, and we have to love it.”
Rep. Ross Wilburn, D-Ames, said during discussion after the presentation that just because faculty has been shown to identify as more Democratic, that doesn’t mean they cannot teach critically and fairly.
have been working to lessen bureaucracy.
and begin leaning one way or another.
Citing data from a 2020 study by “Langbert and Stevens,” de Castro said at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, there is an 11-to-1 ratio of Democrat to Republican faculty, with an even larger divide for donations to a party. Level of education has become a predictor in how people will vote, he added, with college-educated people voting more blue and those who didn’t attend college voting more red.
De Castro said left-leaning faculty “hire like-minded colleagues who are competent in two things, one is producing interesting, and by interesting, you can understand the pursuit of ideas, and this is called research, and convert believers (with) teachings (that) all align with the cause they cherish.” He said he is exaggerating some
to change this, he said, as going with the status quo can make it easier in academia to get their ideas heard. He added that no courses on capitalism are taught at the UI, a statement that some lawmakers disputed. These professors will also complain about academic integrity and freedom if outside interference is pushing on them, he said.
De Castro said it is on legislators to “fight the resistance” they will find to this legislation and get the center established, as well as ensure through a proposed academic council that the university itself cannot exert power over it. The school needs to teach on the institutions and values of the U.S., and the positives behind the system of capitalism it was built on, he said.
As an immigrant, de Castro said, he and other conservatives who support this and other legislation are motivated by a love of their country, not by hate or political gains.
“As I said, I was not born
“The fact that the University of Iowa produced myself and Representative Shipley shows that a lot of different thinking and thoughts can respectfully occur,” Wilburn said. “My issue and problem is … if folks are interested in establishing a class or a new school, there’s a process with the institution, with the universities. I just disagree with this entire bill and most of the committee.”
Rep. David Jacoby, D-Coralville, said in discussion about the proposed legislation he was unsure before the presentation on how he would vote on this bill, but after hearing from de Castro, he decided he was a “heck no.”
With issues remaining about the lack of a definition of “intellectual” and his seeing it as a “nationalist bill,” Jacoby said he also has concerns about donations to the center not being made public and the fact that a new council would be formed to govern it, when those in the state and federal government
“This bill is not funded, and this bill is not what Iowa is about,” Jacoby said. Jacoby brought forward an amendment to the bill when it was discussed in committee, which would add in language stating the Iowa Board of Regents could not oversee state universities unless it, and the state, fund more than 51% of operating costs for the higher education system. He said the legislature seems to be taking a “rather stringent,” complete command of universities while only funding around one-third of their budgets.
The amendment failed in
“I submit to you that what we’re having happen is a non-diverse group at the University of Iowa diverging off into a path that, really, do we want as a state of Iowa to be happening,” Wills said.
Democrats on the committee praised Wills for his recognition that diversity is needed on campus, with Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, saying that is the purpose of DEI efforts at universities. However, she said the way to address bias is not to introduce additional bias.
Committee chair Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, said in closing comments on the bill he appreciated the healthy, lively discussion between committee members, and he wishes he saw more of that at Iowa’s universities. He also told Jacoby that most donations to the center will be made public.
... A non-diverse group at the University of Iowa is diverging off into a path that, really, do we want as the state of Iowa to be happening?
- Rep. John Wills R-Spirit Lake
committee.
Rep. John Wills, R-Spirit Lake, said the presentation made many good points. In both his experience teaching on group dynamics and in the military, Wills said diverse viewpoints are needed in order to better solve problems and ensure a community doesn’t “become
“The future of our country is dependent on ensuring that the citizens of this country are taught to cherish and celebrate our Western and American heritage, and I want to thank the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State, (they) have made great progress on this initiative, it’s been very positive,” Collins said. “With the passage of this bill, I believe we’ll be expanding civic education at all of our regent institutions, including our first regent university, that is, the University of Iowa.”
COURTESY/UNI PHOTOSHELTER
Iowa legislators debated the topic of political diversity with regards to regent university faculty during this legislative session. Ultimately, House Bill 52 is one of many bills this currently legislative session that would affect higher education in Iowa. homogenized”
- Rep. David Jacoby D-Coralville
CAMPUS LIFE
UNI New Music Festival celebrates contemporary sound
LILY MUNNIK Staff Writer
At the University of Northern Iowa, the School of Music is set to showcase the UNI New Music Festival, an immersive celebration of contemporary music brought to life by talented composers and performers.
aesthetics all vary wildly, but their work is a commentary on things happening today, which is far more relatable than the music from hundreds of years ago.”
