Longtime and brand-new visitors attended the bar’s 50th anniversary show.
Madison Schuler News Reporter news@dailyiowan.com
Riley Dunn Digital Editor riley.dunn@dailyiowan.com
Vibrant music reverberated down the rickety flight of stairs, drowning out the buzz of conversation as five local bands took the stage at Gabe’s. Musiclovers packed together near the foot of the stage, swaying and dancing to each guitar riff and vocal performance.
Dimmed lights and the smell of cigarette smoke filled the venue as concertgoers gathered to celebrate 50 years of history in one of Iowa’s most acclaimed dive bars. From the unspeakable things happening in the closet-sized bathroom
to the decades of rich performances the stage has seen, the music venue has cemented itself as a local staple.
Since it opened in 1974 as Gabe’s and Walker’s, the music venue has hosted a variety of artists. It has also undergone several major shifts, including different owners and multiple name changes.
Pete McCarthy, the bar’s gene ral manager and booking agent, shared that despite the different iterations Gabe’s has gone through, the music venue has never diverged from its original purpose: connecting the community through live music.
Being a part of Gabe’s for 12 years, McCarthy said the previous owner approached him and Scott Kading, the current owner, to see if the two would take over Gabe’s and revive the music venue in 2012.
“It was really bad,” McCarthy said. “It was in bad shape. They weren’t doing any shows. It was really run-down. The owners really just kind of let it go.”
McCarthy said the new owners and management quickly got to work, turning Gabe’s back into a vibrant space to host shows for the community.
McCarthy said over the years, Gabe’s has diversified the music scene in Iowa City from when it first opened.
“Our music is all over the board. I think Gabe’s used to play a lot of the heavier hard rock…but there’ll be weeks where we do DJs, and we’ll have a heavy metal show, and we’ll have an indie rock show,” McCarthy said. “I think that we’ve really diversified it and really GABE’S | 2A
have turned it into a very welcoming place.”
Gabe’s allows artists, bands, and music lovers to come together and support the local music scene, McCarthy said. The venue also hosts open jam sessions to help inspire new artists while giving them a space to play and feel welcomed.
McCarthy said one of his favorite parts of being involved at Gabe’s is seeing small artists blow up after performing at the venue, including Chance the Rapper, Killer Mike, and Run The Jewels. His other favorite part is being able to create memorable shows for attendees.
“It’s not just a bar — it’s a special place for a lot of people,” McCarthy said.
One such band lucky enough to get their start at Gabe’s is Fishbait. First performing in 2020, Fishbait celebrated their birthday this September as well, just in time to commemorate the achievement at Gabe’s.
“We owe a lot to Gabe’s,” band member Nathan Ward said. “That first step on stage always feels like this is what I was meant to do, you know? Last night it felt like coming home.”
Charles Cranston, an avid concertgoer, has been visiting Gabe’s for over 10 years. He said seeing familiar faces and friends, along with artists, in such an intimate and inclusive atmosphere is what keeps him coming back.
“[Gabe’s] is not just like a place that hosts music. It’s a place where artists get together and then they end up collaborating together, setting up new projects together,” Cranston said.
Reid Fontenoy, a second-year student at the University of Iowa, said he began going to Gabe’s around a year ago. He has continued
to frequent the music venue due to his love for music, along with the connections he’s created while there.
“I’ve really liked when they’ve done album release parties and just seeing all the bands support other bands, and the crowds just being totally into it,” Fontenoy said.
Fontenoy said Gabe’s impact on the music community has brought a lot of good by letting small artists feature themselves and connect with others.
Several of these local artists entered Gabe’s as part of the 50th anniversary concert on Saturday.
The night’s music began at 8:30 p.m. with the Lou Sherry band stretching into the early hours of Sunday morning. The event also featured artists Fishbait, Worst Impressions, Cactus 5, and Acoustic Guillotine.
“It’s not just a bar — it’s a special place for a lot of people.”
Pete McCarthy Gabe’s general manager and booking agent
A small but electric crowd kicked the evening off, gathering around the sticker-covered stage to show support for the performing artists.
