UNI AAF takes first place at districts, team advances to semi-finals
CAMPUS LIFE
News Editor Jo Brahms discusses Katie Patterson’s recent speech on campus as part of the Hearst Center of the Arts series. SEE PAGE 7
SPORTS
Nicole Waters civers the Rory McIlroy’s recent win at the Masters. SEE PAGE 10
Applied Engineering students place at national competition
BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Executive Editor
Although the competition is long over, the group of students who had formed a pseudo-contracting agency still sit huddled around one of the larger tables in the Applied Engineering Building, working on miscellaneous homework or brainstorming what they could’ve done better. The eight students traveled to Las Vegas, NV to compete in the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Construction Management Competition, where they competed against 35 different schools for a pseudo-contract. The group placed 3rd in the estimating category and 11th overall against schools like Auburn University and Clemson University.
The ABC Competition challenges students to develop an estimate, project management strategy, quality and safety plans for the $70 million community college health and wellness center contract.
Oasis Builders, the company formed by the UNI students for the competition, took this challenge head-on.
According to the students
that made up Oasis Builders and attended the competition, the ABC Competition allowed them to acquire hands-on experience and immerse themselves in real-world situations.
Dalton Motley, a senior construction management student, said that the experience was incredibly beneficial for himself and the team. “We spent a lot of time on this competition and our project, and in return we got a lot of really great real-world experience.”
The eight person team is made up of Motley, Megan May, Carter Miller, Jake Doughtery, Payton Olson, Makenna Chidester, Sam Goodrich and Dylan Kiesey.
The actual competition, Motley noted, was incredibly stressful. While the team was able to turn in a 178 page book filled with months of their work, at the competition, they would be challenged to amend their work – but with only four of their members calling the shots. “You’re sitting in a conference room surrounded by 34 other teams all working on the same thing you are, and for five hours, you’re sent these changes,” said Motley. “So, you could get a change, work on it, amend it, and then two
hours later you get a different change that contradicts the first change. So now, you’re going back and changing stuff you thought you already had done.”
“In reality, you can’t get it all done,” Motley said.
Outside of the actual student competition, ABC also hosts a professional convention, and UNI students are able to visit with different vendors, as well as build connections and network with potential future employers. Students were able to watch the trade competition, where trade workers showed off their skills.
Shortly after the actual competition, placements were announced for the different judging categories. UNI placed third in the estimating category. “Well, actually, they announced that the University of Northern Ohio placed third,” Miller laughed. “Which was news to all of us, because I didn’t know there was a University of Northern Ohio.” The mix-up was corrected, and UNI was properly celebrated.
May, a senior construction management student, felt especially affirmed by the placement, as she handled a majority of the estimating throughout
the project. “It felt great for our team to be recognized, but inside I was jumping up and down,” said May. “Especially because after the competition, I’m talking numbers with some other schools, and our numbers seemed way off in comparison to theirs!”
The top ten overall schools were announced, and with UNI not on that list, the team gathered to head back to Iowa, without knowing their official overall competition placement. “When they announce the top ten, they don’t announce who placed higher or lower, you just know if you are or aren’t moving onto step three, and the actual placements you find out the week after,” said Motley.
The week after the competition, the group found out they placed 11th overall, just a hair away from moving on in the competition. “It’s hard to judge how good we’re supposed to do, or could do, what the standard for our team is – because we’re picking up where people left off before COVID-19, four years ago,” said Chidester. The eight person team referenced the year
COURTESY/BELL ROGERS
News Editor
UNI AAF places first in the National Student Advertising Competion
JENNA WESTENDORF
Campus Life Editor
Every year, the American Advertising Federation organizes the National Student Advertising Competition, featuring a different well-recognized client. This year, after many late nights and tireless work throughout the semester, the team in Matthew Wilson’s Advertising Campaign Development class placed first at the AAF district competition.
The Advertising Campaign Development class “operates like a real advertising agency” says Creative Director Eliza Carlson. The class is split into four teams, each being responsible for a different aspect of the campaign. Aside from the two in-class sessions a week, teams were often meeting outside of class to complete work and meet deadlines. However, unlike the typical annoyance that can come with having to meet outside of class to complete work, students didn’t mind this outside-of-class work. “It has been the only class where I was not annoyed to do out-of-class work,” states Plansbook and Art Director Becca Jorgensen.
The class is highly regard-
ed as a “must-take” class for many marketing majors.
“When I was a freshman, I would always hear senior marketing majors talk about how intense, hands-on, and iconic this specific class was, and it immediately caught my interest,” stated Research Team member Madison Duong. “Taking this class has always been on my bucket list!”
This class also provided great real-world experience as many members of the class are seniors going into similar roles post-graduation. “It was basically like a mini internship or job that gave us some great real-world experience,” stated Media Director and Pitch Team member Kylie Ryder.
Professor Wilson was a huge factor in the success of this campaign and this class. He worked tirelessly with each team, meeting with them outside of class no matter how late the meetings were, and gave honest and constructive feedback to make the campaign the best it could be.
“Wilson always pushed us to do better, but never in a negative way,” stated Jorgensen.
“I think the best teachers are the ones who challenge you because they see your
potential. He gave us honest feedback, and it helped me grow.” Duong elaborates on this, stating that “he’s always honest about what he thinks and pushes us to think carefully about every choice we make for the campaign.”
The client for this year’s competition was AT&T. The four teams: accounts and strategy, research, media, and creative each worked to perfect their portion of the campaign before compiling it into a 20-minute pitch. Each team member put their “heart and soul into this campaign” as Jorgensen stated, knowing that they were all working toward the same end goal.
Leading up to the competition were a lot of nerves and excitement. The pitch team had spent long late nights working to perfect their pitch. “The week leading up to the pitch I had been stressed about remembering my likes because I always want to be my best possible self,” stated Ryder. “One thing that Wilson said that helped calm me down was that “nobody knows the campaign better than you do.” Reminding myself that helped me realize that I knew all along what I was talking about, I just had to trust in myself and my fellow pitch team members.”