The UNI music faculty as a whole is incredibly supportive of new music, “When we
Starting Feb. 26 through March 1, various concerts and events will highlight the future of music and the creatives innovating it.
“In my mind, we should be playing the music of our time,” said Daniel Swilley, assistant professor of music composition, theory and technology at UNI. “While classical music gives us great insight into the history and what was going on at that time, it doesn’t tell us anything about ourselves. If you talk to a living, breathing artist, their
get into the music of the 20th and 21st centuries, we start to see a divergence and a lot of different practices,” says Swilley. “I think that’s something we like to showcase.”
This year marks the fifth annual New Music Festival, organized by a planning committee consisting of faculty members Swilley, Hannah Porter-Occeña, Erik Rohde, Maddy Tarantelli and Will Yager. The festival features various ensembles and composers, as well as guest artists who are highly respected in their fields.
Libby Larsen, a Grammy
Award-winning composer, is one of America’s most performed living composers. She has created more than 500 works, ranging from chamber music to massive orchestral pieces. She will be featured throughout the festival with performances by the Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra, student performers, and faculty ensembles.
“We generally look for people we’d be able to perform a decent amount of their music at the festival,” Swilley said. “If they have music for a lot of different parts of the school, we can engage a lot of the student body.”
composers, all highlighting the future of music and the creatives innovating it. ture its first dedicated student concert. UNI music students will perform in solo and chamber settings, featuring works by composition students, Larsen and UNI alumni. “We’re always wanting to include more students,” Swilley said. “And the idea of finding groups that can play with the students is really effective. They’re giving students a chance to play with really high-caliber players on sometimes very challenging music. That’s really great insight and experience for them.”
Alan Dunbar, a versatile vocal performer, is another featured artist at the festival. He has performed numerous solo recitals and large-scale works with orchestras across the U.S. and Europe. Dunbar will perform one of Larsen’s new compositions with the Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra.
The guest ensemble performing will be the LGBTQuintet, a Wagner tuba quintet made up of five members, aiming for positive social change and representation for historically underrepresented groups. “I think they’re a great example of the kind of niche music-making we’re trying to showcase,” says Swilley.
In addition to musical guests, the festival will fea-
The New Music Festival is free and open to the public, with the hope that students will attend, whether they have a background in music or not. “I think the variety of music ends up turning into
a palette cleanser of sorts,” Swilley said. “Because of the variety, you should come with an open mind; one piece might sound very different from the next.”
“There’s a need for diversity, understanding and experiencing all of these things,” Swilley said. “I think that’s a great commentary on life in general: Embrace the differences and think about what these composers and performers might be trying to put forward.”
The festival will take place Feb. 26-March 1 and will consist of four concerts, along with presentations and readings by guest artists. Visit music.uni.edu/newmusicfestival for specific times and locations.
I think the variety of music ends up turning into a palette cleanser of sorts.
– DANIEL SWILLEY
Assistant professor of music, theory, composition and technology at
UNI
The UNI New Music Festival feature a variety of concerts and events from UNI students and talented
LIBBY LARSEN ALAN DUNBAR
CAMPUS LIFE
Panther Marching Band rings in New Year with Big Ben
ANNABELLE SCHNEIDER Staff Writer
The UNI Panther Marching Band traveled overseas to London, UK to perform for over 700,000 people at the New Year's Day parade. While the weather wasn’t in their favor, band director Justin Mertz was impressed by how well his students responded.
“The day of the parade, it was cold and wet but the students didn’t complain once and continued with the performance like it was nothing,” Mertz said. “I was very proud of them.”
UNI Panther Marching Band was a college band ambassador representing the university at the parade. This is not the first time the marching band has traveled overseas, the band also traveled to London in 2015 to perform. The band itself has between 240270 students, of which 130 students went on the trip to the United Kingdom.
Traveling overseas required a lot of preparation from both students and Mertz himself. Students had to receive their passports if they didn’t already own one, pack appropriate clothing for the weather and save up money for flight and spending purposes. Mertz also had to prepare a performance, teach the students the music and where to move and march in certain beats of the songs.
“I started directing the band in 2017 so this may not have been my first rodeo, however it still doesn’t mean
it's easy preparing for an international performance,” said Mertz. “There’s a lot you have to do but the experience is worth it in my eyes.”