As the night continued, the energy in the building only seemed to ramp up, with choruses of cheers erupting every time a new band took the stage. Each band was given its own unique lighting color scheme to go along with its signature style of music.
Sadie Weiner, an audience member, cited
the 50th anniversary concert as her first experience at Gabe’s. Weiner first moved to Iowa City a few months ago and was excited to become immersed in the city’s local music scene.
“I was a little anxious about coming here tonight, but everyone has been so talented and amazing,” Weiner said.
By attending the concert, Weiner was introduced to several Iowa City bands and was very impressed by the diverse music styles of each.
“When listening to good music, you can dance around however you want to and make it fun,” Weiner said.
Several of the artists also showed their support for Gabe’s by giving shout-outs to the venue throughout their sets, thanking the owners of Gabe’s for helping to support Iowa City’s music scene.
“I don’t think we could have done what we did last night without the sets from Acoustic Guillotine, Worst Impressions, and everyone before us,” Halligan of Fishbait said.
“We went on stage at 11:30. That’s late, but we were stoked to see how hyped the crowd was, it’s always like that at Gabe’s,” said Fishbait member J.J. Razor. “The crowd brought it last night, from the very beginning to the end.”
McCarthy said Gabe’s will continue to host shows and provide the different music genres a place to perform. McCarthy also expressed his gratitude to the community, staff, and artists for their long support over the half-century.
“I basically just want to thank everyone. Thank everyone for supporting live music. Thank anybody that has taken a chance on a show,” he said.
Charlie Hickman contributed to this report.
I played at Gabe’s Iowa City. It was exhilarating.
Fifty years of history at Gabe’s brings acts of all sorts to the infamous stage.
I dabbled in drumming and discovered the exhilarating power of rhythm. Then, I found the summit of all instrument coolness — the bass. To me, this instrument is a perfect combination of rhythm with melody, a truly exquisite work of art that could vibrate my chest at a pluck of a string.
It is addicting.
I was always a pretty awkward kid, which would sometimes overwhelm me, but playing music felt good. Soon, I was playing live shows. I always knew I liked heavy music, and I quickly learned that swinging my head so hard while performing that soreness perforated down to the base of my spine, making me feel like a doddering old fool the next day, was the signature of a successful night.
Contributed by Jack Moore, Photo by Johnny Jarnagin
Jack Moore Managing News Editor jack.moore@dailyiowan.com
When I first entered Gabe’s Iowa City, I was torn between the fear of getting stabbed and the hope of finding a refuge filled with like-minded musicians who embrace a healthy level of self-hate and a passion for heavy music. Thankfully, I discovered the latter. I had just started my first
The idea that we were going to be playing in the same space as some of the greats in such a cultural staple of Iowa City was truly awesome.
year of college when I was graced by the dark, wearied, sticker-filled walls of the now 50-year-old bar steeped in Iowa City history. I had heard the stories of legen-
dary bands like Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Killers, and more who set foot in that very building. These stories seemed almost too incredible to be real. As a freshman, I was still figuring it all out. I was fortunate to have had a love for music from an early age, and it prompted me on a journey that would eventually lead to playing on the iconic Gabe’s stage. I got my first guitar after playing in a concert band in sixth grade. I learned then — much to the chagrin of concert band lovers — that it just wasn’t for me. After getting a firm grasp on the techniques of guitar,
As college approached, I was working in a music school in my hometown of Cedar Rapids. That’s where I met the group that would endeavor to play on the Gabe’s stage. We called ourselves Two Canes, a play on the rapper 2 Chainz and the food chain Raising Canes — elaborate, I know. I was the youngest in the heavy-metal-alternative quintet and was enthralled by my bandmates’ coolness. They had style, and I liked wearing polos — if that is any indicator of how stylish I was — and every moment with them felt like I was discovering a new element of life. Our drummer, in particular, Chloe Weidl, was a certified badass, commanding the drum kit with a skill that surpassed any I’d ever encountered.
Early on, our band shared the dream of playing on the Gabe’s stage. We started playing local open mic nights and soon booked our first show at Gabe’s, and my nerves started flooding in.
The idea that we were going to be playing in the same space as some of the greats in such a cultural staple of Iowa City was truly awesome.