Winning first place at the district competition was a mix of emotions for the team involved, but a rewarding feeling knowing that all of their late nights and hard work had paid off. “Finding out we won was the most rewarding feeling. It made all of the stress and time put into this campaign worth it,” stated Accounts and Strategy Director Eve Wedewer. “I couldn’t be more proud of this team, the brains and creative minds this team has amazed me and I am beyond grateful to have worked with such like-minded people.”
Being a part of such a hardworking team proved that hard things are possible, even when you feel like you’re at your lowest and all hope is lost. “Wilson told us several times that this campaign would knock us down, and bring challenges that would make us question if we could even accomplish this campaign, but we must keep pushing because that hopelessness is a sign that our big, game-changing idea was coming,” stated Duong.
The campaign also proved that success is possible, especially when you are passionate about what you do. “My biggest takeaway from this experience is to always be
willing to work hard,” stated Jorgensen. “Nothing ever comes easy, and you do your best work when you are passionate about what you are working on.”
Winning first at districts isn’t just a big accomplishment for the team as a whole, but for each person individually as well. For Ryder, it’s living proof that skills she has learned in other aspects of life can translate into her academic life as well. “As someone who competes in the Miss America Organization, I have learned a lot of professional and personal skills through my time as a titleholder,” stated Ryder. “It was such a surreal feeling to see how those skills translated into my academic life, allowing me to show the personal and professional development I have made simply from competing in the MAO organization.”
This isn’t the end of the road for the UNI AAF team. They have the opportunity to compete virtually in the semifinals this week, and if selected, will travel to nationals in June located in Pittsburgh. “This week we will be focusing on filming our pitch and further preparing more questions about our campaign that the judges might ask,” says Wedewer.
Being a part of such a hardworking team in such a highly regarded class has been a highlight for everyone involved. “This class has been the most impactful experience of my college career. Being a part of UNI AAF is something truly special,” stated Carlson. “It’s not just a class, it’s a team, a community, and a place where I’ve found passion and purpose in my craft … if you take this class, you’ll be amazed at how much you’ll grow both professionally and personally.”
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ESTELLE JOHNSON Managing Editor johnsecr@uni.edu 319.290.4955
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COURTESY/BELL ROGERS
Pitch team (L-R) Faith Zanoni, Jo Brahms, Bailey Klinkhammer, and Kylie Ryder gave a 20 minute speech to explain their campaing to the judges.
COURTESY/BELL ROGERS
The class is highly regarded as a “must take” by students within the college of business
UNI’s Faculty Union Sponsors Teach-In, in Defense of Higher Education
Disclaimer: Christopher Martin is both the president of UF and advisor to the Northern Iowan
United Faculty, the University of Northern Iowa’s faculty labor union representing more than 500 faculty members, invites all campus workers, students, and members of the community to join them in speaking out for a better, fairer, and more just future in higher education.
The UNI campus teach-in will be held on Thursday, April 17, 12:15-1:45 p.m. on top of Maucker Union’s plaza. The event will be held inside the Union, in the Hemisphere Lounge, in case of rain or bad weather.
Speakers will include UNI
APPLIED ENGINEERING
continued from page 1
prior’s competition, where the UNI team had essentially built their project from scratch, with little to no ref-
students and student organizations, faculty, union leaders, and community leaders talking about the importance of standing up for rights in higher education, including the rights of international students to attend colleges and universities in the U.S. without the fear of extrajudicial government actions.
Teach-ins, a series of informal lectures or discussions on matters of public concern, have a long history in the U.S. The first teach-in was in 1965 at the University of Michigan, to discuss public concern over the Vietnam War.
“Today, the government is waging a war on higher education. We are especially
erence guides from previous years. “Now that we have this, I think it’ll really help future prospects.”
The entire eight person team that makes up Oasis Builders agreed that it’s important for
concerned about attacks on free speech at UNI and on the nation’s campuses. It’s not only about free speech for instructors, but the freedom for students to learn without having their education censored by the government,” said Christopher Martin, a professor of digital journalism and president of United Faculty. “We are also deeply concerned for our international faculty and students, who should have the freedom to teach and learn without the threat of abduction and deportation without due process.”
United Faculty, established in 1976, is the chief negotiating agent for the
UNI to continue to compete in the student ABC Competition. “We have a great baseline, and based on our comments from this year, I think we can really grow… It’s really beneficial to be able to do this as an extra-
University of Northern Iowa’s faculty, and is affiliated with the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and American Federation of
Teachers (AFT). The labor union represents more than 500 faculty members on UNI’s campus.
curricular outside of the classroom and our internships,” said Chidester.
While some members of the group are anticipating graduation this upcoming May, some members are ready to
hit the ground running and do it all again next semester.
“It’s great experience for those who attend, and we know we can do even better next year,” Chidester said.
NI STAFF
N.I. EN ESPAÑOL
Caminata de prevención del suicidio ‘Out of Darkness’
Un día de reflexión, apoyo, y sensibilización en UNI
LILY MUNNIK Redactor SYDNEY THELL
Traductora invitada; Estudiante del curso SPAN 4045
La Universidad del Norte de Iowa organizó su caminata anual para la prevención del suicidio Out of Darkness el sábado, 5 de abril de 2025, en el campus de UNI. El evento, que sirve para recaudar fondos para la Fundación Americana para la Prevención del Suicidio (AFSP, por sus siglas en inglés), une a individuos, familias y comunidades en apoyo a la investigación sobre la educación y prevención del suicidio, y a los sobrevivientes de la pérdida de seres queridos por suicidio.
