Panther Portraits 2
New York’s Historical Vote 3
NorthernIowan
the university of northern iowa’s student-produced newspaper since 1892
July 1, 2011
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Volume 107, Issue 58
FRIDAY
Cedar Falls, Iowa
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Two UNI colleges to merge this week wisdom and experience in thinking about the merger issues,” said Haack. “We’ll be working to implement their ideas in the coming year.” Corey Cooling, a sophomore philosophy and physics double major, shared his thoughts on the merger.
By BLAKE FINDLEY Staff Writer
As of Friday, July 1, the University of Northern Iowa’s College of Natural Sciences and College of Humanities and Fine Arts will no longer exist. Instead, UNI will combine the two to form the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences (CHAS). According to a press release, the consolidation was the result of recommendations made by Executive Vice-President and Provost Gloria Gibson. “The time was right to bring these colleges together with the goal of developing new, integrated programs that will serve the needs of our students and the state,” said Gibson. Joel Haack, the dean of both CNS and CHFA during the 2010-2011 academic year, will serve as the dean of CHAS during the 2011-2012 year as well. Haack expressed his support for the merger. “Many universities have a college of arts and sciences, so most faculty members have taught at or been educated at institutions where the humanities, arts and sciences are in a common college,” commented Haack. Haack continued by pointing out that the merger will provide the faculty and students with opportunities that would
“ Courtesy Photo/NI NEWS SERVICE
Left: Executive Vice-President and Provost Gloria Gibson, whose recommendation led to the merging of UNI’s College of Natural Sciences and College of Humanities and Fine Arts into the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences (CHAS). Right: Joel Haack, who will serve as the dean of CHAS during the 2011-2012 year
not be possible otherwise. For example, the shared resources of the combined colleges will do more than either college could accomplish individually. Haack also addressed some potential minor problems that may arise and how they will be solved. “There’s certainly differences in the way things were or are done in the two colleges, but both emphasize the learning of the UNI students and working with them on scholarly activities,” said Haack, drawing on his experiences as dean of both colleges during the past academic
year. He believes there will be no major impediments as long as everyone keeps the goals of the university and college in mind. Haack also commented on some possible problems that could occur at the university level. “We will need a change in mindset regarding the distribution of resources to the colleges,” explained Haack. “In the past, we were able to consider all the colleges as roughly the same size when it came to dividing up resources, providing representation on committees in faculty governance, etc. The new
CHAS will teach over 40 percent of the credit hours at UNI and employ over 40 percent of the faculty members.” However, Haack said these challenges have been able to be addressed as they’ve arisen and has no doubt that they will continue to be resolved in the future. “During the course of the last year and a half, a college merger steering committee, chaired by professors Betty DeBerg and Cliff Chancey, led a colleges-wide series of merging and working groups that have shared their
Truly, there will be little impact directly on student in terms of their present major programs. Those are typically departmentally based, so should continue as before. I do think there will be increased opportunities for interand multi-disciplinary programs and courses. Joel Haack Dean of College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences
“I was kind of disappointed that my two majors used to be from separate colleges, but now are from the same college, though the only real difference is how they’d look on my wall, I guess,” said Cooling, the Noehren Hall senator in the Northern Iowa Student Government. “From what I underSee MERGE, page 4
Updates coming to UNI pedestrian bridge Safety concerns to be addressed
By KARI BRAUMANN Editorial Staff
A frequently used pedestrian bridge crossing Hudson Road on the University of Northern Iowa campus will get a face-lift over the next year. The bridge, which connects the Communication Arts Center and Kamerick
Art Building with the UNIDome and McLeod Center, has been the subject of safety concerns recently. “When we get snow and ice on that surface, it gets very slippery. So we’re looking at what we can put on the surface to address that slipperiness, that’s not going to (come) off the first time we shovel it,” said
Dean Shoars, the director of the UNI Physical Plant. “A few years back, we resurfaced the whole thing and it lasted for a short while, but it’s in need of repair again,” said Morris Mikkelsen, associate vice president of facilities planning. Shoars noted that excessive slipperiness is a prob-
lem even when the bridge is simply wet from rain and his department gets “a fair number of complaints” about the condition of the bridge in inclement weather. He said the university is looking to more proactively address accessibility problems across campus for those with physical disabilities.
