The Daily Iowan 04.24.24

The Daily Iowan

SERIES: SPORTS CUT SHORT

Dynamic duo on different paths

After Iowa discontinued men’s tennis, former players sought other opportunities.

Matt McGowan Sports Reporter matt-mcgowan@uiowa.edu

Four years have passed since former University of Iowa athletics director Gary Barta announced that University of Iowa Athletics would cut four varsity sports. The Daily Iowan has spent the past several months tracking down the student-athletes whose NCAA careers were forced to move elsewhere or were stopped altogether. The following story is the third of a four-part series documenting the lives of some of these athletes since that point.

Beneath the beaming sunshine in Orlando, Florida, the Iowa men’s tennis team played out its final match before

the program went dark. Representing the Hawkeyes in the 2021 NCAA Championships that May afternoon were Oliver Okonkwo and Will Davies, the first Iowa doubles pairing to qualify in over three decades. They were also the last. Dashing across the blue-toned, hardcourt surface, the 17th-ranked Okonkwo and Davies battled the third-ranked duo of William Blumberg and Brian Cernoch from North Carolina, falling in straight sets. When the final point was awarded to the Tar Heels, Okonkwo and Davies embraced, savoring the poignant culmination of three years as teammates.

Digging into the weeds of gardening

More Iowa gardeners are prioritizing native plants in their gardens.

80 HOURS | 1C

• See in-depth continual coverage of the Iowa Board of Regents meeting on April 24, at dailyiowan.com.

• Listen to the latest episodes of The Daily Iowan ’s two podcasts, Above the Fold and Press Box Banter, at dailyiowan.com.

TikTok pages have been flooded with short fan videos, or “edits,” of Clark and her fellow teammates, particularly Kate Martin. These edits feature game highlights of Clark or Martin and other clips of the players off the court, many of which come from Kylie Feuerbach’s vlogs on her YouTube channel. The short clips are stitched together with popular songs

“I was gutted,” Okonkwo recalled. “I had a lot of friends watching the match, and a lot reached out to me. I don’t think I responded to anyone for two days. It was an emotional time.”

After taking a photo with their coaches, the pair laid down a uniform at the court’s baseline, marking the final pin in their journey with the Hawkeyes. The English-born players traveled across the Atlantic to play for Iowa. In the coming months, Okonkwo and Davies would hit the road again, embarking on separate paths to different careers.

TENNIS

and quotes from the athletes.

Martin often reposts these videos of her on her own TikTok account and has commented on them in press conferences.

“It’s cool that fans take the time to make those types of videos, and it’s actually been really fun this year being able to see all that because it’s helped us reflect back on the run year we’ve had,” Martin said during a press conference before the team’s Final Four match-up against UConn. “It’s also been able to show us what special friendships we have among this team.”

Although these videos only last around 30 seconds, they require a lot of craft and mastery.

Anna Maass, a 17-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina, has watched Clark and the Iowa wom-

en’s basketball team since Clark’s first year of high school. She said editing her videos can take anywhere from four to five hours. The hardest part is gathering all the game clips, she said, but editing them together is easy — so easy, she said, that she often works on them during class.

“A lot of time goes into it,” Maass said. “I enjoy making edits because I like the process. The players make it very easy to edit.”

Although she’s only been editing women’s basketball videos for about a year, Maass has already accumulated over 25,000 followers on TikTok. Her most-watched Clark edit was posted in De-

DAIRY | 3A

| 2A

Taking the Olympic Trials Spencer Lee hopes to punch his ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics. SPORTS | 1B

Casey Stone | The Daily Iowan

Iowa’s Will Davies hits the ball during a men’s tennis match between Iowa and Minnesota at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex on March 14, 2021. Minnesota defeated Iowa 4-3. In the last season, the team chose to wear shirts without Iowa logos. Okonkwo Davies

to

coach Ross Wilson’s philosophy:

before all else. “We had a brotherhood. Those guys are my closest friends,” Okonkwo said. “It was like a ‘last dance’ kind of thing. We were coming off the best season we ever had … but we’re playing for a school that doesn’t really want us.”

From players to teammates to advocates

Before Barta’s announcement and before the team reached No. 20 nationally in 2019-20, Okonkwo and Davies were two teenagers from England looking to make a name for themselves, hailing from Berkshire and Norwich, respectively. Okonkwo had never been to the U.S., while Davies was only stateside for a tournament in Miami. Both held a racket in their hand before they hit double-digits in age, and their training was paying off. Wilson scouted both players overseas and was complimentary of Davies’ hands and motor.

Likewise, neither player could take their eyes off the allure of Iowa’s campus. Davies and Okonkwo were an instant success, winning five matches and advancing to the finals of the Big Ten Championships that semester. When the calendar flipped to 2019, the tandem went 16-5 and was ranked as high as No. 58 nationally.

“Whenever [Oliver] hit the ball, I would always be able to react and put that nice shot away,” Davies said. “But I just think, more importantly, we had fun together. We were very bubbly characters on the court and liked to pump it up.”

Indeed, Davies’ teachings proved valuable for Okonkwo, but the now24-year-old said he developed much of his discipline from Wilson and the rest of the coaching staff, who wouldn’t tolerate any laziness or selfish play in practice.

“The second day, they were on my ass, saying, ‘We don’t do this, we’re a team here. This is the routine … this is how we hold ourselves accountable,’” Okonkwo said.

For Wilson, the team’s 2020-21 season “wasn’t about winning tennis matches.” With the program’s fate seemingly set in stone, the head coach was focused on ensuring each of his athletes had future plans and assisted in the transfer process.

Davies entered the portal just weeks after Barta’s announcement and signed with the University of San Diego. Okonkwo initially tried to go to Illinois, but “things didn’t work out” between the two parties. By the time October rolled around, he not only didn’t know where he would play next season but if he would be healthy enough to do so.

While playing in a singles tournament earlier that month, Okonkwo felt a surge of pain in his right knee. An MRI scan later revealed cartilage damage and deterioration. After an initial procedure, doctors told him the injured part of his knee would

have to be surgically replaced. He could either choose to undergo the operation then or wait until the summer, extending his recovery time further into the following season.

tionary, returning hundreds of balls during training sessions with Iowa teammate Kareem Allaf.

“We’re never going to be the team that I put together, the guys that I know, got to train, got to be with.”

To Okonkwo, playing on “half a knee” for the spring season wasn’t a difficult decision. His actions didn’t surprise Wilson, either. In his seven years at the helm in Iowa City, the coach built his program on the pillar of selflessness. “[The team] knew it was so important to play for each other … a big thing on our team was that you leave the program better than you found it. I think a lot of people try to say that but I think you see that in the results of our program and guys really did live that,” Wilson said. “If you were sick or hurt but the team needed you to play, it was the mentality that you sucked it up and got it done.”

partment representatives, but the squad didn’t budge in its stance. Donning the Tigerhawk-less uniforms, Davies and Okonkwo sliced their way through the competition, winning their first eight doubles matches and ascending to the No. 2 pair in the country, but the scorching success went cold in Orlando. After the duo and Wilson flew back to Iowa, they rejoined the rest of the team for one final dinner in downtown Iowa City. Once the plates were cleared and players pushed in their chairs to depart, Wilson began to realize that what took years to build was now splintering into pieces.

“That’s when it hit me pretty hard, like, ‘Oh, f***, this is over,’” he said. “We’re never going to be the team that I put together, the guys that I know, got to train, got to be with. That was a tough dinner.”

“We had a brotherhood. Those guys are my closest friends. It was like a ‘last dance’ kind of thing. We were coming off the best season we ever had ... We’re playing for a school that doesn’t really want us.”

Although multiple Hawkeyes entered the portal that season, all but one opted to play out the 2020-21 season. At the squad’s first home match of the spring season on Feb. 21, Iowa ditched its traditional uniforms in favor of red Nike shirts, which they donned the rest of the season.

While the wardrobe swap was simple to accomplish — a player-funded purchase from Dick’s Sporting Goods — the bright shirts were a conspicuous rallying cry against the athletic department’s decision.

“A lot of us were quite offended, to be honest;I was as well,” Okonkwo said. “They didn’t want us to be a part of their athletic department anymore, so why should we wear the [school] colors when we don’t feel supported by the athletic department?” Okonkwo said the team allegedly had civil conversations with athletic de-

Restarting careers hundreds of miles apart

On Jan. 21, 2022, Davies and Okonkwo were in polar opposite situations. Basking in the warm southern California sunshine, Davies earned a singles and doubles triumph in his first matches with San Diego. More than 1,800 miles away, Okonkwo braved the bitter chill of an Iowa winter, rehabbing from surgery and completing his degree. That November, he committed to play at Illinois the next season.

“I didn’t go to all the [women’s matches], because it was tough, that’s what we used to do,” Okonkwo said. “I didn’t go to a lot of sporting events that year, to be honest. It was tough to support.”

Okonkwo’s comeback

trial was far from smooth. Still not as agile as he was that spring, he stood sta-

Yet perhaps the most resonant moment of Okonkwo’s resurgence came in September when he accomplished a goal he’d been working towards since his sophomore year: winning a professional match. The win not only occurred on Illinois’ campus but also in front of Allaf and fellow Hawkeye teammate Nikita Snezhko. “Having my [Iowa teammates] there, it was kind of full circle,” Okonkwo said, adding he will continue playing on the professional circuit this summer. While Okonkwo ushered a resurgence to his tennis playing career, Davies underwent a rotation to a newfound coaching profession. After finishing his lone year out west with a 20-6 singles record, Davies pondered pursuing the pros but decided the endeavor was too expensive.