On the actual parade day, the timing of the parade from start to finish was three hours long, equating to around two miles. The band performed for half an hour in cold and rainy temperatures but the reception was positive. Mertz explained that international people love American modern music because it’s something they don’t hear often and are open to embracing. He also shares how London has strong public transits and
were
tubes, making the transportation very accessible to tourists.
“I highly encourage students to experience [London] because there’s a lot of history there and world class restaurants.”
Mertz recalls two moments during the trip that he deemed as his favorites. “When students realize they’re doing something special, that is so rewarding not only for them, but for me as well. They got to see the Tower Bridge for the first time, which was cool,” he said with a smile. “The second moment is the positive audience re-
to
in
of
and the band paraded for two miles. sponse we got when we performed. People could have been in funky moods because of the weather but they were supportive to us the entirety of the show.”
With marching band season officially coming to a close, that doesn’t mean Mertz and the students have nothing to do. They are beginning to select student leadership positions for the next year and choosing shows for next season.
“I try interacting with my students on a daily basis and being efficient with my time,” Mertz concluded. “I have a great group [of students] I get to teach that surprise and impress me every single day. I’m very lucky to be in the position I am and I hope more people can jump on that train as well.”
The band’s performance is available on Youtube for those interested in watching.
The advice Mertz would give to students looking to join the marching band is as follows: don’t be afraid to take a chance even if it is scary at first glance, it allows an opportunity to be part of a terrific community. Also, apply for your passport early if you want to travel.
COURTESY/INSIDE UNI
The band began preparing for their performance after finding out they
going
London
November
2023,
CAMPUS LIFE
It ends with domestic violence overshadowed by controversies
Editor’s
Note: The following article discusses themes of domestic violence, which may be sensitive to some readers need to be asking ourselves is ‘Why do men harm?’”
CALLEE FAIR Staff Writer
National Domestic Violence Hotline reports that “an average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States — more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year.”
This staggering statistic speaks volumes about the importance of spreading awareness and resources to victims of domestic violence. One of the scariest things about domestic violence is not only the horror of it all, but, someone you know could be going through this trauma, hiding it behind closed doors out of protection for someone that they still love. This topic isn’t talked about enough, and is often ill-portrayed in the media.
“It Ends With Us,” a bookto-movie adaptation telling the story of a woman in an abusive relationship, takes the audience through a journey from the beginning of the relationship, to the end. This movie stars Blake Lively, a popular actress, and is directed by a well-known feminist, Justin Baldoni, who plays her on-screen partner. Imagine what this film’s popularity could have done for the real-life victims of domestic abuse. The success of the movie could have led to more conversations surrounding this topic, and open the doors for victims to run through. Whether that’s opening more safety homes, sparking more charity organizations or having the courage to talk to someone they know about this trauma. Imagine if the conversation surrounding the movie was for the victims.
Instead, the conversation was smeared with behindthe-scenes drama, involving serious allegations Lively has thrown towards director and co-star, Baldoni.
Perhaps this film was fated to fall. Author of “It Ends With Us,” Colleen Hoover, is known for her controversial and out of touch writing. There was a first wave of success for a moment thanks to the BookTok community on TikTok, which resulted in the novel “It Ends With Us” to hit number one on New York Times Best Sellers in January 2022. However, many people criticized the novel for romanticizing domestic abuse, catering to toxic masculinity structures, simplifying the complexities of trauma, and how these writing choices are bad role models for young women and teens. On top of all of this criticism, Hoover attempted to release a coloring book based off of the serious novel.
Things started to look more than suspicious when the “It Ends With Us” premiere rolled around. Lively was seen taking pictures with all of the cast members, plus Hoover, except for Baldoni, who was nowhere to be found. He later revealed that he and his family were “in the basement” and “not invited to his own premiere.” With all of the collective hate Lively was receiving, she put the internet into question when it was announced that she is suing Baldoni for sexual harassment, orchestrating a smear campaign against her, emotional distress and other offenses.
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It is saddening to see such a big oportunity for Hollywood to do good for victims of domestic violence get overshadowed with lawsuits.