“I sit on the coordinating committee for disability accommodations, so everybody helps me get perspective of what the issues are,” Shoars said. “We try to work really hard to get input and (the committee) has been a great organization to channel some input See BRIDGE, page 4
The University of Northern Iowa’s student-produced newspaper since 1892
Features
Friday, July 1, 2011
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Volume 107, Issue 58
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Cedar Falls, Iowa
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PANTHER PORTRAITS: Student Organization Fair More than 2,000 new students are participating in orientation sessions through July 12 at the University of Northern Iowa. Part of this orientation includes a student organization fair, at which new students learn about all the different student organizations on campus and sign up for more information. This particular fair took place on June 20. Left: A new student talks with her parents as she looks at the information for a student organization. Bottom right: Students and their parents mill around the student organization fair, looking at and discussing the different booths. Bottom left: UNI students tell the parents of an incoming students about the Interpreters Theatre and Performance Studies.
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L011 Maucker Union Cedar Falls, IA 50614 www.northern-iowan.org Friday, July 1st, 2011 Volume 107, Issue 58
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The Northern Iowan is published semiweekly on Tuesday and Friday during the academic year; weekly on Friday during the summer session, except for holidays and examination periods, by the University of Northern Iowa, L011 Maucker Union, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0166 under the auspices of the Board of Student Publications. Advertising errors that are the fault of the Northern Iowan will be corrected at no cost to the advertiser only if the Northern Iowan office is notified within seven days of the original publication. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement at any time. The Northern Iowan is funded in part with student activity fees. A copy of the Northern Iowan grievance procedure is available at the Northern Iowan office, located at L011 Maucker Union. All material is copyright © 2011 by the Northern Iowan and may not be used without permission.
The University of Northern Iowa’s student-produced newspaper since 1892
Opinion
Friday, July 1, 2011
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New York’s historical vote
By BRANDON POLL
Managing Editor
A vote heard around the world and across the news media rang proudly last Friday night, June 24 – a simple little vote that held the world upon its shoulders. The New York State Senate voted to legalize same-sex marriage in the state. Marriage equality is a very touchy subject to many people. This couldn’t have been more evident as New York legislators slaved over the wording used to outline marriage equality in their state. Working long hours, they opened up the definition of marriage equality and made it inclusive to all committed couples. The new bill, which I find rather innovative toward all sides, provides for supporters and opponents of marriage equality alike. Protections were put into
place to prevent churches bitably pave the way for the footsteps of New York and religious groups from more states to reconsider and forge similar comprobecoming targets if they their previous rulings on mises involving lawmakers choose to on either side of deny marthe aisle. riage to Personally, same sex this new law p a r t n e r s. really makes me Still, samefeel good about sex partthe country I ners are live in. For too fully able long, laws banunder the ning marriage law, as they equality have should be, forced people to marry who deserve the each other same rights as once the everyone else to bill takes hide their true effect in identities and late July. ambitions. I canF i r s t not fathom the off, I would ideas that were like to say used to create cong ratuthese unjust lations to laws. Courtesy Photo/MCT CAMPUS/Human Rights Campaign New York New York became the sixth state to allow same-sex marriage, joining The last for becom- Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont. time I checked, ing the Iowa is still sixth, and largest, state laws that are downright standing, hasn’t gone to legalize same sex mar- unconstitutional. I hope to hell in a hand basket riage. This step will indu- more states will follow in and manages to produce
Sports
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a healthy crop of corn despite the legalization of same sex marriage. What this boils down to is this: You have every right to maintain your personal beliefs, religious or otherwise. What you do not have the right to do is deny others their own rights because of an outrageous and downright stupid idea that granting those rights will somehow destroy our country. New York set the precedent, along with the other states before it, for what is correct and just in our society. The United States of America is the land of the free. Let’s not undermine that by allowing discriminatory laws to stand.