La caminata fue un poderoso recordatorio de la importancia de la concienciación de la salud mental y la necesidad de conversaciones continuadas sobre la prevención del suicidio. Los que participaron en el evento compartieron historias personales, motivaciones sinceras y percepciones sobre por qué eventos como este son esenciales para dar forma a una cultura de apoyo en el campus en torno a la salud mental.
con otros con quienes comparten una misión similar. Sam Hospodarsky, subdirectora de Éxito y Retención Estudiantil dice: “Quiero que todos en UNI sepan que no están solos y que el mundo es un lugar mejor con ellos en él.” A continuación, hizo hincapié en la importancia de apoyar el acceso a atención a la salud mental para todos, diciendo: “la salud mental importa. Cada uno de los seres humanos merece acceso a atención a la salud mental y quiero hacer lo que esté en mi mano para apoyar a esa misión.”
Nathalia Pizarro, estudi-
Quiero que todos en UNI sepan que no están solos y que el mundo es un lugar mejor con ellos en él.
y me doy cuenta de que hay muchos otros que se han sentido como yo. Todo el mundo pasa por luchas de salud mental y la última cosa que quiero es que otros sientan que están solos en ellas.”
Eventos como la caminata Out of Darkness brindan la oportunidad de empezar conversaciones cruciales en torno a la salud mental y al suicidio, particularmente en un entorno universitario. Pizarro dice: “Este evento estuvo muy bien para proporcionar recursos y discusiones sobre los avances de la investigación en materia de salud mental. Lo que más me benefició fue cuando el orador principal mencionó cómo identificar los signos de alguien que podría tener pensamientos suicidas, y cómo ayudarle.”
SAM HOSPODARSKY Subdirectora de Éxito y Retención
Estudiantil
Para muchos participantes, unirse a la caminata fuera de la oscuridad fue más que solo sobre recaudar fondos; era una manera de conectar
ante de UNI que se ofreció como voluntaria en el evento, compartió una razón profundamente personal para asistir: “Me he enfrentado a luchas personales en el pasado y, aunque ahora uso recursos para la salud mental, siempre reflexiono sobre ello
La discusión en torno a la salud mental no fue sólo académica, sino que fue personal y práctica. “Es genial que las personas que asistieron hayan podido aprender,” dice Pizarro. “Sin embargo, esperaría que esto fuera algo que todos en el campus supieran. Este evento no solo ayudó a los estudiantes de UNI, sino también a la comunidad del Cedar Valley. Es importante que todos tengamos un gran
entendimiento de estos temas de suicidio y salud mental, porque la transparencia brinda consuelo a aquellos que se sienten de esta manera.”
El evento también sirvió como un recordatorio importante de que incluso pequeñas acciones pueden hacer una gran diferencia. Pizarro señala: “Todo depende de la facultad, el personal y los estudiantes. No digo que siempre nos vayamos a dar cuenta de los signos de pensamientos suicidas, pero las personas a veces solo necesitan un ambiente acogedor. Así que un simple “hola” o incluso una sonrisa hace que el día de cualquiera sea mejor.”
La caminata Out of Darkness estuvo llena de momentos de conexión; ya sea caminar con amigos, escribir mensajes de positividad en notas adhesivas, o simplemente estar rodeados de otras personas que entienden la importancia de la salud mental. “Yo caminé con un equipo de nuestra oficina, y el nombre de nuestro equipo era Éxito y Retención
Estudiantil.” Hospodarsky compartió. “Un asistente de posgrado en nuestra oficina, Jerrell Bates, fue el presidente este año, así que formamos un equipo para apoyarlo y unirnos por esta importante causa.”
Pizarro reflexionó sobre la alegría de ver a las personas unirse para una misión compartida, diciendo, “Se me iluminó la cara con una sonrisa porque me di cuenta de
lo mucho que la gente estaba dispuesta a unirse para este evento. Tanto si eran estudiantes de UNI que vinieron a apoyar, como si eran familias con sus hijos, me alegro de haber sido parte de ello.” Los participantes en el evento están esperanzados en que el éxito de la caminata Out of Darkness inspirará esfuerzos para crear conciencia y reducir el estigma que rodea a la salud mental y al suicidio. Los participantes sugirieron que los futuros esfuerzos de divulgación podrían expandirse más allá de la propia caminata, por ejemplo, a través de iniciativas universitarias continuadas como las notas adhesivas con mensajes de ánimo encontradas en los baños, o mensajes escritos con tiza en la acera. Estos pequeños recordatorios positivos tienen un impacto duradero, fomentando una cultura de apoyo y cariño por todo el campus. El consenso de los participantes fue claro: la caminata Out of Darkness es sólo el comienzo de conversaciones continuadas sobre salud mental. “Espero que estos eventos sigan creciendo en el campus,” Pizarro dice. “Tantas organizaciones estudiantiles ya están trabajando en eventos como este durante todo el año escolar. Esto es algo que debe involucrar a todos — facultad, personal, y estudiantes— para seguir promoviendo un entorno acogedor y de apoyo.”
Cortesía/LILY MUNNIK
Disclaimer:
We will still be here
BAILEY KLINKHAMMER
Executive Editor
There’s a transgender flag safety-pinned to the flap of my Speedo backpack. It’s resided there for four years now, battered by the everyday wear and tear of my busy schedule. I think I acquired it from a UNI Proud tabling event, but it’s been there so long that now I can’t really remember. In my mind, it’s a very casual sign of solidarity to transgender Panthers. But as our world, and our state grows increasingly hostile towards transgender Iowans, the battered little flag on my backpack has started to mean a little more.
I often find myself contemplating the discrimination that transgender people face in their everyday lives, and how that discrimination can vary from state to state. With the Iowa legislature recently repealing civil rights for transgender Iowans, I think of how unwelcoming our state has become, and in turn, how unwelcome our families will become. In a first-of-its-kind study completed by the Trevor Project, they reported that anti-transgender legislation can cause a 72% increase in suicide attempts amongst transgender and non-binary youth. Those crafting this legislation may think they’re doing something, or some -
body justice. But from a different lens, this legislation could be a death sentence.