– CALLEE FAIR Film Critic
The quality of being tonedeaf spilled into the marketing of the movie adaptation. With many resurfaced videos, Lively was put under fire for her horrible treatment towards journalists as well as promoting the movie’s floral aesthetics and her character’s complexities as a woman, and ignoring the graphic content. Many people felt that her energy was misplaced when promoting the movie when Lively said in a promotional video, “grab your friends
and wear your florals,” as if the film is a fun, lighthearted rom-com.
Meanwhile, Baldoni was barely in the spotlight, but always shining it on domestic abuse. He didn’t do many interviews, and when he did, Baldoni always spoke about the serious tones of the film. Baldoni credited the organization No More to helping him portray a truthful look into these relationships. Baldoni talked with CBS, saying, “The question that’s always asked is ‘Why did she stay?’ and that’s the wrong question. What we
The actress gained support from old cast members, cast members of the film, and Hoover herself. In addition to the public support, the damages toward Baldoni were almost immediate. The director was dropped from his talent agency, dropped by his podcast “Man Enough,” and was revoked “The Voices of Solidarity Award” given to him by The Vital Voices Global Partnership for being an ally to women. However, Baldoni counter-sued Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds for $400 million, claiming the couple published false accusations in the New York Times, and a lawsuit against Disney for including a parody of him played by Reynolds.
In the midst of all these legal actions, Hoover and other cast members of “It Ends With Us” took down their posts in support of the actress. Lively and Baldoni’s legal teams have finally settled a date for their ongoing lawsuits against one another, March 9, 2026.
To learn about what actually happened on the set of “It Ends With Us,” the public will have to wait until the trial in 2026. We won’t know who is the victim of these offenses until the evidence is uncovered in court. Despite the truth, it is saddening to see such a big opportunity for Hollywood to do good for victims of domestic violence get overshadowed with lawsuits.
The Iowa Domestic Hotline is 1-800-770-1650.
The drama behind the scenes of filming “It Ends With Us” has sparked controversy that has overtaken the meaning behind the book-to-film adaptation.
Panthers men beat Racers in Nashville
ADAM JOHNSON Sports Writer
The UNI men’s basketball team traveled to Kentucky for a matchup with Murray State on Monday, Feb. 17. The game was originally scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 16, but after power problems in Murray State’s arena, they had to move the game to Monday. They also changed locations, and played in Belmonts arena in Nashville. After all of the complications, it was game time, and the Panthers were looking to get their fifth win in a row. Murray State was on a little win streak of their own, looking for their third in a row. In the end, it was the Panthers that kept their winning streak alive, 74-67.
The first half showed both teams going back and forth. Neither team was able to make a substantial run, as it seemed as if when one team scored the other answered right away. The Panthers were led in a big way in the first half by Ben Schwieger with seven points, Trey Campbell with eleven, and Tytan Anderson with 10. Their solid first halves gave
Panthers,
the Panthers a narrow lead going into the break, up 37-34.
The second half looked to show much of the same that we saw in the first, as the
teams were trading baskets once again. This was until the score was 41-41 about four minutes into the half, when the Panthers went on the first big
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run of the night. Campbell got it started with his fourth three of the night, and they were quickly on a 9-0 run, up 50-41.
The run helped the Panthers
maintain a small lead throughout the rest of the game. The Panthers biggest lead only got up to 11 points for the Panthers, but they never let the Racers get any closer than within five points the rest of the way. The Panthers ended up getting the road victory, 74-67.
Leading the way for the Panthers was Anderson, who filled up the stat sheet. He had 19 points, seven rebounds, two assists, three steals and a block. Schwieger had himself a nice game as well, scoring 19 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out four assists. Leading all scorers on the night was Campbell, who had 21 points.
The victory for the Panthers brings their record to 18-9 overall, and 12-4 in conference play. With only four conference games left, the Panthers find themselves in second place in the conference. They are just one game back from in-state rival Drake. The Panthers will be back on the hardwood in Kentucky once again on Wednesday, Feb. 19, when they face off with a tough Belmont team.
4 Nations Face-Off thrives
The 4 Nations Face-Off has been a mid-season treat to Hockey fans all over the country. The event takes the best NHL players from each country and separates them into four teams: the United States, Canada, Finland, and Sweden.
With the NHL having a very diverse player pool, it creates a star-studded lineup of players for each country.
Canada opened the face-off with a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over Sweden, while the United States dominated Finland 6-1 in their first game. This set up a thrilling Saturday night matchup between the United States and Canada. The U.S. was highlighted by the Tkachuk brothers: Matthew and Brady. Team Canada had the unanimous best player in the league Connor McDavid, along with future Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby.