Share your opinion about New York’s historical vote at www.northerni o w a n . o r g
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Brad’s Sports Blurb
The College World Series just isn’t the same at TD Ameritrade Park By BRAD EILERS Sports Editor
The 2011 men’s College World Series National Championship just got underway Monday night with the University of South Carolina Gamecocks taking the first game in a best-of-three series against the University of Florida Gators. This year’s CWS has been filled with upsets, feelgood stories, heartbreak, thrilling finishes and unbelievable plays. However, it just doesn’t feel the same
at the new $131 million TD Ameritrade Park located in downtown Omaha, Neb. The new 35,000-seat facility is state-of-the-art and was supposed to make the transition from the old Rosenblatt Stadium an easy one for college baseball fans. Rosenblatt, which is located just three miles away on the east end of the city, was home to the CWS for 60 years and to some pretty historic CWS moments. However, in 2008, Omaha mayor Mike See BLURB, page 4
Courtesy Photo/MCT CAMPUS/Gerry Melendez
TD Ameritrade Park (pictured above) replaced Rosenblatt Stadium this year as the home of the men’s College World Series.
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BRIDGE continued from page 1
as far as what (the concerns are).” The resurfacing of the bridge is a temporary step before a planned refurbishing of the structure that will occur next year. Mikkelsen said that project will begin in the spring of 2012, approximately. When the refurbishing is done, the issue of surface traction will be more fully and permanently addressed.
“
That is a very highly utilized access from across Hudson Road. We like that because if you’re on the pedestrian overpass, you’re not exposing yourself to vehicle traffic at the uncontrolled intersection. Dean Shoars Director of the UNI Physical Plant
ority for the university. Mikkelsen said funding for the project “is pretty much in line” despite the university’s tightened budget. In this case, allocations from the Department of Transportation for the university’s institutional roads are available. “(The funds are) not a part of the general fund budget, they’re not anything to do with tuition, they’re nothing to do with our operating budget, so I think we’ll be able to do that work,” Mikkelsen explained. Shoars believes the pedestrian bridge is an important project to take on because of its usefulness to students. “That is a very highly utilized access from across Hudson Road. We like that because if you’re on the pedestrian overpass, you’re not exposing yourself to vehicle traffic at the uncontrolled intersection,” he explained. “It’s very heavily used during the (athletic) events season – football, volleyball, basketball. And that’s a good thing,” Shoars concluded.
Both Mikkelsen and Shoars indicated that the refurbishing of the pedestrian bridge is a top pri-
BLURB continued from page 3
Fahey made a public recommendation for a new downtown stadium and the future demolition of Rosenblatt Stadium. The old 23,000-seat stadium may have been outdated and in need of a makeover, but so are Wrigley Field and Fenway Park and you don’t see the Chicago Cubs or Boston Red Sox preparing to tear down their historic baseball landmarks. While college baseball may not be as popular as other college sports such as football and basketball, be assured that Rosenblatt Stadium was one of the most hallowed stadiums in all of college athletics. I am proud to say that I got to experience the CWS on four separate occasions at Rosenblatt Stadium in my brief 22-year lifetime and it ranks near the top of my list as far as the best sporting events I have ever attended. The tailgating outside Rosenblatt tops any pre-game atmosphere I have ever experienced. There were food and clothing vendors lining the street for blocks, not to mention the thousands of passionate baseball fans that traveled hundreds or
even thousands of miles to support their teams. While I didn’t get a chance to go to Omaha this summer and take in the sights and sounds of the new stadium for myself, I have had a chance to read plenty of articles about it, and most of them have been negative to say the least. One article mentioned how all the street vendors that used to line 13th Street across from Rosenblatt have been replaced at TD Ameritrade Park by corporate tents and large businesses. Another mentioned how the new stadium felt like a Major League ballpark as opposed to Rosenblatt’s perfect college atmosphere. Over time I’m sure that TD Ameritrade Park will grow on me as it will with other college baseball fans. However, I don’t believe I will ever be able to say it has a better atmosphere than what Rosenblatt Stadium had when it hosted the CWS because the CWS at Rosenblatt truly was America’s pastime at its finest.
