DOUG SCHWAB NAMED NWCA COACH OF THE YEAR
Words on the wall mean nothing, it’s in the actions.
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CAMPUS LIFE
Staff writer Lily Munnik peels back the page on the Nook’s upcoming local author book fair.
SEE PAGE 7
SPORTS UNI Women’s Basketball falls to the Florida Gators in the first round of the NIT.
SEE PAGE 9
Iowa House lawmakers clash over legislation restricting DEI at public, private colleges
BROOKLYN DRAISLEY Iowa Capital Dispatch
When debating the first of many pieces of legislation targeting diversity, equity and inclusion Tuesday in the Iowa House, Rep. Beth WesselKroeschell said she’s already heard from individuals and groups seeing the negative impacts of stripping away DEI at Iowa colleges and universities.
An Iowa State University professor was asked to stop requiring students to watch a video on biochemist Percy Julian, an African American, Wessel-Kroeschell said. The teacher had used the story to get students thinking about how “societal ideas impact scientific progress,” the Ames Democrat said.
“This bill and others that we will be discussing today take us 100 steps backwards,” Wessel-Kroeschell said. “The diversity, equity, inclusion ban has already gone too far.” Advocates of the legislation argued DEI programs were divisive.
“A better name for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, in my opinion, would be adversity, inequity and exclusion, because that is what these programs do,” Rep. Steven Holt said.
“Indoctrinating young people to see everything through the prism of race is incredibly destructive — creating adversity between people, inequity for those who do not fit the narrative and exclusion for those who do not agree.”
Members of the Iowa House of Representatives passed a number of bills aimed at DEI Tuesday evening, including amended legislation that
would create a new center for intellectual freedom at the University of Iowa, as well as bills that would bar state entities, community colleges and private universities from maintaining DEI offices and positions and state university requirements for DEI-related education or participation in programming.
House File 269 would prohibit public universities from
requiring or incentivizing education in DEI or critical race theory-related content for students as a prerequisite for earning a degree, with exceptions, and also bars employees from being required or incentivized to participate in similar activities or programs. The House passed an See LEGISLATION, page 3
COURTESY/ROBIN OPSAHL, IOWA CAPTIAL DISPATCH
Rep. Henry Stone, R-Forest City, spoke on legislation prohibiting funding for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in Iowa, alongside prohibiting DEI efforts at community colleges and private colleges participating in the Iowa Tuition Grant during floor debate in the Iowa House March 18.
DOUG SCHWAB
UNI Wrestling Head Coach, NWCA Coach of the Year
News Editor
Mark Nook: How UNI can bolster the Iowa workforce
BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Executive Editor
In their appropriation proposal to the Iowa legislature, the University of Northern Iowa proposed a one-sided reciprocity proposal to allow outof-state students from Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Missouri to pay the same tuition as in-state students. University President Mark Nook says that this proposal comes in an effort to not necessarily grow UNI’s enrollment, but to grow the Iowa workforce and, subsequently, the Iowa economy.
Nook says one of the biggest reasons to establish a reciprocity program is that 50% of out-of-state UNI students will take their first job after graduation in Iowa. Because of this, UNI believes that by growing the out-of-state student population, the Iowa workforce could see large growth over
the coming years. “That’s why we would work to figure out a way to get more people from surrounding states to come to the state of Iowa,” said Nook. “Offering in-state tuition is clearly a way for us to increase the number of students that will come to UNI from those states, therefore put more people into the workforce and help us grow the population of Iowa.” Nook says the university projects that through this program, UNI’s enrollment could see an increase of 2,700 students over the next five years.
But, with the projected growth in enrollment from this program comes a projected loss in tuition from current in-state students. Due to this, the university has proposed an extra $3 million for their Iowa appropriation funding, which is currently under review by the Iowa Appropriations Committee. According to Nook, the extra $3 million in
funding is to cover losses from the current 450 out-of-state students who would start paying in-state tuition, and that request wouldn’t rise as more out-of-state students enroll at UNI. The return on investment for the state? According to Nook, data shows that with the proposed reciprocity program, UNI could add nearly 300 workers to the Iowa workforce every year. Nook believes that the benefits to the Iowa economy and workforce would deliver a clear incentive for the continued investment by the Iowa legislature.
Nook also noted that this proposed reciprocity program is just one of many ways UNI continues to assess Iowa workforce needs and searches for ways to fill those needs. According to Nook, the Iowa Workforce Development publishes a list of top 10 jobs with the most openings over the next 10 years that require a
baccalaureate degree. Number one on that list is nursing. “Our new nursing program was created just to help solve that problem,” said Nook. Then, after nursing, the Iowa Workforce Development reports job openings in education and business, two sectors that Nook says UNI is known for. “If you want to be a teacher, it’s absolutely the place to be. If you want to be an accountant, it’s absolutely the place to be,” Nook said.
On top of the cost of tuition potentially going down for out-of-state students living in states neighboring Iowa, Nook says that UNI has a myriad of opportunities for undergraduate students to receive a quality education. The opportunity for students to compete in Division I athletics, the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, and the music and theater programs are just a few opportunities Nook believes are vital
to the UNI undergraduate experience. But, beyond some of the extracurriculars provided at UNI, Nook believes what will really draw out-of-state students to UNI is the quality of education. “It’s a campus where faculty and staff are really focused on the success of our students,” said Nook. “You can grow personally, you can grow professionally, and you’re supported by faculty and staff who really get to know you and care about you in a big way.” Currently, the appropriations fund is still being considered by the Iowa legislature. Nook anticipates that the university will know sometime in mid-April if they’re able to move forward with the proposed reciprocity program and provide in-state tuition to out-of-state students who reside in states neighboring Iowa.