Instead, Davies had other plans. He described how Wilson inspired him to love collegiate tennis, and so when the time came that he could potentially leave the sport, Davies didn’t feel quite

ready to let go. With Wilson and San Diego head coach Ryan Keckley’s recommendations, Davies landed the job as an assistant coach with Denver in 2022, helping guide the team to a regular-season conference title his first year on the sidelines.

From his mentorship of Okonkwo and his leadership presence back at Iowa, the transition from player to coach was only natural. Wilson explained how in an individual-based sport like tennis, Davies always had an inherent sense of what was best for the group.

“He’s very good at fostering relationships,” Wilson said of Davies. “Recruits and parents that would come in, he’d always be one of the first guys to go up, shake their hand, and talk with them.”

Davies joins Wilson in the assistant coaching ranks, as Wilson landed the position with Notre Dame’s men’s squad in July 2021. Despite the distance, the duo still found their way back to the Hawkeye State; Davies’ fiancee and Wilson’s wife both hail from Iowa, and Okonkwo is still dating the same woman he met on campus. “It’s still a home away from home, and it will always be that for me,” Davies said.

When any of the trio does return to campus, they will most likely encounter students who were never aware the team had existed. Instead, Wilson, Okonkwo, Davies, and the rest of the squad are the physical embodiments of an athletic past that stays strong in the present. “The memories that we created together over the four year: no one can ever take that away from us,” Davies said. “We’re a tight-knit group and hopefully will remain that way for many more years to come.”

Shivansh Ahuja | The Daily Iowan

Iowa’s Will Davies prepares to hit the ball during a men’s tennis match between Iowa and Texas Tech at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Center on Jan. 16, 2020. The Red Raiders defeated the Hawkeyes, 4-3.

Ross Wilson Former Iowa head tennis coach

Oliver Okonkwo Former Iowa men’s tennis player

Jim Dane said his father, John Dane, originally opened Dane’s Dairy using ingredients from the Dane family farm. It offered the community milk, cream, eggs, butter, bread, and cottage cheese, some of which were also used to make the shop’s ice cream.

“Our father felt the increase of transportation costs affecting the direct milk sales and daily commute to the farm was too far, so he built Dane’s Dairy along Highway 1 SW,” Jim Dane said. “Once he opened the store, adding soft serve ice cream to the menu made sense.”

By the late 1960s, the store focused on selling soft serve because competing with the large grocery store

chains became unprofitable for them, Jim Dane said. Luerkens said he worked on the Danes’ farm when he was in college during the early 2000s. He worked as a farmhand and developed a relationship with the family during that time. By 2010, Luerkens said Donna Dane took over Dane’s Dairy after her parents, John and Allie Dane, had both passed away.

Luerkens said the Dane family explored different options when considering new ownership. He said Donna Dane initially considered transitioning ownership to her daughter. However, this was ultimately not possible because she does not live in Iowa City anymore.

Once Donna Dane started looking outside the family, Luerkens recalled a conversation he had with her years ago where he told her he’d be interested if she ever sold

stepping onto the court after being announced before games and starts with a funny moment from a press conference. Viewership of women’s basketball on national broadcast channels also reached record high this past season, with many NCAA tournament games beating out viewership for the men’s tournament.

the company. Donna Dane reached out in the middle of 2023 and they began discussing the potential move.

“The primary workforce at Dane’s are high school kids, and we want to continue that, and so we want to be extremely involved in the community, both from an employee standpoint and a philanthropic standpoint,” Luerkens said. “We want to continue to give to the community and engage with it.”

Ritter also emphasized her interest in Dane’s Dairy and how meaningful it is to her and her family.

“I worked there for many, many years as a teenager and in my first years of college. I was the manager when I came back in the summers,” Ritter said. “My grandparents and my parents knew the Danes growing up being local farmers, and that’s part of the reason I wanted to work there.”

In the beginning, Ritter said Donna Dane wanted her to take over Dane’s Dairy, but Ritter didn’t think it would work because of her job as a school teacher in Iowa City and her husband working in Cedar Rapids.

“At first I was like, no way, I have my job, three kids and I love helping, but there’s no way I could pull that aside and be a full-time business owner,” Ritter said.

However, she also knew she could not let Dane’s Dairy go under, so they jumped in to take ownership.

Ritter also shared the importance of what Dane’s Dairy has been for the community and the backbone that has helped it thrive.

“The fact that Dane’s is from a farmer family and relies so much on the farm community just shows how much it is still needed even amid urbanization,” Ritter said. “Those are its roots, and I want it to stay that way.”

Location of Dane’s Dairy

The popular ice cream shop that has served Iowa City since 1960.

Dane’s Dairy

of her hyping up the Iowa crowd.

“I started to get into Caitlin Clark, I wanted to start making edits of her,” Maass said. “I heard the audio on TikTok, and there’s a lot of cool clips of Caitlin Clark to put into an edit. So I was like, ‘Alright, let’s do this.’”

Despite living in Greenwich, Connecticut, a two-hour drive away from UConn, 14-year-old Parker Lowe has also made several TikTok edits of Clark. She said Clark and UConn star Paige Bueckers are her favorite players, and she likes to show love to both.

“I started watching Iowa women’s basketball at age 10,” Lowe said. “Seeing them play for the first time really was jaw-dropping. Caitlin being that young and still being able to show out as a freshman was amazing.”

Lowe’s favorite edit of Clark she’s made was posted in February 2024 and gained over 65,000 likes and over 500,000 views. Her video features many moments of Clark

“I enjoy making edits because I like the process. The players make it very easy to edit.”

Anna Maass 17-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina

“TikTok overall has so much support for women’s basketball players and posting these edits while having ‘mutuals’ that also edit creates a sense of community,” Lowe said. Students at the University of Iowa have interacted with the women’s basketball edits, too, even though some aren’t

Car Wash

Casey’s

Willow Creek Drive Willow Creek Court

creating their own. UI first-year student Lily Kopp said she has saved a folder on TikTok dedicated only to edits of Clark, and it contains over 150 videos.

“I didn’t really know much about women’s basketball,” Kopp said. “I didn’t watch basketball, period, before I came to the University of Iowa. I like how [the edits] make her seem really powerful, and I like how it’s like drawing attention to women’s basketball.”

UI first-year student Olivia Rogers also said she thinks the attention women’s basketball has recieved on TikTok is beneficial for the sport and will continue to be going forward.

“I love how hyped up it is and how much recognition they’re finally getting,” she said. “It’s what they deserve. Especially being here in Iowa, it’s just really cool to see.”

Maass said she plans to follow Clark’s career in the WNBA and can’t wait to see what she does next. She said a Clark Indiana Fever edit may be on its way as soon as she can get her hands on game clips. “This is not a one-hit wonder,” Maass said. “Caitlin Clark is Caitlin Clark, and she will continue to be Caitlin Clark. I love basketball, and I like watching good basketball. It would be a bad idea if I didn’t follow it, so I’m really looking forward to paying attention to her and the WNBA.”

Sigma Alpha Epsilon returns to UI campus

The fraternity chapter’s re-entry comes after the chapter’s suspension in 2012 because of hazing violations. The fraternity is now focusing on building back leadership.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon returned to the University of Iowa for the spring 2024 semester after being removed from the UI campus in 2018 for hazing violations.

Previously, Sigma Alpha Epsilon was removed from the UI in 2012 for hazing and not following the fraternity’s governing laws. Then, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon was reinstated in 2016 as a colony, which is a probationary body, and once more terminated in 2018 for hazing and alcohol violations.

Previous hazing violations committed by the fraternity were reported in 2008 and 2009. According to the UI’s Division of Student Life website, the earliest time Sigma Alpha Epsilon could be reinstated was December 2022. The new president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Max Beckman, joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon two months before its official introduction this semester.

“Our goals are just raising interest in the fraternity, increasing recruitment numbers, and making a direct impact to campus and local philanthropies,” Beckman said.

Kevin Jimenez, UI student and Sigma Alpha Epsilon vice president, was part of the process of re-establishing the UI fraternity chapter. He reached out to the national board to let it know there was a group of stu-

Former

The UI closed the house in 2012 due to violations.

Riverside Drive

dents interested in the fraternity. “I was part of a big group of friends that always wanted to join a fraternity but never really thought of joining one until we saw the opportunity of starting and bringing one back,” Jimenez said.

Some of the fraternity’s national philanthropic endeavors include the Children’s Miracle Network, Movember, the National Marrow Donor Program, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Beckman said the fraternity’s UI chapter wants to get involved with as many local organizations as possible.

“Our goals are just raising interest in the fraternity, increasing recruitment numbers, and making a direct impact to campus and local philanthropies.”

Max Beckman New president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon

He said the process since its re-entry to the UI campus has involved a lot of collaboration between the Fraternity and Sorority Life Office, their national headquarters, and other Greek institutions on campus. “SAE was reintroduced via the SAE director of Growth Jamil Tharp and others in his department working with the University of Iowa and then eventually advertising to students via social media,” Beckman said.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon is now fully active and participates in recruitment just like every fraternity on campus, Beckman said.

He added that the idea for re-entry was to wait at least four years so anyone who was part of the old chapter had graduated.

Mckenzie Pendry, assistant director for the office of UI Fraternity and Sorority Life, said the fraternity and the university crafted a return agreement for this semester.

“So for about a year, we have been working with their national organization to prepare for their return,” Pendry said.

Pendry said her role was to support the chapter in its return to campus, whereas the national organization took care of the larger details, such as inducting new members into the chapter and following its activity more closely.