I find myself subscribing to what’s now an outrageous belief that if you’re discriminating, or repealing civil rights protections for a class of people, that should be viewed as a bad thing.
Transgender Iowans are not new threads in the fabric of our society. They have always existed. Which is another layer to why I find this uproar surrounding transgender Iowans so asinine. You can legislate about what rights transgender people can and cannot have –that will not prevent them from existing, and it will not undo the threads of history that transgender Iowans have woven. Transgender Iowans will always exist, whether or not the state and federal governments want them to.
day-to-day lives. We can choose to do the very simple thing of accepting and moving forward. Wouldn’t our lives be so much easier if we did that? I think often about the transgender youth in Iowa who face the harsh reality of not being accepted by their family, some find -
members can argue semantics, whether they’re citing the Bible, or the argument that they want to “protect women,” it all boils down to discrimination. It’s very cut and dry, at least in my mind.
No matter how difficult life becomes for trangender Iowans – they are still Iowans. They will still be here.
- BAILEY KLINKHAMMER Executive Editor
While control of justice for transgender Iowans at the state level might be farther out of reach, we can choose acceptance in our
ing themselves homeless because of it. I think often of those who will never get the healthcare they deserve, or are denied jobs because of who they are. I think of how discrimination takes legislative form in our state and haunts household dining rooms like an unwelcome ghost.
Legislators and family
I’m not religious, but I know that one of the fundamental teachings of the Bible is acceptance of those around you, and loving people despite not fully understanding them. I’ve seen people argue that legislating away transgender civil rights protections is “good” for women, but I know that if one transgender woman loses her civil rights, it can also happen to lesbian women, Black women and cisgender women.
I’ve found that even people that I thought to be progressive can share some ideals that I find to be counterintuitive, especially when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, specifically regarding transgender rights. In Iowa,
homophobia and transphobia seep into everyday conversations, especially regarding what people think is or isn’t okay to be teaching in schools or talking to children about.
No matter how difficult the Iowa legislature makes it to be a transgender Iowan, they will still be here. Transgender Iowans will still go to the same restaurants you do, check out books at the public library like you do, inspect produce at the grocery store like you do. Transgender Iowans will still sit across the table from you at family dinner, even if you don’t accept them for who they are.
No matter how difficult life becomes for transgender Iowans – they are still Iowans. They will still be here. As long as there are transgender Iowans to uplift, support and fight for, we will still be here. We are not going away. It is easier to open your arms and your mind to those who are different than you than to shut them out, dehumanize them and attempt to legislate them into non-existence. Acceptance will always be easier than hate.
NORTHERN IOWAN/BAILEY KLINKHAMMER
Pictured above is Bailey Klinkhammer’s backpack and the transgender flag pin that she acquired from a UNI Proud tabling event her freshman year, four years ago.
Katie Patterson discusses ‘Playbook for Your Twenties’
Katie Patterson made an appearance in the Lang Hall
JO BRAHMS News Editor
Last Monday, April 7th, UNI alumna Katie Patterson presented her speech “Playbook for Your 20s” to a crowd of students in Lang Auditorium. Patterson graduated from UNI in 2004 from the Communications department. She held several roles in advertising and sales before deciding to branch out on her own and start her company, Happy Medium. Katie Patterson, a UNI alum and founder of Happy Medium, shared her journey and insights on success. She emphasized the importance of networking, honesty, and transparency in business. She highlighted the need for intentionality in personal and professional relationships, the impact of technology on attention and productivity, and the importance of financial planning
on April 7.
and investing early. Katie also discussed the challenges of balancing work and personal life, the significance of having supportive friends, and the evolving role of AI in the workplace. To kick off the speech, she noted the difference between life when she graduated and life now. She cautioned the audience about cell phone usage saying, “You were handed a device that puts the entire world in your pocket, but nobody gave you a manual. You are expected to manage constant notifications, comparison distraction and dopamine hits and somehow still build a healthy and a focus and a fulfilling life. … You’re one of the first generations who were raised on smartphones. And this is not a small thing.
It’s something you have to be widely aware of, that that is not a weakness. Your phone owns you, though,
so we need to fix that. How do we live in a world that is device engineered to hijack our attention and still find peace and happiness?”
She continued on, pivoting into the importance of building real-world, faceto-face connections and how networking can seriously impact your future. She told her audience to prioritize real-world interaction and create phone-free zones to build confidence and foster meaningful relationships. She wants students to be intentional about their use of technology and to create spaces where they can disconnect and focus on real-world experiences.
“You know, I was preparing and talking with Eric [Braley] and everybody like, it’s pretty common. So kids walk into their classrooms and you’re all on your phone, and that is really sad to me, because it’s a very
normal thing for you to do. You’re just doing the normal thing. But I am on this stage right now because of a friend that I made in college and someone I spent time talking to and fostering a relationship with, and professors who championed me, and so force yourself out of those normals.”
She continued on, moving the speech into the importance of friendships for outside of the office. Patterson shighlighted the importance of having the right friends to challenge you while supporting you to grow. She discussed how, as she got older, she started reflecting on her friendships and began to be more intentional about the people she was spending time with. “Your friends are either pulling you forward or they’re quietly holding you back. A lot of my closest and dearest friends have large roles in politics, medicine
and law and business, and I’m talking high powered, high impact people. I am the ‘Dan Humphrey’ in my particular friend group, and I’m totally okay with that. My friends helped me level up, and I’ve chosen them so intentionally now; they are my ride or dies. It’s not their titles, it’s their drive. It’s the way that they show up, it’s the way that they live in their own values, and it is the way that they challenge me to make sure that I’m staying true to my own values and being the best person that I can be.”