UNI hosts ribbon cutting for $43.9 million Applied Engineering Building
BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Executive Editor
This Friday, March 28, UNI will host a celebratory ribbon cutting of the newly renovated Applied Engineering Building. The event is set to include remarks from Governor Kim Reynolds and university President Mark Nook. Tours of the building are set to follow the ribbon cutting ceremony. The ceremony caps off the 2 ½ years spent renovating the building. Renovations began in June 2022.
The ceremony commemorates the $43.9 million renovation, which expanded the building by 40,000 square feet
and renovated 60,000 square feet of existing building space.
According to a UNI press release, the department also has an ongoing effort to raise an additional $4 million through donations to continue to procure specialized software and equipment for students. The renovation also added a stateof-the-art applied engineering laboratory and collaborative learning spaces. The Applied Engineering and Technical Management Department says that the renovation makes the building one of the most modern foundry laboratories in the world, and the building itself is used as a learning tool.
The Automation Engineering Technology
program, Construction Management program, Electrical Engineering Technology program, Graphic Technology program, Manufacturing Engineering Technology program, Materials Science and Engineering program, Materials Science Engineering Technology program, Mechanical Engineering Technology program, Technology and Engineering Education program and Technology Management program are all housed within the state-ofthe-art Applied Engineering Building. According to the university, these programs all serve some of the high-
est-need sectors in Iowa in terms of workforce needs. The affordable four-year programs are projected by the university to increase enrollment by 75% by 2028, amongst other factors. The university says that through working with in-state and out-of-state industry partners, such as John Deere and Collins Aerospace, the program is aligned with industry hiring needs and will be in high demand after graduation.
The 10 programs housed in the Applied Engineering building all offer first-year students the opportunity for hands-on learning, which the department says is essential for student growth and success. According to the
Construction Management program, “Students learn attributes such as statics and strengths of materials, project planning and scheduling, and structural components of construction, with the goal of being ready to take on a project management or project engineering role immediately upon graduation.” Each program housed in the Applied Engineering building contains unique opportunities for UNI students seeking hands-on learning experiences. The Electrical Engineering Technology program is the only ABET-accredited program in the state of Iowa,
See ENGINEERING, page 3
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LEGISLATION
continued from page 1
amendment offered by Holt, R-Denison, floor manager of the bill, that he said was brought forward by the Iowa Board of Regents. It struck language in the legislation defining DEI and critical race theory-related content as connected to “critical theory, systemic racism, institutional racism, anti-racism, microaggressions, systemic bias, implicit bias, unconscious bias, intersectionality, social justice, cultural competence, allyship, race-based reparations, racebased privilege, race or gender-based diversity, race or gender-based equity, or race or gender-based inclusion.”
Rep. Megan Srinivas, D-Des Moines, introduced an amendment exempting health care students and providers seeking continuing education from the bill. She argued that medical students need to know how a patient’s race, sex and other characteristics affect the prevalence of certain diseases. The amendment failed.
Calling the legislation “one of the most misrepresented bills” he’s seen in his time as a lawmaker, Holt said DEI and critical race theory topics aren’t being banned from instruction, but are rather being stopped from becoming a requirement to graduate. DEI programs seek to divide people, he said, and gave examples of teaching white people they are oppressors because
ENGINEERING
continued from page 1
where, according to the department, “Students focus on programming microcontrollers, debugging data
they are white and people of color they are oppressed.
The legislation passed 63-34.
House Democrats joined Wessel-Kroeschell in opposing House File 269, as well as other DEI-focused legislation that passed out of the chamber.
Rep. Mary Madison, D-West Des Moines, said during debate that, if passed, legislation to change academic teaching requirements, general education standards and more would essentially whitewash the lessons taught by Iowa universities.
Referencing House File 295, which would prohibit higher education accrediting bodies from taking negative actions against state universities and community colleges for following, or refusing to violate, state law, Madison said the legislation will make Iowa colleges less competitive and “potentially unaccredited, all while silencing discussion about race, gender and social structures that are fundamental to well rounded education.”
“These bills are not about improving education or governance,” Madison said. “They are about censorship, exclusion and erasing important conversations that prepare students for the real world, real people.”
House File 295 passed out of the House with a 65-32 vote.
Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, introduced an amendment to House File 856
acquisition systems, and simulating sequential logic circuits, just to name a few things. Every course in the curriculum includes multiple laboratory-based activities — something that makes
adding community and private colleges to the population of state entities and local government bodies that would be prohibited from spending any money, state-allocated or otherwise, on founding or funding diversity, equity and inclusion offices and hiring DEI officers. The amendment passed.
The portion of the amendment referencing private universities would put their Iowa Tuition Grant eligibility on the line if they do not shutter their offices, similar to legislation currently on the House debate calendar.
Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, said the legislation as amended would punish students for the actions of the institution they chose to attend by stripping away their Iowa Tuition Grant funding, which goes directly to the student, not the college.
“Why are we, the Legislature, punishing children and young people who want to go to college by telling them they can’t pick a college that has a position that’s different than yours?” Konfrst said. “That is not fair and it is not right.”
Rep. Henry Stone, R-Forest City, was floor manager of the bill and did not yield to questions from House Democrats, who took umbrage with what they described as an overly broad definition of DEI potential impacts on Iowa’s students and local departments. His reasoning for this was that he said no one approached
UNI stand out in the engineering world.”
The ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the renovation will take place this Friday, March 28 at 11 a.m., at the Applied Engineering
him with questions on the bill before it made it to the House floor.
Echoing comments made throughout debate about how DEI divides rather than unites, Stone said what is taught through the acronym teaches people to judge based on what is on the surface, like skin color, and interact with them based on those characteristics, rather than getting to know them.