As we arrived that night, the energy pulsated through the entire building — a dimly lit sanctuary, its battered bricks echoing the stories of countless electrifying nights.
When it was our turn to play, I had probably gone non-verbal, overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment. The crowd swayed, ready to hear some loud music, and I struck the first note.
We opened with “Colossus” by the Idles, a song about brutalism and the fear of not being enough — it was perfect.
Soon, the lights started flashing, I felt my body lock into the rhythm of the song, and we took off from there. Song after song, each of us felt the power of the speakers, and I was loving the hell out of every second.
It was as close to an out -of-body experience as I can describe. I was no longer an awkward kid; my body moved how I wanted it to, my heart synchronized with the bass drum. Stepping off that stage was heartbreaking, but then I remembered there
were other bands waiting for their moment.
And we kept coming back. Ultimately, I realized Gabe’s reflects a tapestry of hurt souls, yet it remains a place in which all of our burdens fade away. Truth be told, I’m still that awkward kid navigating life, but as long as I have music and a place to play it, I know I’ll be okay.
Audience
DITV Sports Director AJ Reisetter aj.reisetter@dailyiowan.com
DITV Asst. Sports Director Brady Behrend brady.behrend@dailyiowan.com
Cody Blissett | The Daily Iowan
During Gabe’s 50th Anniversary Show in Iowa City on Sept. 21. Gabe’s has been a pillar within Iowa City’s music scene, hosting local and nationally renowned bands.
UI students expand reach in gameday market
SeatStock has seen steady business with its satisfaction-guaranteed platform.
Evan Watson News Reporter news@dailyiowan.com
Earlier this year, five University of Iowa students came together to create a new online ticketing platform for student to sell to their peers. Just months later, the comapny is already looking to expand.
SeatStock launched in February after months of development and shifting staff. It is a platform exclusively for UI students to safely sell tickets to football games, but the team behind the platform has plans to expand to other campuses.
Josh Cohen is a third-year student at the
UI studying entrepreneurial management. He oversaw the development of SeatStock as its chief executive officer. He was inspired to create the website by his own experiences of ticket scams during his first year at the UI, Cohen said.
“When I was a freshman, I was buying and selling tickets,” Cohen said. “I was getting scammed, and my friends were getting scammed. I realized there is no dedicated marketplace for tickets.”
Cohen said his entrepreneurial drive began long before his work on SeatStock. He shoveled driveways during school and was involved with e-commerce for years leading up to the company’s creation.
First mastodon remains found in southern Iowa
UI researchers uncovered and are examining the 13,600-year-old bones.
Fatima Salinas News Reporter news@dailyiowan.com
Community volunteers and researchers at the University of Iowa came together to preserve history and make the discovery a life time.
Members of the Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist were contacted in late 2022 by Dale Clark, a member of the Iowa Archeological Society, reporting that a mastodon bone had been discovered in Wayne County, located in the southern part of the state bordering Missouri.
Mastodons are characterized by long and upward-curving upper tusks and small or absent tusks on the lower jaw, and they belong to the same family as mammoths and elephants.
John Doershuk, one of the main researchers who work for the UI archeology office, made several visits in 2023 alongside his colleagues to learn more about the most complete scientifically excavated mastodon in Iowa as soon as it was confirmed.
“For my part as state archeologist, the opportunity to investigate is tremendously significant as there are many avenues of current archaeological research to which we might be able to contribute useful information,” Doershuk said.
The mastodon femur was found in a remote private area where the landowner agreed to not only cooperate but also participate in the excavation.
Doershuk said this project is an exceptional example of how the UI can work collaboratively with a rural Iowa community to undertake substantive research that is meaningful to both the academic world and the local community.
Doershuk said volunteers in the area donated more than 1,000 hours of work supporting all aspects of the excavation.
They collected a sample for radiocarbon dating 13,600 years, establishing the mastodon’s age. According to Doershuk, the remains were eroding from a cut bank around 25 feet below the access point. The cut bank, he shared, is actively eroding and is subject to rapid water level changes due to thunderstorms.
The heat proved another challenge, as the first six dig days experienced 102 to 113-degree heat indexes.