Jimenez said the re-entry has gone smoothly and the fraternity has increased its active member numbers immensely since it started.

Beckman said they have gone from zero to 18 members, composed of a mixture of first and second-year students.

Isabella Tisdale | The Daily Iowan

A worker fills up a quart of vanilla ice cream at Dane’s Dairy in Iowa City on April 18. Joshua Luerkens bought Dane’s Dairy in January after 64 years of ownership in the Dane family.

cember 2023, and has amassed over 1.5 million views with nearly 300,000 likes. It features Clark’s signature wave in front of her face and many shots

location of Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Former Sigma Alpha Epsilon Phi Kappa Psi Hancher Commuter Lot

The Iowa GOP is tarnishing K-12 history

Legislators passed a bill that creates a negligent version of history for students.

Evan Weidl Opinions Columnist evan-weidl@uiowa.edu

Knowledge of history is invaluable, and Iowa Republicans are trying to rip it away from students.

The Iowa House and Senate approved a bill, House File 2545, on April 17 that would require new topics in social studies curriculums for K-12 students. The bill, that is now part of a larger bill, is headed to the governor’s office. These topics include a focus on “Western civilization,” and are backed by the Civics Alliance, a national group whose stated mission is to prevent education from being used as “a recruitment tool of the progressive left.”

Upon closer examination, it is clear the result of this bill would be a skewed representation of United States history based on nothing but delusion. Hopefully, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has the sense to veto this bill.

“If you’re in America, you need to know our history and our heritage,” Rep. Skyler Wheeler, R-Hull, a backer of the bill, said as reported in the Des Moines Register. “You need to know Western civilization, you need to know the things laid out in this bill.”

I wholeheartedly agree with Wheeler; people need to know U.S. history and heritage. However, I worry that the history and heritage taught by this proposed curriculum would be a cushy, dishonest, and ignorant perspective, and one that would harm marginalized students.

Don’t take it from me, however — take it from the National Council for Social Studies, which represents over 10,000 U.S. educators and directly opposes the Civics Alliance’s proposed curriculum, which is titled “American Birthright,” and contains concerning statements such as “we love the richness of humanity and we regret every concept, fact, and individual we could not include.”

Don’t let them fool you: The Alliance’s omission of this unnamed content was not by simple circumstance. It was a conscious choice made to push an agenda based on lies. Whether they realize it or not, Iowa lawmakers who work to shield people’s eyes and brains from an honest history of the U.S. and Western civilization are deathly afraid of empathy.

Republican legislators cannot dispute the facts of history. They are afraid that people won’t be blind servants to Uncle Sam if they learn the ugly parts of U.S. history. The only weapon they have left is to manipulate our education of that history until it looks pretty.

“Indoctrination” is perhaps the most widely misunderstood term that pops up everywhere in modern politics. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, to indoctrinate is defined as “to imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle.”

When students are indoctrinated, they are not given the chance to know anything that could sway their beliefs away from the main content they are taught.

Critical thinking requires knowledge of all the available facts and factors of something, and then making a fair judgment. This proposed Western-centric curriculum will not give students this opportunity.

An accurate history of the U.S. involves

teaching things like the deep-rooted systemic racism that still exists and the mountains of evidence that support it, according to the United Nations.

These politicians are afraid that people’s basic empathy will compromise their patriotism, so they try to stop people from learning about our truthful history.

It’s almost hilarious how hypocritical this whole situation is. Refusing to teach accurate history is a practice that conservatives often attribute to nations like North Korea and ideologies like communism, which they constantly decry, according to NBC.

How is this bill any different in nature?

If a similar bill was proposed by China’s government, the outcry from Republicans would be deafening.

Again, I see no empirical dispute from conservatives as to the accuracy of the history that needs to be taught. I only see concerns about what education will mean for patriotic Americans.

If you must neglect history to promote an ideology, you are in the wrong; full stop.

I feel sorry for the Iowa students who are at the mercy of these numbskulls who can’t accept that their glorious homeland is not the beacon of human rights they’ve always thought it was.

Universities must promote better food options

Living on my own and providing for myself has significantly changed my relationship with food.

Kennedy Lein Opinions Columnist kennedy-lein@uiowa.edu

Universities need to do a better job advocating for students to adopt healthy, affordable eating lifestyles.

I always had a healthy relationship with food growing up. I ate when I wanted to and when I was hungry. I was lucky enough to have parents who cooked for me, supplied a pantry full of food, and ultimately taught me how to eat right. When I arrived at college, all of that changed.

Now, I have a strange, distorted relationship with food that I am unsure how to make right again.

Through the lens of my college experience at the University of Iowa, my relationship with food has declined since I started living on my own.

I will often find myself “too busy” to

eat, which sounds crazy on paper but makes sense to me. Doing an assignment, finishing a quiz, or joining a quick Zoom call with a professor are all tasks that seem to outweigh the importance of food. During the school week, sometimes I rarely think about food, let alone have time to eat enough of it.

I vowed never to take part in the “Freshman 15,” which is a concept many are familiar with, where new college students gain 15 pounds during their first year. This concept, as well as my day-today schedule, ultimately changed my entire perspective of what I put into my body, as well as how much.

I do not think there is a problem with gaining weight in any way; every person is beautiful when they are comfortable in their own skin.

For me, I have never been comfortable with who I am because of this underlying fear. I started to wonder if others also feared this as well or if my ideology was disparate.

According to a National Library of Medicine study, found that gaining the Freshman 15 was among the biggest

stressors in some college women’s lives. This fear causes extreme dieting and weight control among college-aged women.

Gaining weight has been my biggest fear since entering college. I know I can make an effort to eat the right food in the right portions and be healthy. However, eating healthy costs significantly more money than options like fast food: something my broke college self doesn’t want to think much about.

If I could buy healthy, organic food at a reasonable price, I would put my diet at a higher priority.

However, because of my insecurities about gaining weight, I continue to ignore my hunger and tell myself I am “too busy” to eat.

In reality, I’m lying: I am not “too busy.” I am scared, and I don’t want others to feel the same way.

Nutrition in Iowa is already an issue, healthy food or not.

According to FeedingAmerica, “In Iowa, 238,290 people are facing hunger — and of them 68,990 are children.” It is time for Iowans to take account of

Iowa’s immigration law

these issues and make more affordable, healthy food options for not just students, but everyone.

The UI has many campus programs that supply healthy food for students at little to no cost. The issue is that most are unfamiliar with these resources. I know I was. One little-known program that is available to all college students is the student garden.

This garden provides food grown without pesticides, herbicides, and artificial fertilizers.

Although they are beneficial and cater to students who are in need of food due to insufficient funds, they do not necessarily focus on nutrition and take into account healthy diets.

These programs must be advertised more to students, so there is a decrease in body image disorders or the fear of gaining weight.

Those who wish to eat healthy, organic food should not be limited because of the high financial burden of college expenses and the lack of knowledge on the resources that are offered.

has negative effects

A new Iowa law signed this session raises concerns about discrimination against its immigrant population.

There has been significant recent controversy and criticism in response to actions taken by the state of Iowa regarding immigration to the U.S.

Iowa is now the second state to push against Biden’s immigration policies by creating its own exclusionary laws to be enforced by the local federal officers. In simple terms, Senate File 2340, criminalizes being in Iowa if a person has been previously deported or denied entry into the country.

The law gives state officials complete power to enforce their own immigration rules, which is considered unconstitutional and allows for unchecked racial profiling and stereotyping. These actions have ignited conflict between Iowa’s government and local immigrant rights advocates over immigration policies, discrimination, and constitutional rights.

Iowa lawmakers should prioritize protecting and supporting its immigrant population instead of promoting discriminatory laws that put vulnerable communities at risk.

The new law targets a minority group that makes up only 5.3 percent of Iowa’s population, according to the American Immigration Council. It’s unclear how state officials would enforce and fund the implementation of the law and it is

expected to encounter legal opposition from civil rights groups, such as the ACLU, who oppose the new bill.

Despite this, concerns about the possibility of racial profiling and the radical breakdown of trust between law enforcement and communities persist, and advocates remain apprehensive about the law’s impact.

As reported by the Des Moines Register ,the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice group said “welcoming immigrants and refugees is the definition of what ‘Iowa Nice’ should be.” The law explicitly contradicts the values of Iowans. The state should rally around and protect a vulnerable group within its midst instead of promoting discriminatory, politicallymotivated laws against immigrants.

According to the American Immigration Council, immigrants in Iowa account

for “4.6 percent of entrepreneurs, 17.8 percent of construction laborers, and 15.4 percent of postsecondary teachers in the state.”

Furthermore, according to Iowa Legal Aid, the state heavily relies upon migrant workers to produce both agricultural turnout and profit.

Instead of creating exclusionary laws, Iowa should focus on implementing policies that promote inclusion, diversity, and equity. The state should work toward creating a welcoming environment for all its residents, regardless of their background, and ensure that everyone has equal access to opportunities and resources.

It’s time for Iowa’s government to listen to the concerns of its residents and take steps to build a fair and just society that values the contributions of all its members, including immigrants and refugees.

COLUMN

Ayrton Breckenridge | The Daily Iowan

The Iowa State Capitol is seen in Des Moines on Jan. 10. A new Iowa bill would require schools to change their history curriculum.

Jordan Coates Opinions Columnist jordan-coates@uiowa.edu

28th UI Powwow showcases culture

The UI Powwow honored tradition, graduates, and the enduring life of Indigenous culture.