“Getting rid of DEI will help our nation heal and grow together with one another, instead of forcing people to believe that you should be judged by the color of your skin,” Stone said.
The bill passed with a vote of 61-37.
House File 401 would establish general education requirements for state universities and lays out criteria for subjects students must take to graduate, including English, math and statistics, natural and social sciences and western and American heritage. According to the bill, course content cannot “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.”
Holt said the bill is “fundamentally important” for teaching U.S. youth about the country’s founding principles
and where they came from, as well as helping them to improve in fundamental skills like English.
“If our country is to be fought for, those doing the fighting must know the precious principles that are at stake,” Holt said.
The legislation passed 61-36.
House File 437 would, as amended, establish a center for intellectual freedom at the University of Iowa and direct it to, in its own work and through collaborations with centers for civic education at Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa, offer a course on American history and civil government and programming on the topics of free speech and civil discourse, Collins said.
A previous version of the bill would have the University of Iowa establish a school of intellectual freedom within its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The legislation passed 60-37.
Rep. Aime Wichtendahl, D-Hiawatha, said it’s ironic that the chamber discussed intellectual freedom in the wake of trying to ban DEI and amidst the erasure of intellectual freedom across the country as a result of federal government actions.
“This bill is a farce,” Wichtendahl said. “The center is a farce. This government is a farce.”
Building. The ceremony is open to the public, and those who cannot attend the event in-person but still wish to view can watch the livestream of the ceremony through the UNI YouTube channel, @uofnortherniowa.
COURTESY/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
The Iowa Statehouse opened in 1886, and has been the home of Iowa politics ever since. The timeless architecture of the building is what makes it so special, but what goes on within the walls may not be so appealing to every Iowan. There are many House Files working their way through legislation, many of which Iowa Democrats are opposed to.
Los pases CP para el próximo año aumentarán $12
Cada año, el color del pase de estacionamiento cambia: pero este año, también cambia el precio. Los estudiantes ahora tendrán que desembolsar $12 adicionales para pagar su pase de CP.
BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Editora ejecutiva ALAYNA YOUNG Traductora invitada, estudianteww del curso SPAN 4045 Translation
En la última reunión de la Junta de Regentes, se aprobaron los precios propuestos por UNI para pases de estacionamiento, tarifas y multas. Esto significa que los estudiantes que busquen un pase C Preferido, o CP, para el próximo año académico pagarán un 10% más que el costo de un pase CP para este año. El costo total del pase aumentará de $120 a $132. Otras diez clasificaciones de pases también verán incrementos en sus precios para el próximo año académico, con aumentos que van del 2,4% al 3,8%.
La jefa de policía de UNI, Helen Haire, explicó que una de las principales razones del aumento de precios es la inflación. “Nuestro costo por lo que hacemos nunca disminuye, al igual que todo lo demás, especialmente en estos tiempos”, dijo Haire. Gran parte del aumento en los precios es para cubrir todo lo que hace el departa-
mento de estacionamiento.
Según Haire, UNI Parking es un departamento auxiliar de la universidad, lo que significa que no recibe dinero del fondo general de UNI y es completamente autofinanciado. Una gran parte del dinero recaudado por los permisos ayuda a cubrir costos asociados con el mantenimiento del departamento de estacionamiento, como los salarios del personal y los costos de mantenimiento.
Mientras que los pases CP aumentarán en $12, el precio de los pases B aumentará en $2,40, los pases C en $1,80, los R en $1,20. Los pases A para la facultad subirán $4,80, y los de tipo B para la facultad y el personal, $3. “Ya sea para rellenar un bache, renovar estacionamientos enteros, quitar la nieve o esparcir sal, el estacionamiento cubre todos estos gastos”, dijo Haire. Señaló que, especialmente con la retirada de la nieve, la planificación del presupuesto puede ser difícil. “En invierno, puede nevar dos pulgadas cada pocos días”, explicó Haire. “Ya sean dos pulgadas o doce, la nieve
deberá ser retirada y tendremos que pagar por ello”. También mencionó que, aunque UNI no ha renovado completamente un estacionamiento grande en los últimos años, incluso la renovación parcial del estacionamiento de ROTH puede ser costosa para el departamento. A medida que la inflación aumenta, también lo hace el costo de mantenimiento de los estacionamientos. Haire también habló sobre los cambios en el departamento de estacionamiento que han sido exitosos, pero que han representado un gasto, como el sistema de software de multas y el sistema de pago en línea para parquímetros. “Estos programas cuestan dinero,” dijo Haire. “También estamos tratando de mantenernos al día con el aumento de los costos… y no hacen más que subir”. La jefa de policía en la UNI señaló que también han visto un incremento en los costos de mantenimiento de los estacionamientos que posee UNI, incluido el Centro de Transporte Multimodal. Haire dijo que el departamento de estacionamiento busca
continuamente formas de adaptarse a las necesidades y preferencias de los estudiantes en cuanto al estacionamiento en el campus, ya sea con espacios por permiso, o con estacionamiento por parquímetros. “Así que ahora los estudiantes tienen esas opciones… Nadie les obli-
ga a usarlas, pero al menos tienen la opción”, comentó Haire.
Los estudiantes podrán comprar pases para el próximo año académico este verano en parking.uni.edu.
Disclaimer:
Iowa Higher Education committee: Do you really want what’s best for UNI?
BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Executive Editor
This legislative session, the Iowa House formed a committee on higher education, its main directive to pass legislation with regards to the regent universities, including the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. Their proposed legislation can also include Iowa’s private universities and colleges, such as Drake University. In its first legislative session as an active committee, the Iowa House Higher Education Committee has introduced a swath of bills aimed at the regent universities, including DEI-focused legislation, general education requirements and intellectual freedom. But, much of the legislation proposed by the higher education committee could do more harm than good to the regent universities – including UNI. In turn, this also harms the Iowa workforce, leaving sectors that are already understaffed in Iowa, like the healthcare fields, scrambling to recover.