Clark, a member of the Iowa Archeological Society who contacted the UI team, said one of the key parts of this expedition and research was the opportunity to bring the community together.
“Coming from a small community, that was easy, where everyone knows everyone,” Clark said.
Clark said because of the community support and involvement, the project was successful.
Brenda DeVore, director of the Prairie Trails Museum, who aided in the discovery, successfully secured two grants and several donations from community members to support the excavation.
“All the local volunteers were excited to work on this once-in-a-lifetime project to excavate a mastodon,” DeVore said. “The local people were willing to help in any way and gave generously of their time and resources.”
Doershuk said, in partnership with the Prairie Trails Museum, they will make the crania of the mastodon and the surviving portion of the attached tusk the central feature of an exhibit at the museum. They will attempt to 3D-print the missing portions to help the integrity and preserve the parts to enhance the public experience, he said.
“Everyone involved with the Prairie Trails Museum are anxiously looking forward to 2026 when the new exhibit is installed,” DeVore said.
SeatStock’s model is built around guaranteed satisfaction for the customer, which Cohen says is possible to achieve through the methods the platform uses to allocate the seller’s ticket and the buyer’s cash.
“When the buyer pays for a ticket, they can place a bid for the ticket or buy it outright to get it quicker,” Cohen said.
He said that once a price is agreed upon, SeatStock holds onto the buyer’s money using Stripe, a common financial services software. This secures customers’ purchases.
“Once you pay for the ticket, meaning that a seller has agreed to sell the ticket for that price, we hold on to the buyer’s money until they receive the ticket,” Cohen said.
He said SeatStock brings in a set rate of 10 percent from the buyer of the ticket and the seller, compared to ticketing businesses like SeatGeek that collect 40 percent.
He said that 85 percent of SeatStock transactions were successful with no issues, and any problems with transactions were mostly handled, leaving the customers satisfied.
SeatStock is expanding through business deals and partnerships on campus, third-year UI student and SeatStock’s Chief Financial Officer Adam Hasan said.
“We’ve partnered with The Summit to do a drink promotion deal where if you sell a ticket on our platform, you get a free drink or discount,” Hasan said.
Hasan said SeatStock was fortunate to enter the market as Ticketmaster faces liti-
gation for monopolizing the ticket and event merchandise market.
“Us being a niche marketplace, we see that as a great entrance into this space offering things that we, as students, want and are going to continue to need,” Hasan said. Hasan said SeatStock will continue to expand, starting with more promotions with restaurants and bars. SeatStock will focus on finding a presence at football tailgates and forming partnerships with Greek life on campus. Cohen said he works on the big-picture issues while Hasan works on legal security and business partnerships.
The SeatStock website was designed by Chief Technology Officer Brandon Egger, a graduate student at the UI.
Egger said he met Cohen and Hasan after Cohen reached out to him on LinkedIn. Eventually, Egger began designing and coding the website, a process that he said took four months.
From the technological end, Egger said expanding SeatStock’s services to an app may be possible down the road.
Egger said the SeatStock team has discussed adding features like SMS messaging between students. That collaboration has made Egger’s experience on this project an improvement from his time on other projects, he said.
“I worked at another startup two summers ago, and it couldn’t have been more different,” Egger said.
Ava Neumaier | The Daily Iowan
State archaeologist John Doershuk and project archaeologist Veronica Mraz point out the structural integrity of a mastodon skull at the Office of the State Archaeologist in Iowa City on Sept. 12. The mastodon remains were found in Wayne County, Iowa, and the age of the contents is around 13,600 years old.