Dancers in vibrant regalia, the rhythm of drums, and an enduring sense of tradition filled the University of Iowa’s 28th Annual Powwow, a celebration of Indigenous heritage and achievement held at the Johnson County Fairgrounds.

The event kicked off with the grand entry, a customary opening of a powwow, where dancers entered the arena in a specific order led by Meskwaki veterans carrying the flags of the Meskwaki Nation, the United States, the State of Iowa, and the POW/MIA.

Veterans were honored with a Flag Song as they posted the staffs.

Following the grand entry, student organizers were joined onstage by Vice President for Student Life Sarah Hansen and Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Angie Reams to welcome the crowd packed around the arena.

Singers and drummers from the Meskwaki Nation, Eagle Feather Drum Group, and Big Soldier Creek proceeded with two intertribal songs where everyone, including dancers and visitors, was invited to participate. This was followed by a graduation ceremony in which Adam Potter, a descendant of the Meskwaki Nation and vice president of the UI Native American Council, presented six Indigenous UI fourth-years a beaded graduation cap.

“As you embark on the next phase of your journey, I encourage you to remember your roots, ground yourself in the face of adversity drawing strength from your heritage, and use your voices to share your unique stories,” Potter said, addressing the graduates. “Your experiences matter and your perspectives are invaluable.”

The graduating students were celebrated with an Honor Dance, where they led a procession including the UI Powwow’s head dancers as well as the students’ families. “Honoring individuals who achieve significant milestones has deep roots in Native tradition,” Potter said.

After the graduation ceremony, rounds of dance competitions began, broken into ranks by gender and age. Competitions are another customary element of most powwows, where dancers in full regalia compete in their designated category. Each category of dance, including Traditional, Fancy, Jingle, and Grass, has specific cultural traditions and styles of regalia worn by dancers.

“There are different parts of the regalia that represent different things for different

tribes,” said Vern Jefferson, a member of Meskwaki Nation, men’s traditional dancer, and head dancer for the UI Powwow. Jefferson pointed out meaningful pieces of his own regalia handcrafted by his family members. In an adjacent building at the fairgrounds, a variety of local vendors set up stations offering refreshments along with handcrafted beadwork and art by Indigenous creators. The Stanley Center for Peace and Security and local nonprofit Great Plains Action Society offered informational booths.

Alicia Velasquez, of Apache and Yaqui descent, owns the Iowa City jewelry shop

The House of Dotł’izhi and participated in the powwow as a vendor as well as a planning committee member tasked with vendor organization.

“This is the most vendors we’ve had,” Velasquez said. “I’ve heard stories from back

in the day of so many people and so many vendors at the UI Powwow. So my goal is to bring that energy back because I think this is something we really need here in Iowa City.”

Founded in 1990, the UI Powwow enjoyed early success, initially attracting hundreds of attendees and numerous vendors. After organizational challenges led to sporadic scheduling between 2006 and 2014, the UI Powwow returned in 2015 with renewed support, continuing its celebration of Indigenous culture in Iowa City.

“We started planning nine months ago, working together with the planning committee and the community to put this event on today,” said Jenifer Barajas, this year’s Native American Student Association powwow coordinator. The Native American Student Association spearheaded the UI Powwow’s planning initiative with assistance from UI’s Native American Council. This year’s UI Powwow is only the second

since returning from a COVID-19 hiatus and experienced a remarkably high turnout. Potter emphasized the significance of the event as a cultural celebration for local Indigenous people and a powerful reminder for the community as a whole.

“We are on Native land, so the powwow keeps that reminder that the culture is alive, it’s well, and we’re still here,” Potter said.

Abigail Buffalo, president of the Native American Student Association and a member of the Meskwaki Nation, echoed Potter’s sentiment. She said she is proud of the group’s hard work, which brought the UI Powwow to life and contributed to its high turnout. Buffalo highlighted the event’s unique ability to celebrate Indigenous culture and increase the visibility of Native traditions accross the state.

“We’re really here to show people that Natives are still here and thriving in the state of Iowa,” Buffalo said.

Emma Jane News Reporter daily-iowan@uiowa.edu

John Charlson | The Daily Iowan

A dancer walks into the arena during the the 28th Annual University of Iowa Powwow at the Johnson Country Fairgrounds on April 20.

John Charlson | The Daily Iowan

A dancer performs during the 28th Annual University of Iowa Powwow at the Johnson Country Fairgrounds on April 20. The Native American Student Association hosted the UI Powwow.

John Charlson | The Daily Iowan

Attendees purchase items in the vender section of the University of Iowa Powwow at the Johnson Country Fairgrounds on April 20.

John Charlson | The Daily Iowan

Participants wait for announcements during the 28th Annual University of Iowa Powwow at the Johnson Country Fairgrounds on April 20. The UI Powwow started with a grand entry, a traditional start of a ceremony.

Ayrton Breckenridge | The Daily Iowan (Top) Race gear sits on Bob Cowman’s sport mod during a

The Daily Iowan’s Ayrton Breckenridge directed and

Spencer Lee hopes to punch his ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Wrestling Club member won the Olympic Team Trials at 57 kg on April 20. Under normal circumstances, Lee would have earned Olympian status by winning this weekend’s tournament. But since the U.S. has yet to qualify for the Olympics at 57 kg, Lee will now head to the World Olympic Games Qualifier in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 11 and 12. He must finish in the top three to officially punch his ticket to Paris. To qualify a weight, a country needs one of its wrestlers to either place in the top five at last year’s world championships, place in the top two at one of this year’s four continental tournaments — Pan American, European, Asian, African/Oceania — or place in the top three at next month’s world qualifier in Turkey. Lee said it is “unfortunate” he still needs to qualify his weight, but he is thankful to get another opportunity to compete against some of the best wrestlers in the world.

“I see it as a blessing,” Lee said about having to wrestle in Turkey, per PAPowerWrestle on X, formerly Twitter. “Then I’ll get ready for the Olympics in August after I go win that tournament.”

The five-time All-American received a bye in the first two rounds of the Olympic Team Trials held in State College, Pennsylvania. He defeated Nico Megaludis, 8-0, in the quarterfinals and Zane Richards, 13-6, in the semifinals. This led to a best-of-three final between Lee and former Hawkeye wrestler Thomas Gilman. Gilman, a 2020 Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist, went 107-12 in his four seasons at Iowa before joining the Penn State Wrestling Club. It was highly competitive in the Iowa prac-

injury and remained in the starting spot down the stretch. A transfer from Wisconsin, Hill struggled to adjust to his new role, throwing five touchdowns and eight interceptions and posting a measly quarterback rating of 18.5.

It was announced on April 23 that Hill entered his name in the transfer portal. Hill is the sixth quarterback to transfer from Iowa since the end of the 2021 season, joining Deuce Hogan, Alex Padilla, Carson May, Spencer Petras, and Joe Labas. “Iowa, you have given me one of the best years of my life,” Hill wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “This program has taught me so much about life and given me experiences that will carry on for a lifetime.”

On the flip side, Lainez, Lainez made his collegiate debut during the Citrus Bowl on Jan

Isaac Elzinga Sports Reporter isaac-elzinga@uiowa.edu

The Iowa women’s soccer team had a historic 2023 season, setting a high bar for the future. As the Hawkeyes wrap up their spring schedule, players are focused on developing and getting ready to compete in the new-look Big Ten.

Iowa started its spring schedule with the unique opportunity to play an exhibition match against an NWSL pro team: The Chicago Red Stars. The Hawkeyes then shifted focus to the 2024 Spring Cup, where they played two teams that qualified for the 2023 NCAA Tournament and an SEC foe — Saint Louis, Missouri, and Notre Dame.

Iowa placed fifth in the Spring Cup, losing to Saint Louis, tying with Missouri, and winning 1-0 over Notre Dame.

“I think we played probably the hardest spring [schedule] we’ve had,” Iowa head coach Dave DiIanni said. “We wanted to make sure that we were playing the best teams we could play to put us in a position to be exposed and grow.” DiIanni emphasized development as the central focus this spring because the team was “pretty young last year.” He wants to shore up Iowa’s offensive and scoring output while maintaining its strong defensive and transitional play.

Two young players who stand out to fourth-year forward Delaney Holtey are Sofia Bush and Millie Greer.

“Sofia Bush has done a fantastic job in the midfield,” Holtey said. “She’s a crucial part of this group. She’s so calm and collected on the ball. I think that’s really needed, especially in games when things can get so heated. She’s super creative and a playmaker.”

Holtey said Greer had an excellent rookie campaign in 2023 and has continued to improve her game, becoming a calming presence on the field. Holtey has also seen personal growth in her attacking play. She’s focused on driving the ball forward and creating

Baseball

April 26-28

Three-game series

At Nebraska

Big Ten Plus and Hawkeye Radio Network

Tuesday, April 30

vs. Illinois State 6:05 p.m.

Big Ten Plus and Hawkeye Radio Network

Wednesday, May 1 vs. North Dakota State 6:05 p.m.

Big Ten Plus and Hawkeye Radio Network

Softball

April 26-28

Three-game series vs. Minnesota

Big Ten Plus and Hawkeye Radio Network

Wednesday, May 1 At Northern Iowa 5 p.m.

Track and field

April 25-27

Drake Relays Des Moines, IA

Saturday, April 27

At Desert Heat Classic Tucson, AZ 2 p.m.

COACH OF THE YEAR

After a historic inaugural campaign, the awards continue to pile up for the Iowa women’s wrestling team. Head coach Clarissa Chun was named the USA Women’s Wrestling Coach of the Year on April 20. The announcement was made by the organization during the 2024 Olympic Team Trials in State College, Pennsylvania.