Right puck drop the two teams showed hostility against each other. There were three fights in the first nine minutes of the game. The anticipation of the game skyrocketed from there.
Canada got the scoring started in the first period with a McDavid goal.
United States center Jake Guentzel responded quickly with a goal of his own to tie
things up at the end of the period. After both teams continuously dominated on defense in the second period, the United States broke
the scoreless streak with Dylan Larkin connecting on a goal to make it 2-1. Both teams continued to fight it out. Canada had a lot of opportunities in the
third period but couldn’t put it through the net. With three minutes left in the third period Canada pulled its goalie in an attempt to have an advantage on offense. They still couldn’t convert as Guentzel scored on an open net.
The United States won 3-1 with Guentzel winning player of the game. The win in regulation secures a spot in the championship for the United States on Thursday. Canada will have to prevail in the standings versus Sweden and Finland for a championship rematch versus The United States. All three teams are tied at two points in the standings as of Saturday night.
The 4 Nations Face-Off is great for the sport of hockey. You can’t ask for much more than a primetime slot showcasing the nations best players in a competitive atmosphere. The event unites pride for one’s nation with bragging rights amongst the players and the fans at stake. The event only comes every four years, but I don’t think fans would mind if it happened every year.
The
riding a 5-game winning streak, look to extend it on Wednesday night vs Belmont.
COURTESY/YAHOO SPORTS
The United States will face Canada in a rematch for the 4 Nations Face-Off final.
MICHAEL SPAHN Sports Writer
Panthers WBB falls to Racers in shootout
CARTER LUST Sports Writer
After defeating the former Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball standings leader Belmont in Nashville on Feb. 13, the University of Northern Iowa traveled to Murray, Kentucky, to face Murray State in their second meeting this season. Looking to end their two-game road stint on a high note, the Panthers struggled to contain the Racer offense harboring three 20-point scorers on the night. Ultimately, UNI fell 91-96 in a high-scoring affair.
Senior forward Shateah Wetering scored the first points for the Panthers a minute and a half into the contest, connecting on a layup off an assist from Ryley Goebel. Her bucket would start a series of back-and-forth baskets between Northern Iowa and Murray State in the first quarter, ultimately ending with the Panthers leading the Racers 27-25 heading into the short break. Wetering would end the contest with 15 points on an efficient 5-10 from the field while contributing a block and steal on the defensive end. Similarly, Goebel shot 50% from the field on her eight shot attempts. She finished with eight points, four rebounds, and a team-high four blocks.
On the heels of their hottest
start of the season, the Panthers cooled off in the second quarter, only scoring 16 points to Murray State’s 24. The Racers used UNI’s lapse in scoring to pave the way for a chunk of their three 20-point scorers’ production — Katelyn Young, Haven Ford, and Ava Learn tallied 30, 23, and 21 points respectively by the afternoon’s end. A flurry of Racer foul shots and 3-pointers offset the strong quarter UNI sharpshooter Kayba Laube
had. Laube had six points in the period to help keep the Panthers afloat heading into halftime, where they trailed 43-49. She would finish with 11 points, five rebounds, and three steals and connected on 2-4 of her 3-point tries.
Exiting the locker room, Northern Iowa would need a commendable second half from their senior leader, Maya McDermott, who had gone scoreless in the second quarter after helping the Panthers
build a slight lead in the first. Luckily for UNI, she did just that.
McDermott got started just over two minutes into the second half, connecting on a pair of free throws. A layup by a teammate Emerson Green cut the Racer lead to just two possessions at 51-57. Green ended with 13 points and five boards before fouling out later in the contest. Then, McDermott saw two layups go down before nailing a 3-point-
er just before the third-quarter buzzer sounded. Her strong quarter allowed the Panthers to weather the Racer storm entering the final frame, trailing 67-73 with 10 minutes of action remaining.
With 8:22 left in the game, McDermott drilled a triple to give Northern Iowa their first lead since the 2:10 mark in the second quarter. However, this lead would be short-lived, as a tandem of Murray State free throws saw the Racers up 75-74 just 20 seconds later. Like in the first quarter, the two teams traded scores throughout the middle of the frame, but neither could sustain more than a one-possession lead. After a McDermott layup put the Panthers in front 91-89 with 1:30 left, Murray State closed the game on a 7-0 run, allowing the Racers to walk away victorious.