Patterson invites any and all students to connect with her on LinkedIn.
COURTESY/KATIE PATTERSON
auditorium
Patterson’s presentation was a part of the Hearst Lecture Series, which has hosted speakers such as UNI Alum Isaac Campbell.
CAMPUS LIFE
UNI Alum seizes unique opportunity
Laney Kraus-Taddeo proves a go-getter attitude gets you far post graduation
JENNA WESTENDORF Campus Life Editor
Laney Kraus-Taddeo is a 2019 UNI graduate and a strong example of what UNI students have achieved following graduation.
Shortly after graduating, Kraus-Taddeo began her work for former Vice President Kamala Harris. She worked with Harris in several roles, including associate producer for her 2019 campaign and a producer on both the 2020 Biden-Harris campaign and senior producer on the 2024 Harris-Walz campaign. Additionally, she worked on the Presidential Inaugural Committee following Biden’s win in 2020 and worked to build the DNC’s GIPHY page, many of which have over four billion views now.
Kraus-Taddeo graduated from UNI with a degree in digital media production and strongly believes that UNI was the key to her success. “I was able to set a really good work ethic early on my freshman year, and learned through the media department, with Joe Marchesani, who I worked for at the time, how to log footage from the UNI volleyball team,” states Kraus-Taddeo.
She goes on to talk about how working in the
After graduating from UNI with a degree in digital media production, Kraus-Taddeo went on to work for the Harris campaign before starting her own company Act Write Here. Kraus-Taddeo strongly believes that UNI was the key to her success. able to do post-graduation.
reer,” Kraus-Taddeo adds. In her time at UNI, Kraus-Taddeo built several strong relationships with her professors, many of whom she still talks to today. “I have a rolodex of relation -
media department allowed her to gain stamina in the logging and editing she did that she now uses every day working in her various roles including politics, the music industry and making social video content for artists like JLO, the Jonas Brothers and Katy Perry. “I was able to do a lot of the work I learned in school in my ca -
ships with my professors. I still talk to them now. Professor Phil Hopper, professor Chris Martin, professor David O’Shields, professor Eric Braley, just so many of them have been so influential still.” she emphasizes. She goes on to say how they continue to cheer her on and she gets to update them on all the things she has been
Following her time working for the Harris campaign, Kraus-Taddeo joined the entrepreneurial industry, starting her own company Act Write Here. “It’s a company that will connect actors with writers for virtual table reads,” states Kraus-Taddeo. She goes on to talk about how it is a way for writers to hear works performed, exercise their creative muscle and connect actors who aren’t part of the main media markets in places like LA, New York or Chicago. Kraus-Taddeo hopes that her new business will have an impact on art, creating the space which allows writers and storytellers to have a place to develop their work safely and collaboratively.
Outside of her work for her company, Kraus-Taddeo works on a variety of freelance projects. Her freelance work has allowed her to experience some incredible opportunities and travel all over the world.
“A lot of the freelance work [comes] from communities and members that I’ve met along my way in politics, along my way in the creative space, [and] have been able to springboard me into some really incredible opportunities,” she states.
is a prime
example of what it means to have a go-getter attitude after graduation. “So many of these opportunities were self-made,” Kraus-Taddeo states. “I didn’t apply in a job listing for anything in politics. I sent an email and I was like “Hey, I saw some of your organizers at an event, and I made a video, and you should hire me.”
While Kraus-Taddeo has held a variety of positions, each one of her roles, both in college and after graduating, has allowed her to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to continue to see success.
Kraus-Taddeo
COURTESY/LANEY KRAUS-TADDEO Kraus-Taddeo held a number of roles during her time in the Harris campaign, starting as an associate producer and working her way up to senior producer.
COURTESY/LANEY KRAUS-TADDEO
“So many of these opportunities were self-made,” stated Kraus-Taddeo. She never applied for a job listing in politics, instead her continued success is a result of her go-getter attitude.
CAMPUS LIFE
“The Wild Robot” Review: exploring humanity without humans
JOSUE VILLATORO Staff Writer
Dreamworks may now be at the forefront of animation in the Western region. Though their two proceeding films, “Kung Fu Panda 4” and “Ruby Gilman, Teenage Kraken,” were considered decent in terms of quality by various moviegoers, they still have done their best at their attempts in giving audiences a film to be pleased by, whether you are looking for entertainment value or you're studying the art form of filmmaking. “The Wild Robot” follows an intelligent robot named Roz who, after being shipwrecked in a freak storm, must survive the harsh environment of an undisclosed island. Roz then finds a bond with the island's animals, cares for an orphaned baby goose and ventures into what purpose means.
Director Chris Sanders is a legend amongst the animation field, with his story credits on films such as the original “Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and even writing the story for the Disney’s Mulan film. Backing his resume is his director credits under films such as “Lilo & Stitch” and the first “How to Train Your Dragon,” it sparked much anticipation for what was to come out of it as a result. This is by far the best animated film of last year and another success under Dreamworks’ belt.
Bringing back the watercolor painterly style reminiscent of “Puss in Boots: The
Last Wish” and anime feeling of The Bad Guys, the animation is utterly gorgeous and some of the most beautiful depictions of the heart of nature and feeling of the wilderness. From animation style to tone, it is the closest Dreamworks has ever gotten to capturing the feeling of Studio Ghibli’s films, paying profound homage to Hayao Miyazaki with its maturity and visuals. Images such as the sky, the leaves and even the water have you gripped to the scenery and perceiving a sense of tranquility as you witness a tale that does not focus on any human interac-
tions. Though it feels a tad cliche in one or two scenes, the story’s emotional weight overrides that issue with the characters’ engagement, which ends up tugging on your heartstrings by the end. Anyone going into this will find themselves in awe of how incrediblely it reaches the hearts of every age and tells such a smart yet effective story about found family while putting a twist on it by utilizing animals over humans. Lupita Nyong’o voices our main protagonist and embarks on a beautiful journey of searching for
meaning while facing the unpredictable challenges of parenting, in taking care of Kit Connor’s orphaned goose Brightbill, who has a beautiful relationship with Nyong’o’s Rozz.