This is Chun’s second Coach of the Year honor, as she won the NCWWC Women’s Wrestling Coach of the Year award on March 9 after leading the Hawkeyes to a national championship. It has been a banner season for Chun and the Iowa women’s wrestling program. The Hawkeyes went a perfect 16-0 in dual matches while claiming the NCWC National Duals title and sweeping the individual and team titles at the NCWWC National Championships. On the individual side, Iowa had six national champions and crowned 12 AllAmericans.

Conversation creates continuity

The Hawkeyes returned nearly eight of their 11 defensive starters because of a shared meal at a downtown Iowa City restaurant.

Some of the best conversations happen at the dinner table. For Iowa football, it was a meal at Pullman Diner in downtown Iowa City that ultimately changed the fate of the defense. Coming off a 10-4 season, the Hawkeyes were expected to have roster turnover on its defense, which ranked in the top five nationally in points allowed and passing yards conceded. Key contributors from that group, such as linebackers Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson, as well as defensive backs Quinn Schulte, Sebastian Castro, and Jermari Harris, each had a decision to make.

Q&A | BRAYDEN BURNETT

All were eligible to leave the program. Higgins, Jackson, and Castro were garnering attention from the NFL. First, though, they wanted to hear each other out.

So, in early January, those with looming choices met up at Pullman Diner and aired out their thoughts.

“It was really unorganized,” Jackson said of the meeting at media availability on April 16. “There was a possibility that we only had a week left together and you’re like, ‘Dang, we could have another year together.’”

Clearly, the conversation sparked consensus, as all five of those players opted for another year of eligibility and are set to command the defense once again when the 2024 season kicks off on Aug. 31.

“We sat down with everybody

on the fence,” Higgins said of the team dinner after Iowa’s spring practice on April 20. “And we just talked about, you know, the advantages and the disadvantages. There’s nothing promised … You got to come out every year, you got to show up … We were never scared of that.” Higgins said it was cool to see that everyone had their own reasons to return or leave. “We’re all in different situations. But it was a good dinner be cause it was just us: no coaches, no media,” he added.

Iowa returned eight of its 11 de fensive starters from last season; defensive linemen Joe Evans and Logan Lee ran out of eligibility while star cornerback Cooper De Jean declared for the NFL Draft. As for everyone else, the oppor tunity to have another year at a place that feels like home is too good to pass up.

ris said of everyone’s decision to return. “We sat down at dinner, talked about it, [and] they made it happen. So I’m glad to be back with them. It’s like home.”

Having all these returners on the defensive side of the ball gives Iowa a good chance for success next season. However, it also means that the younger players on the team will have to sit back another season and gain more knowledge from those seasoned veterans.

“Every young guy [has] at least two to three guys he can look up to,” Higgins said. “Just go across the board. The D-line room: Deontae Craig, [Max] Llewellyn, [Yahya] Black, [Ethan] Hurkett. I mean those are guys who [have] logged a lot of snaps.”

“The DB room is loaded as well. Quinn [Schulte], Castro, [Harris], those guys are dudes who understand the defense. And I’m more than comfortable when a young guy has a question or concern that those are the guys that give them responses,” he added.

Higgins and other veteran defenders are learning just as much as the younger guys as the team’s offense gradually evolves under new coordinator Tim Lester. With constant pre-snap motion, Lester continues to keep the Iowa defense on its toes by throwing a bunch of different looks at them. Many players described it as good preparation for the upcoming season.

“These [are] my guys,” Har-

Distance runner shares top team memories

Mia Boulton Sports Reporter

mia-m-boulton@uiowa.edu

The Hawkeyes hosted two dual meets inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in front of record-breaking crowds. Over 8,000 people attended the Trailblazer Duals on Nov. 12, which is believed to be the world record for a women’s wrestling event.

Nine Hawkeyes qualified for the 2024 Olympic Team Trials over the weekend, with three earning podium finishes — Felicity Taylor placed third at 53 kg, Reese Larramendy was fourth at 68 kg, and Kylie Welker was third at 76 kg. Taylor and Welker made the national team by finishing in the top three. “Being one match away from making my first senior national team made me realize everything I’ve ever dreamed of is within arms reach. Win or lose this sport has my heart,” Larramendy wrote in an Instagram post on April 21.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

The Daily Iowan: What is your favorite thing about track and field? Brayden Burnett: I would say the comradery across different groups. From the throwers to the long-distance guys, the energy in the locker room is just always healthy. We always cheer each other on, and that’s my favorite thing.

Do you prefer training in the morning or at night?

The morning. If I get up at 7 a.m. and get a snack, I can have a really solid workout session and not have to worry about my stomach. That’s when I tend to have the best workouts.

POINT | COUNTERPOINT

Top three in

“Every situation has its challenges, but we’re optimistic he’ll be ready to go, and he should be able to catch up pretty quickly.”

Head football coach Kirk Ferentz said of injured QB Cade McNamara

STAT OF THE WEEK

67.78 meters

Sean Smith’s new personal-best hammer

throw ranks second in Hawkeye history

it with her defense. Olsen, whose 23.3 points per game ranked her third nationally behind only Clark and USC’s JuJu Watkins, has increased her stats substantially in every season during her time with the Wildcats.

I see this continuing in Iowa’s guard-friendly scheme. It’s not just Olsen, though, as Iowa will return two starters from last year’s squad with forward Hannah Stuelke and guard Sydney Affolter, who saw considerable improvements on the

What is your typical practice routine?

If we have practice at 8 a.m. in the morning, I am usually up by 6:45 a.m. or so. I eat two or three eggs or maybe a protein bar before I head to the facility. If I feel tight, I will roll out when I get there.

“It’s honestly kind of scary how many guys we have who can go out there and play right now,” linebacker Kyler Fisher said of the team’s defensive depth. “I think that with the addition of coach Lester and this new offense, you know, they’ve given us a lot of things to kind of reflect on and look at our defense. We made improvements, and I think that we know we’re getting a lot better.”

Who are a few of your training buddies?

If I had to pick one, it would be Will Ryan. We tend to work out together. Even on easy days when he tries to be a lone wolf, I bug him and run with him. We have good chats, and it’s a lot of fun running with him. We are both sophomores and have come a long way together.

Do you have any fond memories of this group?

The team set up a Colorado training trip where we went to train for a week. Everyone gets to

court during their first season playing valuable minutes for the Hawkeyes. Affolter

Gabbie Marshall will be a big blow for the Hawkeyes due to how much they played a part in the program’s identity these past four years. However, fellow guard Kylie Feuerbach proved to be a viable option backing up Martin and Marshall and was one of the more overlooked perimeter defenders for the Hawkeyes during the final stretch of their regular season games. Taylor McCabe fits that gritty, leave-it-all-out-on-the-court mentality that Marshall possessed while also having the ability to pull up from beyond the arc. In addition to all these players who were a part of Iowa’s back-to-back national championship runs, the Hawkeyes are also bringing in four ESPN top-100 players in the 2024 class. Perhaps I’m naive, but the future looks promising for Iowa going forward.

Brayden Burnett

Second-year Cedar Falls, Iowa Business major

know each other. We are all very funny and outgoing people, so we played games and watched movies the whole trip.

If you couldn’t compete ever again, what would you miss most about this sport?

Your training leads up to the races, and the races are where you get to enjoy the distance you’ve made in training. That satisfaction of putting the race together that you’ve carved for yourself is what I would miss the most.

What are you looking forward to most this season?

I think the biggest thing I am looking forward to is contributing to the conference team title. My goal is to get into the top eight and help the team to get in a better position to score well at [the Big Ten Championships].

Fifth in the Big Ten

I’m going to give Iowa women’s basketball a bit of room for growing pains and put the Hawkeyes at fifth place in the Big Ten.

While I think Lisa Bluder’s bunch is capable of finishing higher, especially with the addition of guard Lucy Olsen, the Hawkeye offense has relied on Caitlin Clark for the last four years. Plus, it’s pretty much impossible to replace the leadership of Kate Martin or the defensive prowess of Gabbie Marshall. I don’t think it’s fair to put too high of expectations on the Hawkeyes next season. While Iowa lost three starters — four if you count Molly Davis before her injury — other squads in the conference are bringing back experience and star power.

For Nebraska, who battled with Iowa in the Big Ten title game, more familiar faces remain. Forward Natalie Potts started all 35 games for the Huskers in her first collegiate season and earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Alexis Markowski is another advantage down low for Nebraska. She averaged a career-high 15.7 points and 10.5 rebounds in 2023 and has been on the Naismith Trophy Watch List for the last two years. Ohio State won the Big Ten regular-season title, but its loss to Iowa right before the postseason seemed to cool down the Buckeyes’ hot streak. They lost in the first round of the conference tournament and were booted out by Duke in the round 32.

Regardless of last season’s ending, Ohio State is sure to reload and pose another threat next year. The Buckeyes have already picked up former Oregon point guard Chance Gray from the transfer portal. Gray finished this past season, her second with the Ducks, with 13.9 points per game and added a teamhigh three assists per contest.

Incoming five-star recruit Jaloni Cambridge and four-star prospect Ava Watson will also join the team this summer.

Cooper Worth Sports Reporter

Kenna Roering Sports Editor

Chris Meglio Sports Reporter chris-meglio@uiowa.edu

Fisher

Chun Higgins

Harris Lester

Isabella Tisdale | The Daily Iowan

Iowa defensive back John Nestor signals to Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins during a spring practice at Kinnick Stadium on April 20. The Hawkeyes held a free open practice for fans.

tice room when the pair was in college, and brewed what some might call bad blood. But the two showed nothing but respect for one another before and after their matches on April 20. Lee won the first bout, 6-3, and then pinned Gilman in 5:58 to claim the 57 kg title.