Corrections
The article “UNI Museum features prehistoric artifacts uncovered in Cedar Falls” on the second page of the June 24, 2011 edition of The Northern Iowan mistakenly reported that the life-size wigwam on display is an artifact from the Office of the State Archaeologist. It is actually a replica, built by UNI Museums and the Hartman Reserve staff. The Northern Iowan regrets this error. The Northern Iowan welcomes all comments, suggestions and complaints about errors that warrant correction. These messages can be emailed to northern-iowan@uni.edu.
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MERGE continued from page 1
stand, it won’t affect the average student directly, but I’m sure the faculty will definitely be affected, and when administrators and other faculty are asked to cover more ground, that could create a trickle-down effect,” Cooling noted. “Until we see a real focus on education in this state, I’m afraid this is only the start of things to come.” Haack also discussed what the merger will mean for students in either college.
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I was kind of disappointed that my two majors used to be from separate colleges, but now are from the same college, though the only real difference is how they’d look on my wall, I guess. Corey Cooling Noehren Hall senator
“Truly, there will be little impact directly on students in terms of their present major programs. Those are typically departmentally based, so should continue as before,” he said. “I do think there will be increased opportunities for inter- and multidisciplinary programs and courses.” A few of the examples cited by Haack include an enhancement of programs and coursework in diversity, sustainability and the first-year experience; a curriculum proposal for an Interactive Digital Studies major; and a course in cosmology, which would be a joint effort of faculty members from the Philosophy, World Religions and Earth Science departments. “I believe UNI will benefit from having a strong College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences,” concluded Haack.
The University of Northern Iowa’s student-produced newspaper since 1892
Friday, July 1, 2011
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Volume 107, Issue 58
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Cedar Falls, Iowa
FOR SALE / FOR RENT
FOR SALE / FOR RENT
3 rooms for rent in residential home, $400/mo - $475/mo each, includes utilities. 1010 College, 319-610-3089. No smoking, no pets.
Brand new 4 BR townhouse apartments. 1 block from campus - 706 W. 26th St. Aug-May lease. 2 bath, 2 stall garage, dishwasher, W/D, free cable and internet. $430 per person/mo. Call Jeanette 319-415-5804.
Large 4 BR. plus extra room facing UNI; Singles welcome. 2 bath, W/D in unit. Cable, internet, garage parking, etc. Leave message: 266- 5544; 273- 6264
1,2,3 or 4 rooms to rent summer/ school year. 319-240-0880
For rent 4-8BR duplex near UNI. June 1st. 319-240-0880
1008 Lilac Lane. 4 BR., 1 bath. 2 stall garage. All appliances including W/D. Behind College SQ. Hy-Vee. Owner Sarah Winberg. 319- 231- 6862
FOR SALE / FOR RENT
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HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
We are looking for an energetic and loving Nanny/Au Pair for our two boys. The older one is three and goes to pre-school and the younger one is eight months. Salary will be $700 per week. Contact anderson_1529@yahoo.com
Help wanted. Tony’s Pizzaria downtown Main Street. Hiring servers, cooks, and drivers. Go to www.277tony.com. Fill out application and mention the Northern Iowan Live in help needed at local funeral home. Benefits are free rent, utilities, laundry facilities, free cable TV/internet. Weekly paycheck. 266-7525