As it progresses on, she begins to silently lose the artificialness within her voice and embraces a parental figure-like demeanor. Pedro Pascal portrays a disgraceful and troublemaking fox who encounters great character development throughout and goes on a similar path to Rozz, being challenged with the concept of purpose. Many other stars such as Bill Nighy,
Mark Hamill and Catherine O’Hara make appearances, and all do extremely well with lending their voices to critters seen throughout.
Kris Bower’s score is uplifting, powerful and one of the best of this year had to offer. It will move you to tears and is some of the best music to be put into an animation feature. In a time where many animated features are given much expectation to live up to the aim Hollywood has been focused on, it is wonderful to see that there are artists out there who care more about the story they are telling than focusing on the agendas and the political atmosphere. It brings back the feeling of classic Dreamworks while embracing the new age of its current practices in terms of crafting a movie for the modern audience.
The film is nearly flawless with what it presents and is one of the best films to be released in 2024. Its message is ironically graceful. It utilizes human ideologies such as kindness, humanity and humility, yet never follows a single human character to beautifully portray why those aspects of the human experience are needed and encouraged. “The Wild Robot” serves as a gleefully constructed allegory to emotion and amity with its fastidious animated visuals, gratifying characters and performances is a film that the whole audience can enjoy, that will leave you feeling warm and enlightened.
COURTESY/IMBD
“The Wild Robot” is a film that the whole audience can enjoy, leaving you feeling warm and enlightened.
Rory MclLory wins the Masters, becomes 6th golfer to complete career Grand Slam
NICOLE WATERS Sports Writer
Rory McIlroy has etched his name into golf history by winning the 2025 Masters Tournament, completing the elusive career Grand Slam. With this victory, he becomes only the sixth golfer to achieve this feat, joining legends such as Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. McIlroy’s major wins include the 2011 U.S. Open, 2012 & 2014 PGA Championships, 2014 Open, and the 2025 Masters.
McIlroy was paired in the final group with Bryson DeChambeau, setting the stage for a heavyweight clash between two of golf’s most powerful players. The pairing drew global attention, as both men entered the final round tied at the top and carrying plenty of momentum. But while DeChambeau faltered under the weight of Augusta’s back nine, McIlroy showed nerves of steel when it mat -
tered most. The tournament culminated in a dramatic playoff
against Justin Rose. Both players finished regulation play tied at 11-under-par
277. On the first playoff hole, McIlroy secured victory with a birdie, while
Rose settled for par. This triumph marks McIlroy’s first Masters win after 17 attempts. McIlroy’s journey to the green jacket was marked by resilience. Despite a challenging final round, including four double bogeys—a first for a Masters champion—he demonstrated remarkable composure and skill.
The victory was witnessed by a record 12.7 million viewers on championship Sunday on CBS, a 33% growth increase from last year, making it the channel’s highest-ever daily TV viewership for golf. McIlroy’s win also adds to a remarkable period of success for Irish and Northern Irish golfers, marking the 11th major title won by players from the island of Ireland since 2007. With this victory, McIlroy not only secures his place among golf’s elite but also inspires a new generation of golfers worldwide.
UNI softball drops weekend series vs Racers
MICHAEL SPAHN Sports Writer
The Northern Iowa Softball team took one game in a three-game series versus Murray State last weekend. The Panthers took game one of the series on Friday, defeating the Racers 13-5 in five innings. Katelyn Callahan started an eight-run second inning, homering to left field.
Leading 3-0, Drew Hinrichs connected on a bases-clearing double to give the Panthers a 6-0 lead. Later in the inning, Kate Lappe continued the scoring party with a home run to left field, making it 8-0 Panthers. The Racers showed great fight with a five-run fourth inning to cut the lead to 9-5. The Panthers put up a four spot in the bottom of the fifth inning. The run rule came into effect giving them the victory. Anna Wischnowski earned the victory on the mound for the Panthers, pitching four innings and only allowing two earned runs. In game two, the Panthers and Racers combined for 31 runs, the most in UNI softball history. Murray State
pulled away towards the end, winning 16-15. The Racers got a hot start with a three-run home run in the first inning. They went into the top of the third leading 8-1. The Panthers came storming back in the bottom of the third inning. Kylee Sanders hit a threerun home run to cut the lead to four. After a sacri -
fice fly from Callahan, Ella Smithson hit a three-run home run to tie the game at eight runs apiece. After a scoreless inning from the Panther defense, Sanders singled up the middle to give them their first lead at 9-8. An inning later Smithson extended the Panther lead to 10-8 with a solo shot to left field.
The Racers responded with two stellar innings, putting up seven runs to take a 15-10 lead in the seventh. The Panthers never quit. Sanders singled to left field, scoring two runs to cut the lead. Later that inning, Addison McElrath doubled down the right-field line to tie the game at 15-15. In the eighth, the Racers re-took
the lead on an RBI to center field. The Panthers couldn’t bring home the tying run in the bottom half, leading to a 16-15 race victory.
In game three, Murray State defeated UNI 8-6. The Panthers took an early lead in the second inning. Smithson drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the first run. Paige Peterson followed it up with a sacrifice fly to extend the Panther lead to 2-0. Further along in the second inning, Skylar Benesh crushed a three-run home run to make it a 5-0 Panther lead. After the Racers scored two runs in the third inning, Callahan connected on a solo home run, making it 6-2 Panthers. The Racers kept chipping away at the lead making it only 6-5 Panthers in the sixth inning. In the seventh inning, the Racers gained the lead at 8-6, which would end up being the final. The Panthers fell to 23-12 on the season with a conference record of 11-5. The team is back in action at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16 versus Drake at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex.