“I told him when we hugged, ‘I always looked up to you,’” Lee said after his second match against Gilman. “We were teammates. Even though he’s a Nittany Lion right now — that’s OK. Hawkeye for life.”

Lee’s journey

Lee will always be remembered as one of the best Iowa grapplers to take the mat, but his path to greatness has been filled with adversity.

He clinched his second NCAA title in 2019, but during the championship bout, he reinjured his right ACL that he’d torn as a senior at Franklin Regional High School in 2017.

PRACTICE from 1B

1. Down multiple scores in the fourth quarter, Lainez relieved Hill and turned heads quickly. Though he only completed two passes, the first-year impressed Hawkeye fans with 51 yards on the ground, finishing as Iowa’s leading rusher that day.

Flash-forward to spring practice, where both players attempted to fine-tune their games ahead of the upcoming season. They each took reps during the scrimmage, but neither Hill nor Lainez had the outings that would solidify their place in the QB2 slot behind McNamara.

Lee decided to opt out of surgery and keep competing.

In the 2021 Big Ten Championship match against Purdue’s Devin Schroder, Lee tore his left ACL. He battled through the pain, earning a 21-5 technical fall to claim his second Big Ten title and Big Ten Wrestler of the Year honor. Lee said there was no hesitation in his decision to continue to wrestle. He cruised through the 2021 NCAA Championships with no healthy ACLs and shut out Arizona State’s Brandon Courtney, 7-0, for his third NCAA title. Then, Lee announced on Jan. 1, 2022, that he would undergo season-ending surgery to repair both knees. After what Lee called a “long and arduous” journey of rehab, he made his 2022-23 debut against Iowa State. Lee went on to win another conference title with hopes of becoming Iowa’s firstever four-time national champion. Those hopes came crashing down when Purdue’s Matt Ramos pulled off one of the biggest upsets in collegiate wrestling history and

Growing up fast

Both quarterbacks looked out of sync, with each frequently missing wide-open receivers. The groans from the Hawkeye faithful were evident, but Lainez redeemed himself with his rushing ability, highlighted by a 10-yard touchdown scramble midway through the scrimmage.

Despite the rough performance from the quarterbacks, one world circled throughout post-practice media availability: improvement.

DEVELOPMENT from 1B

Though Iowa fans have openly voiced their frustrations about the quarterback situation for some time, Hawkeye players and coaches are quick to point out youth as a factor. Hill has roughly a year of starting experience, while Lainez hasn’t played a complete game since his senior year of high school.

Despite the outside frustration from the fanbase, fifth-year Sebastian Castro said both young quarterbacks continue to show growth in practice. Castro was named a first-team All-American by Pro Football

scoring chances in transition, helping the Iowa offense be more dynamic.

After an injury kept her out most of last fall, forward Meike Ingles returned to the field, which has helped the attack develop. DiIanni also pointed to Kenzie Roling, Abby Skiff, and Sonya Mehta as players who have taken a big step forward this spring and are playing with more confidence.

Focus and figures to anchor an Iowa defense that ranked in the top-five in points allowed last season.

“They are young, but they continue to learn every single day,” Castro said. “Marco is much more comfortable, and

Although Lee came up short of his fourth national title, he’s always had bigger goals in mind.

“My career is mainly focused on freestyle — people forget that,” Lee said at Iowa’s annual media day on Oct. 27, 2022. “I’ve even had people ask me, ‘What are you going to do after college?’ To me, it’s like, I can’t even believe you asked me that.”

Lee has not had the opportunity to compete internationally since he won his third age-group world championship in 2016 at 17 years old.

He was supposed to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were pushed back to 2021 because of the pandemic. Lee decided to take that time to pursue alternative rehabs for his knees.

he’s getting used to seeing and reading different coverages.”

With Hill’s departure, Iowa is expected to look for a quarterback in the transfer portal.

Fourth-year center Logan Jones credits Hill’s professionalism as a main factor in his growth during the offseason. After all, the quarterback is simply buying time until McNamara returns, and according to Lester, is running plays designed for McNamara.

“Deacon is taking this like a professional, and he has continued to grow this spring and show a lot of confidence,” Jones said. Jones also respects the mature approach Lainez brings to the game along with his fiery competitiveness.

“Sometimes I forget how young he is, but he is such a competitor and just wants to be out there and compete with his teammates,” Jones said. “He just has a natural leadership ability too, which is pretty cool to see.”

New system, new challenges

Following the dismissal of former offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, Iowa underwent

Defender Miah Schueller stepped up for the team going into her senior season. Schueller said she feels like she’s taken on a leadership role, helping fill the hole left by graduating starters Josie Durr and Samantha Cary.

“I’ve been taking more people under my wing and talking to them a little bit more and walking them through the process,” Schueller said. “I’ve been here for a few years now. I know how the program runs, and I just have a different level of confidence this spring.”

Two newcomers who impress DiIanni are Caleigh Collard and Charlotte Bien. Though Bien had an injury early in the

With the help of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, he’s made his way back to the mat, and soon, the international scene. In April 2023, Lee signed a five-year contract with the club that will take him through the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, per FloWrestling. Lee’s first matches after college came at the 2023 Bill Farrell Open and Senior Nationals, where he won gold at both by going a combined 7-0 and outscoring his opponents 67-7.

For Lee, qualifying for the Paris Olympics would be “really cool.” His mother, Cathy Lee, is from France, was a judo wrestler and alternate for the Olympic Games in 1992. Cathy Lee is also the first person her son ran to after winning the Olympic Trials.

“If it wasn’t for the Iowa Hawkeye program supporting me, I’d probably be retired to be honest with you guys,” Spencer Lee said after advancing to the world qualifier in Turkey. “I’ve had such a tough time staying healthy and trying to compete to the best of my ability. You know, I’m still not healthy. But I’m healthy enough to wrestle hard.”

the tall task of hiring the savior for its doormat offense. The Hawkeyes chose Lester, a former head coach at Western Michigan with additional coaching experience in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers.

It wasn’t the splash hire fans were hoping for, but Lester is gradually introducing his scheme and plans to instill more motion along with the run-pass option, which are both uncharacteristic elements for the Hawkeyes. He said on April 18 that his playbook is only 85 percent installed.

Learning a new offense presents more challenges for a quarterback room that has already struggled to move the football, and the elder Ferentz said the group has experienced its fair share of hardships. “Marco really hasn’t played a lot, and now the new system has made his mind go 100 miles an hour,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “But I think it’s acceptable for a guy who hasn’t played a lot yet.”

year that forced her to have surgery, DiIanni expects she’ll be ready by the fall. DiIanni said Collard has been a bit inconsistent, but that’s to be expected with someone who should still be in high school and is transitioning to college athletics. He said she’s been up to the challenge so far and is adapting well.

“Our team has been really focused this semester,” Holtey said. “Our big thing has just been growth in all areas. We’re trying not to be complacent. We’re defending Big Ten champions, and it’s really important to keep that growth mindset.”

Jones

Castro Ramos K. Ferentz

pinned Lee in 6:59 in the NCAA semifinals. Lee medically forfeited from the medal round and placed sixth at 125 pounds to end his collegiate career.

MAKING THE MAROONS

In her 21st year of coaching and eighth year at Dowling Catholic, Coach Kristin Meyer led the varsity girls basketball team to the state championship. The Dowling Catholic team last made it to the state championship in 2015. In her first year at Dowling, Meyer coached former Iowa women’s basketball star guard Caitlin Clark during her freshman year.

Sahithi Shankaiahgari (Top) out in the locker room at halftime during a game between Dowling and Ames at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines on Feb. 3. The Maroons defeated the Little Cyclones, 73-24. (Middle above) Dowling Catholic Varsity Girls Basketball Head Coach Kristin Meyer stands on the sidelines during the 4A Iowa high school state championship game at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on March 1. (Middle below) Meyer speaks to the team before practicing for the 4A Iowa high school state championship game at the house of Dowling guard and captain Ava Zediker in Urbandale, Iowa, on March 1. “I’ve been very lucky to coach some incredible young women, both talented athletes but just really neat, responsible, respectful young people,” Meyer said. “I’m very lucky to have a tremendous coaching staff that I really enjoy working with and we have a lot of fun together.” (Bottom) Dowling forward Ellie Muller, guards Katelyn Muller, Zediker, and Meyer walk to the press room after the 4A Iowa high school semifinal championship game at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Feb. 29.

Nurturing native greenery

Iowa City’s gardening community is preserving biodiversity one seed at a time by planting native species. Native plants can also improve Iowa’s urban green spaces.

toration projects, which are only sometimes achievable for individuals with limited space.

Beilby is an avid supporter of gardening with native plants. According to him, incorporating native species into both landscaping and gardening can prevent the spread of harmful invasive species.

Invasive plant species, including Yellow Starthistle, Oriental Bittersweet, Dame’s Rocket, and more, have the power to disrupt symbiotic — mutually beneficial — species relationships by proliferating into areas they weren’t meant to access.

Today, however, less than 0.1 percent of those prairies remain. This drastic decrease is unmistakably due to urban and agricultural development, including expansions of roads and the use of herbicides, according to the Iowa Prairie Network.

Fred Meyer, a master gardener and University of Iowa professor, said over the last three decades, more people have shifted from just planting ornamentals for the sake of beauty to planting them with the diversity of species in mind.