McDermott finished with 35 points in her third 30-plus point game of the season. She also finished with six rebounds and assists while cashing in on 15 of her 24 field-goal attempts.
The UNI women’s basketball team will be back in action at the McLeod Center against Missouri State at 6 p.m. on Feb. 20. The Panthers will look to take down the current MVC leaders in their second meeting of the year.
UNI track flourishes in Wisconsin
NICOLE WATERS Sports Writer
The competition started off with the men’s long jump as Carter Morton placed second in the event with a jump of 7.42 meters as Josie Dunbar finished in sixth with a jump of 5.84 meters over in the women’s long jump. Carter Pheifer placed ninth in the men’s pole vault at 4.57 meters while Nathan Wilde secured seventh with a throw of 17.82 meters. Carson Lienau (16.99m) and Justin Olson (16.61m) were closely behind in 10th and 11th respectively.
Eva Van De Mortel ran a 7.59 in the 60 meters in the preliminary heats to finish in 14th, as Luke Meyers placed 10th in the 60 meters for men with a time of 6.79. Parker Kiewiet placed third in the men’s 400-meter “Higginbottom” elite race at 47.33 as Zach Fall placed 11th in the men’s open 400 meter with a time of 48.53 seconds. In the women’s 400-meter dash, Maya Williams placed ninth (55.85) as Carlie Jo Fusco secured 10th (56.15). The men’s 800-meter saw Chase Knoche clock a 1:48.70
to place fifth as Drake Hanson placed ninth in the event with a time of 1:50.78. Sebastian Swistak threw a career-best 17.51 meters to win the men’s shot put competition as David Russell threw a 17.13 while following in second, as Sam Thomas followed in fifth
(16.85m). On the women’s side, Katie Fare placed second in the shot put with a throw of 16.65 meters.
Meyers, Kiewiet, and Deonte Dean placed third, fourth, and 11th in the men’s 200-meter dash with times of 21.46, 21.47, and 21.83.
Libby Wedewer placed 26th in the women’s 200 meters at 24.84 seconds. The semi-final heats of the men’s 60-meter hurdles saw Carter Accola place 18th with a time of 8.28 as Paige Kisley placed sixth in the finals of the women’s 60-meter hurdles at 8.50.
Caleb Shumaker and Emma Hoins each secured sixth place in the men’s 3,000 meters and the women’s mile. Shumaker posted a time of 8:14.44 while Hoins posted a time of 4:50.81. Kaylin Lacher followed behind Hoins in the mile by securing tenth place with a time of 5:08.11. Mary Kelly and Kendra Nissen ran the women’s 800-meter placing 16th (2:14.31) and 24th (2:16.36) as Jake Bosch ran a 1:54.14 in the men’s open 800-meter.
The field events saw Breanna Hackman place fourth in the women’s shot put with a toss of 13.99 meters as Jorie Hanenburg placed seventh with a toss of 13.45 meters. Rylie Todd and Josie Moreland each cleared 1.64 meters in the women’s high jump and finished ninth and 13th respectively. Competition ended with the 4x400-meter relays as the men’s team of Fall, Meyer, Knoche, and Hanson placed third with a time of 3:11.62. The women’s relay of Joey Perry, Williams, Jersey Jones, and Fusco finished tenth with a time of 3:48.45.
COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS
The Panthers host Missouri State in the McLeod Center on Thursday and Southern Illinois on Saturday.
COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS
The Panthers are next in action this Friday at the University of Iowa. Events start at 11 a.m.
No. 4 Panthers takes down No. 14 Iowa State on Senior Day
COHEN KAMAUS Sports Editor
Colin Realbuto looked as if he was going to drop his match on Senior Day. With about a minute left in the third period, Realbuto trailed Iowa State’s Paniro Johnson, 7-2. As he entered the down position, his mind caught something that was sitting in the stands:
His 4-month-old daughter, Georgia.
“I don’t think I’ll ever forget that,” said Realbuto.
With his spirits spiraling downward, thinking of his wife and daughter gave him the extra spark he needed to force overtime and, ultimately, win the match in dramatic fashion with an overtime takedown.
“It makes every moment like that so much better,” said Realbuto when asked what it meant to have his daughter with him this season. “I’ve been blessed with [Georgia] and my wife, they’ve been a great rock for me and that whenever I think about them, it gets me going again.”