(Beside
drummer Nathan Ward gestures to the crowd during the Gabe’s 50th Anniversary Show in Iowa City on Sept. 22. Gabe’s has been a pillar of Iowa City’s music scene, hosting local and nationally renowned bands. (Above) Worst Impressions vocalist and keyboardist Kiley Peterson acknowledges the camera while performing at the Gabe’s 50th Anniversary Show in Iowa City on Sept. 21. Peterson and lead guitarist Garret Hinson were formally in the band Part Time Vegan together. Worst Impressions formed in 2023. (Left below top) Friends Tibbs and Ken listen to experimental techno group Sinner Frenz during the Gabe’s 50th Anniversary Show in Iowa City on Sept. 21. Tibbs has been coming to Gabes since the 1980s. “Gabes is one of the places that has pulled me back over the years,” Tibbs said. (Left below bottom) An attendee lights a cigarette using one of the skull torches in the beer garden at Gabe’s. (Bottom) Fishbait guitarist Thomas Halligan lays onstage after performing at the Gabe’s 50th Anniversary Show in Iowa City during the early morning of Sept. 22. In an interview with The Daily Iowan in October 2023, Halligan said, “[Performing live], I mean, it’s why you do it — to be on stage and then to kind of hear what started in your bedroom blossom into something.” Fishbait released their first album Oct. 28, 2023.
DI Staff | The Daily Iowan
Left) Fishbait
Iowa election officials face increased scrutiny
Election officials prepare for mistrust and threats toward workers come November.
Nate Mueller of Iowa City has worked every election — general, local, primary, and special — since 2016.
Mueller became a poll worker in college after an internship at the Johnson County Auditor’s Office. While there, Mueller saw firsthand the struggles of recruiting and retaining poll workers and decided to step up to the challenge.
Now, after working more than 10 elections, Mueller is what the auditor’s office calls a rover — a person who supports staff with technical issues or answers questions in six assigned precincts in an assigned district.
Mueller is one of hundreds of poll workers who will man the polls this November at the 64 precincts in Johnson County, Iowa’s fourth largest county.
With the general election just 41 days away, ballot officials have been working to prepare since the last presidential election in 2020. False claims about widespread voter fraud, however, have eroded public trust in the voting process and brought threats to more than a third of poll workers nationwide.
Iowa’s election officials remain confident in both the security of the November general election and the safety of Iowa poll workers. Despite all the preparation, distrust remains among American voters.
According to a July 2023 AP-NORC nationwide poll, only 44 percent of
protecting ballot drop boxes in Arizona.
Mueller said he is not worried about the upcoming election and expects it to go smoothly in Johnson County.
“I don’t feel that there’s been a lot of animosity or distrust, or people coming through the precinct saying that we are rigging the vote in some way, or we are disenfranchising people in some way,” Mueller said.
Iowa’s election system is a big reason there has not been a lot of mistrust in the results locally, he said. Iowa requires a paper ballot and uses computerized tabulators calibrated and tested publicly before every election. While other states like Louisiana use computerized ballots to mark their votes, however, most states rely on a mix of computerized ballots and paper ballots.
While Iowa may not be a hotspot for threats toward poll workers, election officials nationwide are preparing for a close race that could flare tensions and mistrust.
Thousands of poll workers at work
With 64 polling places in Johnson County, it takes hundreds of polling workers to ensure the election runs smoothly, especially in high-volume presidential elections.
No counties in Iowa have reported poll worker shortages, but nationwide studies show record-high turnover among local election officials, according to NBC News.
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate
“In Iowa, we subscribe to ‘Iowa Nice,’ and luckily, we have not experienced the magnitude of threats to poll workers that some other states have dealt with. But in elections, we hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”
Paul Pate Iowa Secretary of State
respondents said they felt the 2024 election votes would be properly counted. 27 percent of respondents said they had no confidence that the votes would be counted correctly.
Experts typically interpret these results as stemming from the false claims made by former President Donald Trump, stating he lost the last election to President Joe Biden due to widespread voter fraud.
The conspiracies have led to death threats toward poll workers and election officials, poll worker shortages in key swing states — where the most scrutiny will take place.
Nationwide, election officials have reported harassment, both in person and over the phone. A May 2024 survey conducted by the Brennan Center for Justice, a non-partisan law and policy institute, found that 38 percent of local election officials around the country experienced threats or harassment for doing their jobs.
The same survey also found more than half of local election officials reported feeling worried for their and other officials’ safety.
The U.S. Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force announced in April 2024 it is investigating dozens of threats against election workers, according to NBC News. But here in Johnson County, residents have been respectful, according to Mueller. He said he has not ever experienced threats or harassment while working the polls.