The committee on higher education is made up of 11 representatives – Committee
Chair Taylor R. Collins, R-Mediapolis, Vice Committee
One of the more recent pieces of legislation, House File 295 (HF295) regards accreditation practices for public universities and com -
This legislation doesn’t target the needs of regent universities.
Chair Jeff Shipley, R-Birmingham, ranking member Ross Wilburn, D-Ames, Steven C. Holt, R-Denison, Heather Hora, R-Washington, David Jacoby, D-Coralville, Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, Monica Kurth, D-Davenport, Skyler Wheeler, R-Hull and John H. Wills, R-Dickinson.
- BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Executive Editor
These 11 representatives have proposed and sponsored a laundry list of bills that could potentially harm regent universities.
munity colleges, and could prevent accrediting bodies from taking action against universities, which could potentially jeopardize the accreditation of certain programs, if accreditation policies and state law do not align. HF295 was passed out of the Iowa House and awaits review from the Iowa Senate Education committee.
A second piece of legislation, House File 269 (HF269) prohibits regent universities from requiring classes on critical race theory to graduate. As it currently stands, UNI has no such policy, has never had such policy, and probably will never have such requirements. HF269, as a bill, is an active waste of time and taxpayer dollars. HF269 creates a problem out of thin air, then asks regent universities to applaud as if the committee on higher education has solved something. HF269 was passed out of the Iowa House and awaits review from the Iowa Senate Education committee.
House File 401 (HF401) has been broadly covered by the Northern Iowan, as it’s a bill regarding general education requirements, and would allow the Iowa government to essentially legislate general education requirements at each regent university. HF401 would also prohibit educators from “distorting significant his -
torical 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.” HF401 passed out of the Iowa House and awaits review from the Iowa Senate Education committee.
This legislation doesn’t target the needs of regent universities. It doesn’t target the needs of the Iowa economy or workforce. Although regent and university leaders say they’ve met with leaders of the Iowa House Higher Education Committee, are they really listening to university advocates? If members of the committee on higher education really listened to the needs of faculty, staff and students from UNI they would know that one of the biggest issues plaguing UNI is low faculty pay. If members of the higher education committee really cared about what would improve the quality of education at regent universities – why aren’t they advocating for our professors to be paid a livable wage? Why, instead, are they wasting taxpayer
dollars on “fixing” problems they invented? The Iowa House Education Committee is more concerned with “combating terrorist sympathizers” that don’t exist and demonizing empathy at a legislative level that they completely miss the fact that faculty at our regent universities are underpaid and graduate students are struggling to make ends meet while they seek higher education. The committee on higher education wastes taxpayer dollars while faculty consider leaving their jobs at UNI because of low compensation.
This begs the question –does the Iowa House Higher Education Committee have UNI’s best interest in mind? Are they really considering regent faculty, students and staff while they weigh how to legislate the education we pay thousands of dollars for, and the education our faculty paid thousands of dollars to be able to teach? Collins, Shipley, Wilburn, Holt, Hora, Jacoby, Kaufmann, Konfrst, Kurth, Wheeler and Wills – do you really want what’s best for UNI?
COURTESY/IOWA PBS
Iowa Representative, Taylor R. Collins, R-Mediapolis, serves as the committee chair for the Iowa House Higher Education committee.
CAMPUS LIFE
Movies to spring into the season
CALLEE FAIR Staff Writer
There are some movies that are reserved for specific seasons, and it differs from person to person. Spring is all about new possibilities that are seen in the blooming of colorful flowers, playful energy that is reinvigorated by the beaming sun making its return, and appreciating the love and kindness from friends and family as the birds burst into song in the crisp mornings. The days seem more cheerful as a newfound energy is placed in our spirits to prosper in the blessings we have been given.
Spring is often correlated to the cottagecore aesthetic—an aesthetic that revolves around nature, animals and simple living. Because of its correlation to nature, it only makes sense that films depicting the countryside showing off landscapes of green grass, wildflowers, vivid color, blossoming friendships and wistful romance are the goto when settling into spring. I composed a list of movies to watch that dwell in this aesthetic, and bring spring into your home.
“Little Women” (2019) is famously adapted from Jane Austin’s novel about four sisters navigating their way through life together. Although there are two older adaptations of this story, Greta Gerwig’s colorful direction creates space for the sisters’ beaming personalities to shine through the camera. The sisterhood depicted is cheerfully infectious because of the genuine chemistry between the actors, making the upbeat scenes extra cheerful, and the sadder scenes more heartfelt. The cinematography showcases the intimacy of domestic life, while drawing it back to reveal the greenery sprinkled throughout the film as well as the absence of it. Green is often used to symbolize growth and renewal, paralleling the women’s growth individually and relationally. Above all, the film is painted in warm-tones evoking nostalgia and joy. The story perfectly captures the blossoming of woman-hood through a coming-of-age format that is perfect for spring.
“The Sound of Music” (1965) stars the vocal legend, Julie Andrews playing Maria, and is based on a true story of the Von Trapp Family singers. Taking place after World War II, Maria becomes a governess to a single father with seven children.
She brings love and life back into their saddened home using music to revive their spirits. Between the electrifying soundtrack and the fields of wildflowers, this film balances heavy themes while emphasizing hope and freedom. This sense of hope radiates through the screen through Andrews’s blissful performance and the chil -
floorboards to escape into the greenery-filled world outside. The animation is stunningly nature-esc, while the wistful story of new beginnings is invigorating and adventurous.