Realbuto, a New York native, spent his first two years in college at Brown University, finishing his time
with the Bears with 14 wins and 20 losses. During the COVID year, Realbuto took a shot in the dark and transferred to UNI, saying he was looking for the best coaches for his development. After qualifying for the NCAA Championships as a sophomore and junior, Realbuto used his Olympic Redshirt his senior year, giving him one more year of eligibility. Realbuto has taken advantage of his “last chance,” clocking in at No. 10 at the 149-pound rankings. And more importantly to him, helped lift his team to victory over in-state rival Iowa State. Behind a McLeod Center record 7,348 people in attendance, the Panthers put on a show. Starting at 133 pounds, UNI’s Julian Farber took on Evan Frost of Iowa State. Frost was dominant, proving his top-5 ranking by winning by major decision, 8-0. While the score may look like the match was heavily in favor of Frost, Farber was in on plenty of shots in the opening periods, and held his own for all seven minutes.
At 141 pounds, Panther senior Cael Happel toed the line for the final time in the McLeod Center. Happel, a former four-time state champion for Lisbon and a two-time
NCAA tournament qualifier for UNI, took only one college visit in his recruitment process, even though he was a sought after recruit. That visit was to Cedar Falls, and the rest is history. Happel took on Jacob Frost, the twin brother of Evan. Happel did what he does best, earning a 10-7 win and getting the Panthers on the board.
At 149 pounds, the aforementioned Realbuto defeated Paniro Johnson in overtime. Realbuto’s energy at the end of the match earned him a total of three stalling points, which was enough to tie the score at seven. With U-N-I chants in full force, Realbuto got to Johnson’s legs and ended up on top, earning a takedown and winning the match 10-7. Realbuto’s win gave the Panthers a lead they would never look back on.
157 pounds featured one of the best matchups of the day between UNI’s Ryder Downey and ISU’s Cody Chittum. It was a rematch of last year’s Big 12 title match, which saw Downey come out on top. This matchup was a different story, as Chittum beat Downey 4-2 in a nailbiter.
At 165 pounds, Jack Thomsen took on Aiden Riggins in the last match before
intermission. After a scoreless first period, Thomsen took control, securing two takedowns in the next two periods, winning the match 7-2, and giving the Panthers a 9-7 lead before the break.
Jared Simma went to battle at 174 pounds, taking on MJ Gaitan. Simma took a 3-0 lead on a first period takedown. A second period escape added to Simma’s lead. Gaitan managed to get a takedown in the third, but Simma was awarded a penalty point for locked hands. In the end, Simma earned a 7-3 win.
Panther legend Parker Keckeisen wrestled his final match inside the McLeod Center. Keckeisen took on Caleb Helgeson, who he handled easily with a 24-8 tech fall. Keckeisen finishes his Big 12 career with a 37-0 record in duals, including extending his regular season win streak to 52 matches. Keckeisen received a standing ovation from the sold out McLeod Center.
“That’s earned. People just don’t do that for anybody. It is freaking earned and people respect how he trains and lives. I’m so happy he got that moment,” said UNI head coach Doug Schwab.
At 197 pounds, Wyatt Voelker took on Evan
Bockman, who was wrestling up a weight class. After an uneventful first period, Voelker secured a takedown at the start of the second period, and another at the end of the second period. After fending off shot attempts from Bockman in the third period. Voelker came out on top 7-2.
At heavyweight, Lance Runyon faced Daniel Hererra. No points were scored in the first two periods. Runyon got an escape to start the third, but it was Hererra who came out on top, securing a last second takedown to win the match 3-1.
In the last match of the day, Kyle Gollhofer faced Osmany Diversent at 125 pounds. Gollhofer trailed 3-1 entering the second period. An escape and takedown in the second gave him a 5-4 lead heading into the third. After a Diversent escape, Gollhofer reattacked, earning a takedown and putting Diversent on his back, earning the fall.
After the match, coach Schwab was happy with the result of the dual, but his eyes are set on the next opportunity.
“We want to finish it right. We’re gonna sprint through the finish”
COHEN KAMAUS
Editor
NORTHERN IOWAN/MACI SWANSON
The Panthers defeated their in-state rival, Iowa State, for the first time since 2019. They broke the McLeod Center attendance record in the prcoess, totaling 7,348 people inside.
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Across
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5) Like our brains
10) Southpaw's throwing arm
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