“We know there’s a problem, and we want to do something about it,” he said. “[We] are trying to improve our local ecosystems and trying to understand how they function so that their landscapes can contribute to their functioning.”

Meyer, who has been gardening for decades, said working with native plants in his gardens has more benefits because of their developed synergistic interconnections with each other that allow them to thrive in his soil. “Because [these native plants] have been here for thousands of years, they have adapted to our climate,” Meyer said. “They know what pollinators are around and what predators are after them.”

As a result, native plants are easier for Meyer and other Iowa gardeners to maintain.

Additionally, the yield of native plants is drastically

more environmentally beneficial than non-native species. “A non-native that you would get at a local nursery may produce a lot of flowers, but the flowers may not have as much nectar or pollen as its native counterpart would,” Meyer said.

In 2006, Meyer founded Backyard Abundance, an environmental educational nonprofit organization dedicated to educating people in Iowa City about environmentally beneficial landscapes. These landscapes, Meyer says, thrive on native vegetation. These plants play an integral role in our ecosystem as the primary diet of Iowa’s native animals. Without them, wildlife cannot survive. But this domino effect starts small. Meyer recalled a recurring situation many years ago when he found himself amazed by the sheer number of bugs on his car windshield appearing in the morning — so many that they obstructed his view.

However, in recent years, his insect problem has greatly dropped, according to the Iowa Sierra Club. Though once an irritant, the loss of insects underscores their environmental necessity.

“[Insects] provide all these ecological functions. Without them, we eventually will suffer because there won’t be as many birds,” Meyer said. “If there aren’t as many birds, they’re not spreading seeds and they’re not doing their ecosystem functions.”

Cindy Parsons, the co-president of Project Green, a volunteer nonprofit organization in Johnson County, emphasized that more native species must be grown to attract more pollinators.

“If we had all of those [non-native plants], there just wouldn’t be much wildlife variety,” she said.

According to the National Park Service, pollinators can be anything that helps carry pollen from the male part of a flower to the female part of another or the same flower to ensure plant fertilization. This ensures the production of fruits, seeds, and baby plants.

Lucas Beilby, the co-president of a UI gardening club, D.I.R.T, noted the university’s efforts toward prairie res-

Edited by Will Shortz

Because native plants have already adapted to their habitat, they do not need fertilizers or many pesticides, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, some of which contain carcinogens.

Parsons said instead of go ing for the manicured, botani cal garden look, there is a shift to planting that mimics what naturally grows in nature.

“One of the examples is by Iowa Avenue right by Gilbert Street. Tyler Baird, the superintendent of forestry in the Iowa City Parks and Recreation department, experimented with taking out some of the planted non-native species and put in the [natural plantings] of all sorts of native species,” she said.

By studying the roots of our environment, not only can we keep it beautiful, but also help it flourish for many more years to come.

Meyer also mentioned how humans tend to want to grow more of their own food during times of societal disturbance and said this was especially prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“During [the pandemic], people weren’t sure where their food was coming from. People tend to fall back into the landscape,” he said.

According to the Mayo Clinic, gardening increases exercise, reduces stress levels, and increases time spent in nature. This is no surprise, considering that it can feel gratifying to look after, plant, and harvest a garden.

“When we need to relax or rejuvenate, we go to the gardens,” Meyer said. “It’s just instinctual within us. We don’t always consciously know it, but we do feel it subconsciously.”

PHOTO FROM 1A: Ava Neumaier | The Daily Iowan Joe Hermann works at a greenhouse in Biology Building East on April 17. The gardening team grows native plants to help increase the biodiversity in the greenhouse and on campus. Amy Scott | The Daily Iowan Illustrations represent some of Iowa’s native plants. Sourced from iowadnr.gov.

Ava Neumaier | The Daily Iowan

Joe Hermann works at the greenhouse in Biology Building East on April 17. The gardening team works to cultivate native plants and grow greens for the University of Iowa Food Pantry.

Ava Neumaier | The Daily Iowan

Joe Hermann works at the greenhouse in Biology Building East on April 17. The University of Iowa Food Pantry takes in some plants from the greenhouse to help improve food insecurity in Iowa City.

Meyer

THURSDAY APRIL 25

• ELLEN BIRKETT MORRISBEWARE THE TALL GRASS

Donald L. Jordan Award for Literary Excellence winner Ellen Birkett Morris will read from her debut novel “Beware the Tall Grass” at Prairie Lights Bookstore.

7 P.M. | PRAIRIE LIGHTS BOOKSTORE

15 S. DUBUQUE ST.

FRIDAY APRIL 26

• DAVE ZOLLO AND THE BODY ELECTRIC Midwest musician Dave Zollo is joined by rock band The Body Electric for a night of alternative music at The James Theater.

7 P.M. | THE JAMES THEATER

213 N. GILBERT ST.

SATURDAY APRIL 27

• SAINT SILVER W/ ELECTRIC KOOLAID TRIO Saint Silver with The Electric Koolaid Trio and Hard Luck & The Troubles will take the stage at Gabe’s Iowa City for a night of Midwest rock.

8 P.M. | GABE’S IOWA CITY

330 E. WASHINGTON ST.

• BRITTANY BRAVE & FRIENDS COMEDY

Miami’s funniest comedian Brittany Brave hosts a night of fun with guest comedians to celebrate Joystick Comedy Arcade’s final weekend.

9:30 P.M. | JOYSTICK COMEDY ARCADE

13 S. LINN ST.

SUNDAY APRIL 28

• A UTHOR EVENT: JANE SMILEY

Pulitzer-Prize-winning author Jane Smiley presents her newest novel at a free event hosted by the Iowa City Public Library.

2 P.M. | IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY

123 S. LINN ST.

MONDAY APRIL 29

• I OWA NEW PLAY FESTIVAL 2024

Starting on April 29 and running until May 4, the UI’s annual new play festival features four full productions from upand-coming playwrights.

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA THEATRE BUILDING, at 200 N. RIVERSIDE DRIVE

TUESDAY APRIL 30

• ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO

First-wave punk rocker and singersongwriter Alejandro Escovedo will perform at Englert Theatre on his continuing journey to redefine modern rock.

7:30 P.M. | ENGLERT THEATRE

221 E. WASHINGTON ST.

WEDNESDAY

MAY 1

• CURATOR-GUIDED TOUR WITH ERIC ENSLEY AND EMILY MARTIN

Co-curators Eric Ensley and Emily Martin will take art and history enthusiasts on a guided tour of the UI library’s ongoing exhibit “Making the Book, Past and Present.”

Jiayi Liang’s recent work is a culmination of personal experience.

Isabella Nekvinda Arts Reporter

Isabella-nekvinda@uiowa.edu

Content warning note: This article discusses themes of sexual assault.

When her grandfather gifted her an old camera years ago, Jiayi Liang started taking pictures as a way to feel closer to him. After he died, photography became her passion.

Hoping to create a better life for herself, Liang immigrated from China to the U.S. After the move, she struggled with feelings of disconnect given the language barrier. As a form of universal communication, Liang turned to art.

“Sometimes I [struggled] to communicate with my grandparents, but I felt like photography was how I could communicate with them,” she said.

Though Liang originally sought an education in mathematics, she decided to follow through with her passion and pursue an education in photography.

Liang was able to transform an unspeakable feeling into art through symbolic imagery; images of Monarch butterflies displayed hope, while images of Chinese dolls portrayed the fetishization of Asian women. The photographer has never been afraid of breaking barriers when it comes to art — even if it got her in trouble.

For Liang’s Bachelor of Fine Arts exhibition, a series called “Don’t Tell Your Mom,” she explored similar themes of CSA. To do so, Liang showcased nude images of herself to illustrate some of her ideas, which she said stirred controversy in her department.

Liang is currently a Master of Arts candidate at the University of Iowa with a focus on photography. “I feel like art can allow me more ways of expressing my ideas, expressing my experience, and also it is just very cathartic,” Liang said. Her most recent project, “The Long Season,” premiered in Iowa City at Public Space One’s Close House location. In her exhibit, she engages with themes surrounding childhood sexual assault, or CSA — something she personally experienced.

UI professor forms screenwriting major

When Anahita Ghazvinizadeh began working at the UI in 2018, she noticed a clear need for the major.

Sophia Connolly Arts Reporter sophia-connolly@uiowa.edu

When Anahita Ghazvinizadeh began at the University of Iowa as an assistant professor in the Cinematic Arts department in 2018, she was excited by the number of successful alumni and the many opportunities young filmmakers had to succeed.

However, given the UI’s reputable writing program, she was surprised to learn the university did not offer a major specific to screenwriting for its undergraduate students.

The major, which started in 2019, now has over 100 students.

A filmmaker herself, Ghazvinizadeh received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Tehran University of Art in Tehran, Iran, in 2011. Two years later, she completed her master’s at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

After working as a freelance filmmaker for several years, Ghazvinizadeh applied for the teaching position at the UI. When she was hired, she became privy to the screenwriting initiatives across campus but was unaware there was no screenwriting major.

“I did not notice a lack of screenwriting because we already did have screenwriting courses,” she said. “We saw the lack of a major because, obviously, it’s a writing university. There’s all this high demand for screenwriting.”

She brought this to some of her co-workers in the department. Some of them, including professor emeritus Steven Ungar and assistant professor Anna Morrison, expressed a shared interest in building a specific curriculum for students interested in screenwriting as their specialization.

The curriculum they built along included introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses. Ghazvinizadeh also petitioned for the creation of three new screenwriting courses.