“Minari” (2020) is a Korean drama and comedy that centers around a family’s move from California to Arkansas and their
It only makes sense that films depicting the countryside ... and wistful romance are the go-to when settling into spring.
– CALLEE FAIR Film Critic
dren’s awakened joy.
“The Secret World of Arrietty” (2010) is a Studio Ghibli film that is admittedly not the best from their discography, but still worth the watch, especially for spring. Arrietty is a tiny teenager that lives with her family in a normal-sized house with human hosts. The tiny family resides in a little cottage, using human scraps to survive. The main character forms a friendship with a human girl, putting the family at risk for being discovered by the humans. This film emboldens the spring aesthetic as Arrietty sneaks through wooden
simple life as farmers. It is led with enduring performances by Steven Yeun and Han Ye-Ri, and filled with beautiful landscapes and impactful themes. Recontextualizing the “American Dream,” Director Lee Isaac Chung’s childhood memories with immigrant parents influenced many parts of the film, tackling the struggles of making a living versus following your dreams. This film depicts emotions in a raw and vulnerable light with the lining of family love and prosperous hope shining through. Between the rural lifestyle matched with sprouting dreams, this
film is perfect for the season of change.
“Pride and Prejudice” (2005) is another Jane Austen novel adapted to the screen. This version of the film has grown popular in recent years with the depiction of yearning and longful love. This romance slowly grows on the screen with little details that change perspective and meaning between the two characters, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. The two see each other’s worst and butt heads most of the time in the beginning, but their initial read on each other is changed through whispers of other characters, and quiet moments with one another that change everything about their perceptions. Watching the two leads’ romance is like watching a flower grow. Not only is it rewarding through its resulting beauty, but it’s rewarding through watching the development of the relationship blossom over time. This story also depicts the social life the characters live in that mirrors spring’s social season. While some may argue that this film is more of an autumn film, I think “Pride and Prejudice” aligns with both seasons well.
“Matilda” (1996) is the definition of a spring film. It is filled with amusing fun, nostalgic joy and magic. Based on Roald Dahl’s children’s book, this film follows Matilda, a gifted girl with amazing intelligence and the power to move things, being raised by two vulgar parents. When finally agreeing to let Matilda go to school, she befriends a teacher, Miss Honey, who helps Matilda stand
up against her abusive parents and wicked principal. It is a rare children’s film that is wrapped with oddity, charm and powerful lessons that highlight the importance of finding the magic within yourself. It is perfect with spring as the film is packed with adventurous fun, and is decorated with many cottagecore elements such as; cottages, gardens and inspiring goodness.
“Wicked” (2024) took the world by storm through its cinematic release in November, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. This film is an adaptation of the Broadway musical, and is set as a prequel of the Wicked Witch of the West from “The Wizard of Oz.” The story is about the loathing to loving friendship between Elphaba, the “wicked witch,” and Glinda, the “good witch.” The color grade might not do justice to the vibrant colors in the film, but the pink and green duo is perfect for springtime. This heartwarming movie will leave you with tears of joy and sorrow, while dancing and singing every step of the way. The emotion packed in this film is perfectly intertwined with witty humor accompanied by stunning visuals. Ariana and Cynthia’s chemistry is as mesmerizing as the iconic musical numbers performed in this film. “Wicked” is a portrait of self-love, inner child healing and empowerment. The film’s main title track, “Defying Gravity” echoes the sentiment of spring’s revival across the Earth.
COURTESY/NORTHERN IOWAN
Springtime is often correlated to nature and simple living, and many of these films dwell in this aesthetic.
Meet the authors of The Nook’s upcoming Local Author Book Fair
LILY MUNNIK Staff Writer
The Nook, an independent bookstore located downtown Cedar Falls, will host its first Local Author Book Fair on March 30 from noon to 2 p.m. This event will offer Cedar Falls residents the chance to meet and support local Iowa authors while discovering new books to read.
Books from each author will be available for purchase at The Nook on March 30. Book lovers wanting to connect with others and celebrate a vibrant literary community are encouraged to attend. For more information visit https://thenookcf.com/ pages/events, or you can visit their Instagram, thenookcf.
A.E. Kincaid, known for writing fantasy adventure stories, is one of the authors featured at the fair. By day, she serves as the messaging director and chief operating officer at a creative studio, but she writes in her free time. Kincaid is best known for “Mal & Reg Novels of Widdershins,” in which a snarky demon and an inept human hero are unwillingly bound on a quest. Her work appears in “The Rebel Diaries” and “The Exquisite Poison Anthology” and in commercials, blogs and websites across the country.
David Welter, a retired teacher, coach and principal from the Cedar Falls School District, is another featured author. On his 55th birthday, Welter was diagnosed with cancer. He wrote the series, “Reflections from the Home Team” to share the hardships and hope he has encountered in his cancer journey. The series emphasizes positive, encouraging strategies for dealing with life’s challenges. Each book ends with an uplifting message, spiritual insight and a step forward. A portion of the book sales will be donated to the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life.
Adrianne Finlay, author of the young adult science fiction novels “Your One & Only” and “Cut Off,” will also participate. She earned her Ph.D. in literature and creative writing from Binghamton University. Originally from Ithaca, New York, Finlay now resides in Cedar Falls, where she teaches English and creative writing at the University of Northern Iowa. She also serves as an associate editor for the North American Review. In her free time, Finlay makes soap to sell locally, with proceeds benefiting type 1 diabetes research.
Kathy Haan, a bestselling author of paranormal and dark fantasy romance, will be at the fair as well. Haan’s writing often features morally grey heroes, villains and imperfect heroines. Her goal is to make readers cry before delivering a hard-won happily ever after. Haan is also a regular contributor to Forbes, Fortune and U.S. News. While each of her series can be read independently, she recommends starting with “Bedlam Moon.”