However, Mueller said national narratives about threats toward election workers did make him apprehensive before the 2022 elections. In the days leading up to the 2022 election, there were reports of armed militias
said in a statement to The Daily Iowan that the state has not been affected by nationwide poll worker shortages because of the statewide recruitment efforts led by the Secretary of State’s office with the deployment of pollworker.iowa.gov.
The website was launched in 2020 to combat the shortage. Since its inception, the site has connected more than 21,000 Iowans interested in being a poll worker with local officials.
Johnson County Auditor Erin Shane said the auditor’s office has seen high turnover, and it isn’t out of the ordinary. Shane said Johnson County has enough poll workers for election day.
Linn County Auditor Joel Miller shared similar sentiments, stating Linn County is also fully staffed for election day.
Miller said many poll workers are adamant in their commitment to working the polls despite the national rhetoric surrounding election workers.
“I think the attitude of poll workers, not only in Linn County but likely across the state and other states, is that ‘we are not going to be intimidated by all these conspiracies and ensure that those kinds of things that people talk about don’t happen here,’” Miller said.
Despite a lack of recruitment struggles, Iowa election officials still must train staff on safety procedures and prepare them for the possibility of violence, threats, and other disruptions.
Adams County Auditor Rebecca Bissell, who is also president of the Iowa County Auditor’s Association, said election officials are worried for the safety of their precinct officials this upcoming election. She said they are working with local authorities across the state to ensure their officials’ safety. “We are starting to hear more and more
around the country of [Precinct Election Officials] being too stressed out to even sign up to do this anymore, because of the constant watch and criticism that they are getting from the voters or from outside entities that are trying to watch them like a hawk — and not that anybody’s doing anything wrong but when people are putting extra stress on you, it’s just very uncomfortable,” Bissell said.
Bissell said before the 2020 election, auditors didn’t have to worry much about polling site safety and threats, but now it is a sizable portion of their training.
“We didn’t have to go into such great detail about being scared to do their job, their civic duty,” Bissell said. “That’s been a little disheartening to have to have those conversations with them, and then the look on their face when they realize that it’s kind of scary now and then.”
Local election officials have been working with state and federal authorities to ensure the security of their elections and that their polling sites are top-notch ahead of the election. This includes training exercises where officials work through possible threats and scenarios with the Secretary of State’s office and national law enforcement officials from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
“Keeping election workers safe is a top priority for this office,” Pate said in a statement to the DI
Shane said they work through possible scenarios with poll workers to help dissuade fears and work with local law enforcement agencies to ensure they are readily available if something were to occur.
Skeptics invited to participate
With high levels of distrust in the election process, local and state election officials have worked diligently to educate skeptics on Iowa’s process.
State law requires voters to fill out paper ballots, counted with a vote tabulator that is calibrated and tested publicly before every election.
State law requires one precinct in every county to do a hand recount after every election and compare that total with the machine-tabulated results. The tabulators are not connected to each other or the internet.
State and federal officials are also constantly working to ensure the security of both the count and the computers used to report results.
Bissell said she and other county election officials across the state have looked for ways to educate voters on the process and show that elections are safe and secure in Iowa.
Efforts, she said, include combating disinformation about the safety and security of the election. She specifically mentioned widespread misinformation
that large numbers of non-citizens will vote in the 2024 election. Some Republicans including Trump have made baseless claims regarding mass amounts of non-citizens voting in federal elections.
Trust in election results has historically been low, according to an article in the Journal of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, but it has become more polarized in recent years.
A recent survey by the nonpartisan World Justice Project found that 46 percent of Republicans and 27 percent of Democrats polled said they would not trust the results of the election if the other party’s candidate won. The survey also found that 34 percent of Republicans and 67 percent of Democrats believe election officials are trustworthy.
Bissell said in Iowa, voter registration is cross-checked with several databases before becoming active, and registration at the polling place requires several identifying documents brought by the voter to prove their identity and residency.
“We have all these checks and balances in place that [are] going to catch that,” Bissell said. “So, I just think that it’s brought a heightened awareness of it, which I think is wonderful that people are talking about voting and they are interested in it.”
Despite Iowa’s election security measures, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird recently announced her office would be prosecuting a non-U.S. citizen for voting in a special election on July 16. Cases like this, however, are incredibly rare, according to reporting from the Associated Press.
