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Northern Iowan t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f n o r t h e r n i o wa’s s t u d e n t - p r o d u c e d n e w s p a p e r s i n c e 1 8 9 2

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

FRIDAY

VOLUME 109, ISSUE 8

CEDAR FALLS, IOWA

BOARD OF REGENTS

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NORTHERN-IOWAN.ORG

ATHLETICS

UNI may need to return PFG athletic donation BRAD EILERS

Sports Editor

CAMPUS PROTESTS

‘Brother Jed’ visits campus, stirs debate and counterprotest The self-proclaimed “extremist” evangelical preacher and his wife, Sister Cindy, had some choice words for UNI students. < See PAGE 4

COLBY CAMPBELL/Northern Iowan

Frank Thompson, professor of finance at the University of Northern Iowa, speaks about the qualities and characteristics the next president at UNI should have at the open forum held by the Iowa Board of Regents.

SPORTS

UNI football could move up to FBS Troy Dannen, director of athletics, explains the possibilities and ramifications of Panther football leaving the MVFC. < See PAGE 6 CEDAR VALLEY

Local ‘derby babes’ get physical The Push-up Brawlers live ordinary lives by day, but transform into rough and rowdy roller derby queens by night. < See PAGE 4

OPINION

Some are not all In light of the anti-American protests in the Middle East, columnist Smith urges understanding and levelheadedness on all sides. < See PAGE 3

Judgments vs. principles A UNI student responds to David Pope’s recent column, “Open your mind – and spread your legs.” < See PAGE 3

INDEX I SPY AT UNI......................2 OPINION............................3 CAMPUS LIFE....................4 SPORTS.............................6 CLASSIFIEDS.....................7

Forum held to seek input on search for new UNI president KAYLA VENUTO Staff Writer

University of Northern Iowa faculty, staff, students and community members gave input on what they would like to see in the next UNI president at an open forum hosted by the Iowa Board of Regents on Sept. 17. “The future president must see the liberal arts (core) as a hallmark of UNI’s vision,” said Deirdre Bucher Heistad, liberal arts core director. Several others discussed the importance of the LAC within the university, saying it must be strengthened because it is a foundation for all future learning. Joe Gorton, associate professor of criminology, and several other professors said the new president should have strong, proven leadership skills and a

commitment to progressive action. “The university must be faculty centered, not bureaucracy centered,” Gorton said. Junior electronic media major Dylan Hall said he thinks of UNI as a family, so the president “should be the parent of a family, not an assembly line.” In light of last year’s budget cuts, senior Spanish and French double major Kyle Woollums said, “I would like to be able to recommend the University of Northern Iowa to my future students, but at this point, I feel like I can’t.” The members of the presidential search and screen committee present at the forum said they would work hard in finding the university’s new president and take all of the comments at the forum into consideration.

In 2009, Russell Wasendorf Sr. (owner of Peregrine Financial Group Inc., also known as PFG or PFGBest) and his wife Connie pledged to give the University of Northern Iowa athletic department a $2 million unrestricted donation, the largest unrestricted donation ever given to the university at that time. “I am simply paying back, with interest, the financial aid I received while attending UNI. I feel without that financial aid I would not have received a quality college education,” Wasendorf, a 1970 alumnus, said in a press release. However, Wasendorf was charged with federal embezzlement in July, raising questions about whether UNI will have to give the money back. “(Wasendorf) gave a $2 million gift that was going to be paid in installments over four years,” said UNI director of athletics Troy Dannen. “Obviously we hadn’t gotten through four years, so he hadn’t paid all the installments. “He was current on his payments. Any money that he has donated has been frozen right now at the foundation in case it is recalled,” said Dannen. According to Dannen, Wasendorf ’s donation didn’t comprise any of UNI’s athletic budget. “(The funds) were set up in the foundation as a quasi-endowment… It was there as an emergency account,” said Dannen. Wasendorf ’s donation would have likely been used to help reduce cuts, or phase in cuts over time instead of making them immediately. Dannen also said that the money could have been used to help front future projects if other donations were not < See DONATION, page 7

HEALTH INSURANCE

Proposed mandatory insurance policy sparks petition JONATHAN HAUSLER Staff Writer

A proposed mandatory health insurance policy for international students at the University of Northern Iowa has some students expressing concern. “Prior to this year, I paid roughly $400 per year for coverage, but with this new policy, I am now forced to pay $1,250 per year,” said Ajay Abraham, a junior accounting and criminology double major. “We have no issue with having insurance coverage, but we want the option to choose the type and amount

of coverage we have.” Under this requirement, international students would have to enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), which is an Alliance Select Plan available to any student enrolled at UNI. SHIP provides health care from a variety of “health care practitioners, suppliers, agencies, programs and facilities called Select Providers (who joined with) Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa to offer each student affordable health care,” according to the plan. It is “designed to < See INSURANCE, page 2

BRANDON BAKER/Northern Iowan Archives

International students at the University of Northern Iowa were told in April they must enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan, a plan which works in conjunction with the Student Health Services.


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