COURTESY/A.E. KINCAID
A.E. Kincaid
COURTESY/DAVID WELTER
David Welter
COURTESY/ADRIANNE FINLAY
Adrianne Finlay
COURTESY/KATHY HAAN
Kathy Haan
CAMPUS LIFE
Flow: the 97th best animated film?
Animation is an art form that sets up a spectacle that anyone can enjoy or find some level of tranquility amongst. This decade has introduced us to countless works of art that have been able to show off the beauty that the human mind can comprehend, through visuals that few could imagine. As the Academy Awards conclude, the discussion of what deserves to be the champion of each category remains a hot topic amongst cinephiles and general audiences alike. It is not surprising to see an artistic film such as this get recognized for such a big accomplishment, but many who have not seen this ask themselves “Should this film have won?”
From the realm of Latvian director, Gints Zilbalodis, comes a film called “Flow,” an animal odyssey that follows a black cat as it trajects its
way to a haven across a flood ridden world that’s wiped out all of humankind. Along the way, this critter encounters an unlikely set of companions that venture towards the same goal and
discover a bond that brings them together. Survival is the core theme within this film and questions these adorable creatures with the concept of morality that has
never been shown quite this way until this release. It begs the question: what if Mother Nature retook the earth and animals were the only ones around? No dialogue is present throughout this film, and it relies heavily on the emotions portrayed through the animals with the soundtrack accompanying it.
There is a certain mystique around it, yet it is not completely ambiguous to the point of it being an enigma since they give the animals a deep sense of personality while also keeping their behaviors that they are normally accustomed to. It carries a feeling of spiritually and has an aura that is mythologically breathtaking with how it conveys religious symbolism that stretches between Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism. Zilbalodis does a terrific job of putting you in the paws of a defenseless little cat experiencing a world changing event by utilizing tracking and long shots to create tension. You will easily find yourself attached to these furry friends, nail biting and tear jerking as they encounter distressful obsta
cles. Thankfully, it does not treat animals cruelly, but rather paints the animals in an intelligent manner that comes off as human in some ways.
The animation is reminiscent of video games such as “Stray,” “Journey,” and “Abzu” and has a tone that is unlike most western animation since most ani -
mation is not cheap to produce. The fact that this film
mated feature of the 97th academy awards? Honestly,
It is not suprising to see an artistic film such as this get recognized for such a big accomplishment...
– JOSUE VILLATORO Film Critic
was built on a budget of $4 million on a free animation software, Blender, and took five and a half years to produce rightfully shows how AI has nothing on human creativity. The colors bloom in every single shot, from the way the animals are depicted to how the environment around them is rapidly shifting. There is quite a lot that you can dissect and analyze with the amount of detail that is scattered throughout this film. This film is dedicated to animal lovers, admirers of nature and those who appreciate magnificently constructed animation. Latvia’s first film to be nominated and win an Academy Award and one of the best to come out of 2024’s slate. It is time to ask the question: is this film acceptable for being considered the best ani -
yes. Most have probably not even heard of this film until after its win for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It is certainly understandable if you would have considered something else, in which the argument could be made. But, out of all films to receive the award, this stands out as the most unique and creative of the bunch. After you watch this, you will certainly never forget it. “Flow” may appear quiet and unassuming,but it moves like water with its beautiful scenery and fluid animation, and hits like a tsunami with its gripping plot and intense emotion.
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“Flow” follows the story of a black cat navigating a world where humankind has been wiped out, and along the way forms a bond with an unlikely set of companions venturing towards the same goal.
JOSUE VILLATORO Staff Writer
COURTESY/IMDB
(L to R) Gints Zilbalodis, Matniss Kaza, Ron Dyens, and Gregory Zalcman at the 2025 Oscars. Flow won Best Animated Feature at this years Academy Awards.
COURTESY/IMDB
Panther MBB falls in NIT at SMU
MICHAEL SPAHN Sports Writer
The Northern Iowa men’s basketball team ended their season with a 73-63 against SMU last week. The Panthers accepted a bid into the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) as an No. 8 seed. It was one last opportunity for seniors Tytan Anderson, Jacob Hutson and Cael Schmitt to play in a collegiate game.
Anderson jump-started the Panthers offense with a 3-point basket. Max Weisbrod followed it up with another three to make it 6-2 UNI. Towards the middle of the half, Schmitt started to heat up behind the 3-point line, hitting two to extend the Panther lead to 18-12.
After the Mustangs took a 23-20 lead, Trey Campbell hit a huge three to tie the game back up. The Panthers capped the first half scoring off with three made free throws and a Will Hornseth dunk to trail 33-32 at the break.
Ben Schweiger regained the lead for the Panthers after the break with a layup, followed by five consecutive points by Hutson to take the lead back at 39-35. Schweiger continued his hot start to the second half connecting on back-to-back jump shots. After an Anderson layup, the
on a two-minute scoreless streak before
COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS
minutes to play, the Panthers surged back, courtesy of consecutive 3-pointers from Campbell, which cut the lead to three points.
UNI came up just short, only scoring three points the rest of the game with a final score of 73-63. The Panthers finish the 2024-2025 season with a record of 20-13. Northern Iowa falls to 2-3 all-time in NIT games in program history. The Panthers beat Saint Joseph’s in 2012 and Saint Louis in 2022 in the opening rounds. Anderson ended his career at Northern Iowa finishing 12th all-time in scoring program history with 1,383 points. Hutson finished his career with 940 points and 676 points in his two seasons as a Panther. Will Hornseth concludes his freshman season shooting 71-of104 from the floor for a 68.2% clip, breaking Austin Phyfe’s 2019-20 single season field goal percentage record with at least 50 made shots.