MclLory is filled with emotion after sinking the winning putt.
COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS
The Panthers will host the Drake Bulldogs on April 15-16 for a two game series.
Luka Dončić did exactly what we thought he would
CARTER LUST Sports Writer
Over two months removed from what is now considered the most stunning trade in NBA history, Luka Dončić has acclimated to the bright lights of Los Angeles while donning the purple and gold. After a shaky adjustment period, Dončić is averaging a remarkable 27.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.6 assists in his 27 appearances as a Laker. Not bad for a guy traded for being “out of shape” and “lazy.”
On Wednesday, April 11, Dončić returned to his old stomping grounds in a matchup that captivated the basketball world. Since Dončić departed from the Lone Star State, NBA enthusiasts have eagerly awaited the clash at American Airlines Center between the Lakers and Dončić’s former team, the Dallas Mavericks. As ESPN started its broadcast, viewers could feel animosity between Dallas fans and Mavs general manager Nico Harrison through their television screens. Emmitic tensions bounced like a ball on the hardwood as “Fire Nico” cries echoed throughout the arena, a common occurrence since Harrison traded Dončić in February. Today, Mavericks supporters weren’t cheering for Dallas; they were cheering for Luka Dončić.
And then, the tribute video played.
Dončić, now sitting on the Dallas opposing team’s bench for the first time in his career, looked up at the jumbotron to see the highlight video from his time
as a Maverick. Countless memories, performances and antics flashed across the screen, making Dončić emotional. The crowd applauded as Dončić’s game winners, mind-boggling passes and jaw-dropping step-backs reminded them of what could have been. The cheers only got louder when water welled in Dončić’s eyes, threatening to overflow with each passing second. Dončić buried his head in his towel, wiping away tears and perhaps memories along with them. As the video concluded, “Hvala za vse, Luka!” filled the jumbotron, an ode to Dončić’s Slovenian heritage, and a way of saying, “Thanks for everything, Luka.”
“LUKA!LUKA! LUKA!” chants rained from the rafters as Dončić gingerly stood up from the bench as the announcer called his name over the loudspeaker. Walking down the handshake line, Dončić embraced multiple Laker teammates before taking the pregame huddle.
Now, it was game time.
From the jump, it was clear Dončić was on a mission. He easily got to his spots, making fadeaway jumpers in front of the nail look effortless and off-thedribble threes appear natural.
With five minutes remaining in the first quarter, Dončić brought the ball up after a Maverick
missed shot. Just after crossing halfcourt, Lakers forward Rui Hachimura set an on-ball screen for Dončić near the center-court logo. Dončić used the screen to get Hachimura’s defender, Anthony Davis, to switch his defensive assignment and now guard the Slovenian. Dončić now had Davis, the key player Harrison traded him for, on an island at the top of the key. With the ball in his left hand, Dončić went to his patented move: a between-the-legs dribble into a stepback. Although Davis stands at 6’10” with a 7’6” wingspan, Dončić created enough separation to let his shot fly over Davis’ outstretched arm.
The 24-foot triple didn’t
even touch the rim.
Dončić’s swish brought him to 9 early points in the contest, before another longrange shot lifted him to 12 at the end of the first quarter. Similar Dončić dominance continued in the second, the highlight moment being when Lebron James zipped a pass from the left wing to Hachimura in the right corner, forcing Dallas into defensive rotation. The Lakers were now in “blender,” an action where the offense looks to take advantage of the rotating defense to find the open player. Dončić’s defender went to close out Hachimura, meaning Dončić was left alone on the right wing. Hachimura swung the ball to Dončić, who let the triple fly, connecting on nothing but net again. Dončić stood at the 3-point line after the ball hit the ground, holding his follow-through in the air for just a moment longer than usual, as if to let the Mavericks know:
“You messed up.”
Dončić ended the contest with 45 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals. He shot 16-28 from the floor, including 6-9 from behind the arc. He also amassed a staggering +26 box +/- score in Los Angeles’ 112-97 win to cap off his legendary performance. With the NBA playoffs starting on April 19, the Lakers look to compete for a championship amid a loaded Western Conference and a tandem of title favorites out east, and Dončić may be the key to getting them there.
UNI women’s tennis bests in-state-rival Drake
ADAM JOHNSON Sports Writer
On Saturday, April 12, the UNI women’s tennis team played host to Drake. UNI came into the dual match with an overall record of 5-12 and 2-3 in conference play, while Drake came into it with an overall record of 4-13 and 1-4 in conference play. In what was a close battle, the Panthers came away with the 4-3 victory.
COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS
The match started with doubles competition, and UNI’s Darta Dalecka and Lorena Cardoso went up against Elizabete Klavinska and Jess Caldicott of Drake. It was a dominant performance by Dalecka and Cardoso, as they took the 6-2 victory. The next match was closer. UNI’s Kim Zizek and Andjela Raznatovic went up against Jessica Popiol and Shiori Takeda. They got the 6-4 victory, helping the Panthers get a 1-0 over -
all lead. The last doubles match had no bearing on the team totals, but Drake’s Jana Ruzic and Nicole Lee defeated Lasya Mylavarapu and Abbie Peterson.
Following the three doubles matches were the singles matches. To start the singles matches, Drake’s Popiol got the 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Dalecka. Cardoso followed up Dalecka’s loss by giving the Panthers their first win of the day in singles. She defeated Klavinska 7-5, 6-7, 6-2. Zizek did not have as much success in her match, losing in straight sets to Takeda. Raznatovic dropped the first set of her match against Ruzic, but won the next two to secure the victory. The fifth match was won by Drake’s Caldicott when Kanyanut
Sudsaard was unable to finish the match.