The UI’s screenwriting major

“The Long Season” was open for viewing at PS1 from April 11-20. “‘Long Season’ [explores] how my body trauma really impacts me and how it affects my body,” Liang said. “[This project] shows how I can reclaim and control my own body.”

“I got a lot of harmful remarks because I was using my own body,” Liang shared. “I was told I should stop making art and that people were not comfortable to see me work. I had to stop my work until I felt I was ready.”

In Liang’s artist statement, she discusses her difficult past and why she feels it is important to speak about it.

“I confront my bodily trauma head-on, transforming the deadlock of my experiences into a visual narrative,” she said.

is among the only specializations offered across universities in the Midwest.

“I think that makes it a unique program and makes it a perfect place for writers who are very educated with literature and writing in different mediums [to] create different stories,” she said.

The addition of the screenwriting arts major built on the creative writing tradition at the UI. Often, Ghazvinizadeh finds that different types of writing intersect during the screenwriting process.

“Being connected with other forms of writing is really important for writers or at least for writers who want to go out there with a unique vision and just some literary knowledge and skills,” she said. Dean Bakopoulos, a current associate professor and head for screenwriting, said their curriculum helped screenwriting students spend more time to develop work that is needed to get jobs and internships. “I think our majors have a chance to develop as an artist and not just like, ‘OK, I got this project this semester, this project next semester,’ but spend time thinking of what they’re interested in writing and leaving here at least with one script that they’re super proud of,” Bakopoulos said.

One UI student enrolled in the program, Mark Fortunato, felt the screenwriting major was beneficial to his interests.

“I’ve always liked the idea of Hollywood films in general and being able to have my stories seen visually the way I wanted to be seen because in creative writing, people have to imagine what you write,” he said. Editor’s

REVIEW

‘Don’t Forget Me’

Though Maggie Rogers has undeniable potential, this album was not the best use of it.

Singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers released her new album, “Don’t Forget Me,” on April 12. It’s certainly worthwhile, but I walked away mostly unfulfilled.

My feelings about this album are, to say the least, strange. I don’t love this album, but I don’t want to dislike it either. The melodies are soothing, the subject matter and lyrics are very introspective, and the instrumentals fit well under Rogers’ voice.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what the album has, but it could benefit from additions.

Generally, I felt the album was too gentle for its own good. It was frustrating in a way; I would hear melodies that were great and could be catchy, but the mellowness of the music made it hard to fully latch onto.

From the lyrics, it’s easy to tell Rogers is a very mature and wise person. Her perspective is sobering. I learned this entire album was written and recorded in five days. While that is wildly impressive, I think that is obvious upon listening. The music ultimately suffers from it.

The subject matter and lyrics suffer more from the rushed production than anything.

Some of my all-time favorite albums, such as Phoebe Bridgers’ “Punisher” and Bright Eyes’ “I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning” have similar themes and messages as Rogers’ album.

The difference is that those two albums have much more variety in tempo and dynamics. It keeps the listener engaged and helps the music sit with them longer. I felt the repetitiveness of the instrumentation and production was a little disappointing given how clear it is that Rogers is an extremely competent musician. After all, her first claim to fame was impressing Pharrell Williams with her music when she was just a college student.

As I write this, I am struggling to meet my desired word count. While I would normally attribute this to writer’s block, I also think that’s a sign of the error in the music; for better or worse, it doesn’t leave me with much to say or look back at.

All in all, Rogers executed her vision well. I don’t believe this is a bad product, just an incomplete one. Still, I have immense respect for Rogers and look forward to seeing how she continues to craft her sound, and I would love to hear her albums that weren’t written in five days.

Evan Weidl Opinions Columnist evan-weidl@uiowa.edu

Emma Calabro | The Daily Iowan

Jiayi Liang’s solo exhibition, “The Long Season,” is seen at Public Space One in Iowa City on April 18.

UI students create comic magazine

Cease and Desist is the UI’s first comic book-based literary magazine.

Riley Dunn Arts Reporter riley-dunn@uiowa.edu

Starting up a new literary magazine can be a difficult and time-consuming ordeal, filled with many challenges along the way.

It was worth it, however, for the University of Iowa students behind Cease and Desist Comics, the new and only campus magazine focused on comics.

President C.J. Tunink said the magazine, which originally started as a club, was created when he and other members saw the potential for student-created comics in the area. With the success of comic shops in Iowa City like Daydreams Comics, it was clear to them the zine would resonate with a local audience.

Cease and Desist Comics started in the winter of 2023 and has continued to grow ever since.

“We knew that we had a huge writing advantage here. There are a lot of writers and artists that we wanted to seek out and collaborate with,” Tunink said. “So that led us to form our literary magazine, which we are still getting off the ground.”

Club vice president Maggie Militello said creating the magazine brings a new form of writing and artwork to campus, one they felt needed to be added to other literary magazines.

“There’s no other publisher on campus for comics. You have Earthwords, Snapshots, Fools — magazines like that, but nothing really like us,” she said.

While the comic-focused magazine has yet to publish its first issue, the club’s creative teams are currently focused on developing their vision of what a first issue would look like. The staff hopes to release its inaugural issue sometime during the fall 2024 semester.

Both Tunink and Militello said the club accepts just about any art style and works with anyone who want to be published. During meetings, several of the publication’s art editors collaborate with hopeful artists to nail down their particular style.

The publication’s lead art editor Kian Pfannenstiel joined Cease and Desist Comics simply because he liked comic books. However, Pfannenstiel found a sense of community in the club.

“We have a lot of different avenues that people can take to explore their artistic interests and a lot of very different discussions to have,” Pfannenstiel said. “Being the only comic book club on campus, I would hope that it gets some recognition, as comics become a more recognized art form.”

Pfannenstiel’s primary role as the art editor is to organize and recruit other art editors and the editorial department. He is also actively involved in organizing club events and enjoys pitching in whenever needed.

In particular, he enjoys the publication’s weekly book club, which meets on Saturdays in the Main Library.

“We read graphic novels, comic books, things like that,” Pfannenstiel said. “I think we meet more regularly than your typical book club.” Pfannenstiel described comic books as his “favorite form of narrative.” With comics, unlike movies or television shows, he enjoys having the ability to pause and observe the action, focusing on each panel and controlling the pace of the story.

“The writer and artist have a strong control over the narrative flow. They can make your eyes move across the page in different patterns, which is also something a lot of poets have explored by shaping their poems on the page differently,” he said. “This informs how the story is told.”

Blending the mediums of artwork and storyline can also add to the appeal of comics. Seeing emotional and impactful moments on the page instead of only reading about them can create a strong sense of connection within readers.

“If you want to be involved in getting your story published, or your art published, we’ve got you covered, but if you don’t — we still got you covered,” Pfannenstiel said of his club.

Jackson Palmer, who works at Daydreams Comics in downtown Iowa City, has seen several of Cease and Desist Comics’ posters up around town.

While attending the UI in 2020, Palmer was part of a comic club himself, where he and many of the other members got together to read and enjoy comics every week. He has since channeled his passion for comic books into his job at Daydreams, where he both works with customers and restocks new comic books.

“People just talking about art and artists is always a positive,” he said. “And it’s especially cool when they have something to channel that into, like a literary magazine.”

Members are encouraged to simply “jump in” if they have any interest in joining the magazine. The hiring process for editors will occur next fall when Tunink and Militello will determine the new leadership team.

As president, Tunink hopes that his publication will make a positive impact on campus.

“I think there’s a lot we can do with comics, and I don’t think it’s necessarily appreciated — like other mediums are,” Tunink said. “I’d like to see us become a lasting literary magazine on campus.”

Taylor Swift gets more vulnerable than ever

“The Tortured Poets Department” was released on April 19 and covers stories of heartbreak and fame through masterful lyrics.

Sophia Connnolly Arts Reporter sophia-connolly@uiowa.edu

Global popstar Taylor Swift released her 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department” on April 19. Die-hard Swifties have anticipated the album since it was announced at the Grammy Awards in February.

It lived up to the hype.

Not only did Swift release the album like fans expected, she also released a bonus album with fifteen extra songs. She revealed the second album in an Instagram post the night of the release, which shocked fans.

Many have speculated the album is focused on her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn, so fans expected an emotional rollercoaster of an album — and they were right.

Swift yearns to change a man who cannot be changed, and she is forced to leave a relationship with someone she calls the “loss of her life.”

Throughout the songs, you can see her journey through love, before accepting that the relationship is over and mov -

ing on. In “So Long London,” one of my favorite songs on the track list, she finally waves goodbye to her old lover after feeling mentally exhausted.

The album tackles heartbreak, loneliness, and Swift’s emotions in ways fans have never heard before. Her extreme vulnerability in the album led to some great music.

However, the album does feel a little stale. The overall sound is something many Swifties have heard before.

The lyrics remind me of Swift’s previous project “evermore” with a hint of “Midnights” sprinkled in. The backing instrumentals also give “Midnights” vibes.

Despite its redundancies, the album is still enjoyable and fresh.

Truly, the lyrics are the best part of this whole album, bringing fans closer to understanding Swift’s insecurities, hopes, and devastations.

Swift does include some weaker songs on this project that I didn’t enjoy, but overall, the tracks on this album are incredible.

Some of the best and most emotional songs were “But Daddy I Love Him,” “loml” and “The Alchemy.”

Overall, Swift’s album is a lyrical masterpiece, despite some similarities to her past work.

Ayrton Breckenridge | The Daily Iowan

Comic books are seen on display at Daydreams Comics in Iowa City on April 1, 2021.