SMU leads UNI 3-1 in the all-time series after Wednesday’s game and is now 2-0 vs. the Panthers in postseason play. Wednesday was the first time UNI and SMU played each other in the postseason since the 2011 CIT.
UNI WBB gets chomped by Gators
NICOLE WATERS Sports Writer
The Florida Gators started off hot against the Panthers by going on a 19-5 run that included 13 straight points against UNI. Northern Iowa answered with a 10-5 run of their own to cut the lead to 24-17 after the first quarter. Maya McDermott scored seven straight points in the quarter and ended with 10 in it. In the second quarter, the Panthers continued to show perseverance as the team put up 21 points to the Gators’ 14. UNI saw a 10-point run and a fivepoint run to tie the game at 38 heading into halftime. A seven-point quarter from Kayba Laube helped bring the Panthers back into the game.
Coming out of the half, Northern Iowa continued to battle as they saw an eightpoint run late in the quarter. Some triples and some free-throws helped make up some ground as Laube made a late 3-pointer to put the team within three
points at 61-58 going into the fourth quarter. Laube had 10 points in the third quarter. The fourth quarter saw the Gators dominate with a 22-13 advantage and multiple 5+ point runs. Ultimately, Florida came
out on top with an ending score of 83-71 over Northern Iowa to advance to the second round of the WBIT. Laube finished with 21 points and five rebounds, McDermott and Ryley Goebel with 13 points. Shateah Wetering ended with 10 points and five rebounds as well. Goebel also added three blocks and two steals during the game. UNI ends the 202425 season with a 17-17 record after the 83-71 loss to Florida. After 17 points in the first quarter, the Panthers broke the program record for single-season Team points which was set in the 2022-23 season. UNI recorded 2,519 points this season. Additionally, Ryley Goebel became just the 19th player in NCAA history to record 70+ blocks and steals in a single season. Goebel’s 71 steals this season ties Deb Drenth (198182) for seventh on UNI’s single-season list.
The Panthers close their season with a 17-17 record.
Panthers went
a Hutson dunk. With the game tied at 52 a
piece, the Mustangs went on a 59-52 run. With under five
The Panthersend their season with a record of 20-13, including a third place finish in the MVC regular season.
Panther Wrestling rewrites history book with 9th place finish in Philly
ADAM JOHNSON
Sports Writer
Over this past weekend was the NCAA Wrestling Championships. Starting on Thursday, March 20 and finishing up on Saturday, March 22, the top wrestlers in the country met in Philadelphia, Pa. to find out who was the best. The Panthers had 10 wrestlers qualify for the championships, and were looking for a top-four team finish. The top four teams got a trophy, but UNI did not find the team success that they were looking for. The Panthers still had a solid ninth place finish in the team standings, which is their best finish since 1962. Cael Happel finished in fifth place at 141 pounds and Parker Keickeisen finished second at 184.
Out of the ten wrestlers that the Panthers brought to the championships, only two of them ended up placing in their respective weight classes. The other wrestlers still earned some valuable team points for the Panthers, but Trever Anderson, Julian Farber, Colin Realbuto, Ryder Downey, Jack Thomsen, Jared Simma, Wyatt Voelker and Lance Runyon all failed to place.
Cael Happel came into the championships rated fairly high in the 141 pound weight class. He lived up to his seeding winning his first three matches of the tournament. Following the wins he dropped two in a row, before finishing out with a 7-2 deci-
sion win over Navy’s Josh Koderhandt. The win earned him fifth place in the weight class. His performance at the championships was enough to earn him All-American status.
The Panther that made it the farthest was the reigning national champion at 184 pounds, Parker Keckeisen. Keckeisen rolled through his first three matches of the tournament, before facing stiff competition in the match before the championship. In a close match with Minnesota’s Max McEnelly, Keckeisen pulled out the 4-1 victory. In the championship Keckeisen matched up with the top seed in the weight class, Penn State’s Carter Starocci. Starocci won four consecutive national championships at 174 pounds before moving up to 184. In Keckeisen’s last match of his dominant UNI career, he fell just short of winning his second championship. The match was tied 1-1 with about a minute to go, when Starocci scored a takedown on Keckeisen that gave him the 4-1 lead. Keckeisen would earn two more points before the match was over, but fell just short, 4-3.
Despite the tough loss, Keckeisen ended his career at UNI as one of the best wrestlers in school history. He finished with 133 career wins, the third most in UNI history, the highest winning percentage in school history, Big 12 champion five times, All-American five times and national champion one time .
COURTESY/ALLYSON SCHWAB
The Panthers placed ninth at the NCAA wrestling championships, which is their best finish in the Doug Schwab era and their best finish since 1962.
COURTESY/ALLYSON SCHWAB
Parker Keckeisen finishes his Panther career as a five time All-American, including a first place finish in 2024.
COURTESY/ALLYSON SCHWAB
Cael Happel finished his career as an All-American, finishing fifth at this years NCAA championships
Chase Lauman takes aim at the Panther track and field record
CARTER LUST Sports Writer
The ambiance inside Drake Stadium matches the brittle spring Des Moines air — atmospheric tensions so tight they could break at the sound of a starting bullet. On the Blue Oval, runners of the 2023 Drake Relays high school boys 3200 meters take their marks, awaiting the break of the gun.
And they’re off.
Runners jostle for position during the first mile of the competition. The boys move at a pedestrian pace, each attempting to anticipate what the other is trying to do; no athlete is ready to run the race on their terms.
Until Chase Lauman is.