The way things shook out, the teams were tied 3-3 going into the final singles match of the day. The matchup featured Peterson of UNI going up against Lee. Peterson won the first set 6-2, but followed that up with a 3-6 loss in the second set. Peterson came through for the Panthers with a 6-4 victory in the final set, winning her match and helping the Panthers secure the 4-3 victory.
The Panthers victory moved their record to 6-13 overall and 3-3 in conference play. The Panthers will be back at it on Friday, April 18, when they host conference opponent Murray State.
COURTESY/ABC NEWS
Luka will try to the lead the Lakers to their 18th championship this postseason.
The Panthers are next in action this Friday vs Murray State.
Third time’s the charm: Hannah Graves’ journey to UNI and D1 Golf
Graves has finally found a home with the Panthers after a long recruitment journey.
AURORA STEPLETON Guest Writer
UNI was not Hannah Graves’ first choice. It was her third commitment overall. She committed to two previous colleges before finally deciding on UNI. In fact, it was only two weeks prior to the start of this school year that she reached out to UNI women’s golf head coach John Bermel.
Graves first committed to a junior college in Missouri, and when the coach left for an opportunity in Georgia, she decided to leave as well. She later committed to Western Illinois University, but when that coach retired, she decided to contact Northern Iowa.
“This has ultimately been my top choice,” Graves said about her decision to come to UNI. “It almost brings me to tears of how I got here.
I’m very lucky to be here.”
Her final destination to play D1 golf at UNI did not start there, it started years before, when she was a freshman in high school. The first reason she joined the team was because her mom was the coach, and the second reason was because she “can just whack the ball around.”
But those two reasons would not have gotten her here alone. By her junior year of state golf, a coach approached her parents, and after that she realized for the first time she could have
a future in golf. “My love for the game just kind of kept going and became more than just whacking the ball around.”
She decided to focus solely on golf, even giving up softball after playing the sport throughout her life.
Her sacrifices are eclipsed by those of her parents, who have put her golf career ahead of everything else. “They drop everything for me,” she said, “They just constantly push me to be the best person I can be, and I appreciate it more than anything.” While her parents live just over the border in Illinois, about a twohour drive, it’s still hard for Graves to be away from her family.
A recent hospital visit showed how much their support mattered when they weren’t able to be there with her. She said it was an eye-opener that she’s still not okay to live on her own. It made her realize just how lucky she was that her parents can be there for her most of the time.
Her parents have been her supporters for years, but Graves’ transition to playing in college came with a new added family: her team. “It was an automatic welcome,” she said, “they made you your family right away.”
She’s only a first-year student, and she decided to redshirt this season to
extend her eligibility another year. She’s close with her teammates and only speaks the highest of the women who start before her. “I think it was honestly a really good decision... our team is stacked, so we’re good.”
Graves also says her teammates are good competition. “I give all credits to my teammates. I always have somebody behind me who is pushing me to be better.”
It’s not just the teammates who push her, but her own determination is what leads her to improve. She’s on the
course after classes between three to five hours per day, and she says the nicer weather means that time will start to increase to about seven hours per day of practice time. While this time might seem excessive to non-athletes, she has big plans for her future both at UNI and beyond.
“I would like to start next year. That is a huge goal of mine,” Graves says, “It’s a pretty big goal, but I would like to be in the top 10 at tournaments and kind of get my name out there, I mean
the ultimate goal is to go pro.”
While this is no small feat, Graves is ready to “put my foot on the gas, and put my nose on the grindstone” and make her dream a reality. Her many hours on the course might be what leads to her future beyond UNI, but she will never forget what led her here and the opportunities she had to take on the challenge. While it took her a while to get here she says, “ultimately I think this was God saying you’re meant to be here.”
COURTESY/AURORA STEPLETON Graves, who is using a redshirt this season, will still have four years of eligibility left.
CLASSIFIEDS CROSSWORD
SUDOKU
Across
1) Lint collector, of sorts 6) Arafat's successor
Roll-call dissent
Greek marketplace of old
Cash, casually
Fertility clinic
17) At times 19) "I'm impressed!"
20) Intimate and comfortable
21) Oxford doctorate, briefly
23) Get together
27) Completely obliterated
29) Depth charge targets
30) Mexico's national flower
31) Cries like a baby
32) Fundamental social standards
33) Genetic "messenger"
36) Part of an archipelago
37) "Animal House" house
38) "That's enough!"
39) Classic introduction?
40) One way to cook eggs
41) Sap-sucker's genus
42) Surfing the Web
44) Whack aftermath
45) Knitter's purchases
46) Slow-moving vehicles
47) Neutral middle vowel
48) Heating chunk
49) "We_ Family"
50) Start of a magician's phrase
57) Long-jawed fish
58) Malfunction, as a computer
59) Bird on the back of a buck
60) Jungle swinger
61) Meddlesome gossip
62) Lagoon's surroundings
Down
1) A Bobbsey twin 2) Reminiscence word 3) "I do," for example 4) Period in history
5) Surgical knives 6) Blow away
7) Unidentified aircraft (Var.) 8) Constricting snake 9) Rhyming boxing champ
10) Mercury's had wings 11) Captain's "Listen up!"
12) Keep one's distance from 13) Sailing vessel 18) Family heads?
22) Air pump letters
23) Chili-powder herb
24) Heavy, plus 25) "Wait just a second!"
26) Long land depression
27) Where to find everyone
28) Emmy winner Perlman
30) "La_ Vita"
32) Affluence 34) Clamor
35) Altar locations 37) Rub out, mob-style 38) San Antonio cager
40) Malleability 41) Large Asian border lake 43) Fresh 44) Potential Mr. Right 45) Deep-six 46) Ado 47) Adventurous story 48) Dermatologist's concern 51) Lode load 52) Not at all ruddy 53) Make a meal of 54) Diva's problem 55) _ at ease 56) Bus. card abbr.
ANSWERS