With four and a half laps left until the finish, Lauman uses a short surge to break away from the field as they exit the backstretch. As the pack strings out, he leads Iowa’s best distance runners for three more laps. Nearing 250 to go, a competitor sneaks up on Lauman’s hip, passing him on the inside while narrowly avoiding the guard rail. As a championship begins to slip from his grasp, Lauman opens his stride to slingshot around the home stretch curve and retake the lead down the 100 straight. Crossing the finish line, Lauman looks up at the scoreboard in disbelief before being handed his Drake Relays champion flag.
“That’s still probably my
biggest accomplishment,” Lauman said when asked to reflect on his young career. “That was really cool.”
Now, Lauman looks to add to his already decorated resume while donning the purple and gold.
Before joining the Panthers, Lauman attended Pella High School in Pella, Iowa, where he excelled in track and cross-country. In addition to his Drake Relays title, Lauman was a two-time state team champion and is still a school record holder over the mile and half-mile distances. He also achieved the rare “triple crown” by winning the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m at the 2023 3A state track meet. On top of his track success, Lauman was an all-state runner on the grass, where he helped the Dutch win two state championships.
Lauman began his running journey by participating in local road races and the AAU track circuit. He credits his start in the sport to his dad, who never forced him in any direction but was always a source of inspiration. His father was a collegiate runner at Central College before he started racing marathons later in adulthood.
“Seeing that motivated me,” said Lauman, who is always looking to give back to his family, who has been with him throughout his journey.
“They support me, and I just want to continue to
support them too,” Lauman explained.
Now a sophomore at UNI, Lauman will rely on that support and his faith as he pursues his athletic goals at Northern Iowa.
“The mile school record would be cool,” Lauman said, reiterating that he is “always looking to compete with the best,” a necessary mindset when pursuing such a significant goal.
The rest of the Northern Iowa men’s track team also carries this competitive nature. The Panthers are fresh off a Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championship, where Lauman “grew really close” with his teammates.
“Everybody is hyping each other up … we all want the same goal,” expressed Lauman on Panther culture.
Above all, though, Lauman has his eyes set on “breaking four (minutes) in the mile” after stating he believed he was closing in on the milestone last year before a foot injury sidelined him for his freshman outdoor track campaign.
Lauman has had multiple foot-related injuries, including stress reactions and nerve problems, throughout his career. However, he has always managed to “work through them” by cross-training on the bike and reducing mileage when necessary. Lauman also tries to prevent further injuries through prehab
exercises and physical therapy.
Although Lauman has dealt with his fair share of setbacks, he aims to “stay as relaxed as possible” each time he toes the line, regardless of his training structure. When Lauman’s out competing, he stays engaged in the race by thinking about his positioning and the moves he needs to make to advance in the field. Like all runners, Lauman also periodically looks at the race clock after every lap or split he completes.
“I’m an accounting major, so I think about numbers all
the time,” laughed Lauman.
After graduating from UNI, Lauman hopes to work as a CPA at a Big Four accounting firm. In his free time, he loves disc golfing with his teammates and friends to divert himself from running and his studies.
Although Lauman notes that it would be “cool to run post-collegiately,” he focuses on staying present and working toward his current goals as a Panther. Yet, running may never leave Lauman, and he surely hopes it doesn’t.
“I just love the sport, and I want to stay as close as I can.”
Chase Lauman competes on both the track and field and cross country teams. He runs a 4:04 mile, which has been a milestone in sight for him to chase.
Chase Lauman poses with his Drake Relays flag back in 2023.
CLASSIFIEDS CROSSWORD
Across
1) Wish to, informally
6) Celebratory meal
11) Smashing success
14) "Against all odds!"
16) Environmental prefix
17) "Who would have guessed?!"
18) Sunbeam
19) Sega Genesis competitor, briefly
20) Fusses in front of a mirror
22) CBS forensic franchise
25) Vampire Weekend singer Koenig
27) Aide, for short
28) Situation that a cybersecurity manager prepares for
31) Mini-golf target
32) 2003 fantasy novel whose title is one letter different from a fantasy creature
33) Court order
35) Teachers' org. hidden in "fine arts"
37) Organisms that require oxygen
39) "Me, me, me" mentality
41) "___ Miz"
42) Longtime Yankee nickname
44) Sweatshirt with drawstrings
45) GPS calculation
47) "Just relax!"
49) Part of TMI
51) Dope-seizing agent
52) ___ Geo Wild
53) Evaded
55) Aslan or Simba
57) Titular spy show role for Sandra Oh
58) "Easy as pie!"
64) "Jeopardy!" host Jennings
65) Road paving material widely used in ancient Rome
66) Suffix that means "the most"
67) Wipe clean
68) County in England or New Jersey
Down
1) Nintendo console with a Nunchuk
2) Put a PIN in it!
3) Cryptology org. 4) Pester
5) French pals 6) "Stop right there!"
7) Doesn't cook 8) German cry 9) Low-five sound 10) Colorful aquarium fish 11) "Consider this ..." 12) "There's no stopping me!" 13) Playthings 15) Hidden geeky side 21) Seer's "skill," for short 22) Switching jobs and asking for a raise, for two 23) One on the dean's list
24) "Othello" bad guy
26) Land unit
28) "Let's shake on it!"
29) Bubble tea 30) Video game achievement
34) Train whistle's sound
36) Iowa college town
38) Before long 40) Conflicted
43) Genetic testing facilities
46) Heart test: Abbr.
48) ___ threat (singer-actor-dancer, for example)
50) Ergo
53) Hockey fake-out maneuver
54) A speakeasy's is hidden
56) Place for a stud or hoop
59) Up in the air, on a schedule: Abbr.
60) K-pop band supposedly reuniting in 2025
61) ___ Angeles
62) U-turn from WSW 63) Tex-___ cuisine
ANSWERS