Bissell encouraged voters to not believe online rumors and instead contact trusted sources of information like their local auditor’s office with questions about elections or election security.
Miller, the Linn County auditor, echoed Bissell.
“I think the message is clear from the top down, from the federal government to the state government to local government and people involved in elections, you know, go to a source you trust,” Miller said. “Don’t just take it off social media.” Miller said his office has become more adamant about transparency and also encouraged those distrustful of the election process to sign up to work the election and take part in the process.
“We invite them to engage in the process, see for themselves that we count votes accurately and we report results accurately,” Miller said. “We’ve always done that, but I think we’ve even been more adamant, more persuasive, more encouraged to invite the same people that are criticizing us to get involved in the process and see for themselves.”
Lack of recount reform could pose issues
Following the 2020 election, Iowa’s election laws underwent several Republicanled changes in the state.
Reforms from shortening early voting and absentee ballot windows to increasing penalties on election law violations have become law in the last four years.
Iowa lawmakers failed to reform the state’s laws on candidate-requested recounts following the 2020 election, despite lobbying by the Secretary of State’s office and the Iowa County Auditor’s Association.
The state does not have a uniform process for recounts and leaves the process to candidate-appointed recount boards.
Bissell said boards can choose to do hand recounts or computer recounts, and the process is not uniform across the state. She said these inconsistencies could lead to some voters and the public feeling frustrated with the process.
“It really does have a lot of election officials concerned that if we do have a recount, it’s going to be scrutinized and it’s going to be misinterpreted in the news,” Bissell said. However, lawmakers are able to require counties to ensure recount board results are accurate and that hand counts and machine counts match before results are certified.
“When the votes are totaled at the end of the election, the recounts need to match, so Iowans are confident their vote was counted accurately and fairly,” Pate said in a statement to the DI . “There is more work to be done, and I look forward to
Emma Calabro | The Daily Iowan
Poll worker Nathan Mueller interacts with voting equipment at the Johnson County Administration Building in Iowa City on Sept. 20.
Testing of the ballot machines will take place on Sept. 30 starting at 10 a.m. and continue until completion. Testing is open to the public and attendance is encouraged. Around 5,000 ballots will run through the machines in testing alone.
Theodore Retsinas | The Daily Iowan
The Johnson County Administration Building is seen in Iowa City on Oct. 4, 2023.
American Christianity lacks inclusivity
manipulated the word of God to oppress racial minorities.
At the height of the slave trade, plantation owners repeated a phrase from Ephesians 6:5: “Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ.”
Similar verses were taken out of context and used in sermons across the country to keep Black Americans docile during the daily torture they endured.
The origins of the Southern Baptist Convention, also known as the SBC, also exemplify racial oppression, permeating a religion of inclusivity. The SBC was founded in 1845 to expel anti-slavery sentiments held by Northern Baptists. Although the SBC later renounced this
COLUMN
Emphasize inclusivity . Churches should not only feel welcoming to Black Christians but be built for them.
supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, as “very fine people.”
How could Black Christians not question if the people who called them “children of God” even saw them as human?
Then, the public execution of George Floyd in 2020 permanently and violently stained American history. Amid the constant news of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless other victims of racism, historically white churches remained silent.
This was the nail in the coffin for the majority of the Black spiritual community.
As a Black Christian, witnessing the white evangelical spaces blindly turn on my community during this time pained me.
“The university brings people from all over and has given way to a great community of Nigerians, Kenyans, and Congolese,” Belger said.
He also noted the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, also known as FOCUS, as a driver of diversity for the Newman Center by drawing students from various backgrounds.
When asked how he addresses the racial issues that plague our nation, Belger said, “I preach from the readings, so any news that lends itself to the readings is worked into the homily.”
It’s great to preach about issues when the readings make it easier. However, in my personal experience, many priests I have
interacted with in the past would use this same vernacular to appear supportive while never truly addressing the issues impacting I am by no means accusing the Newman Center and its clergy of the same action. If that were the case, I would not worship there at all. I simply ask that churches make a deliberate effort to seek out the teachings of God for underrepresented groups of people at all times, instead of just acknowledging issues when they Black Christians might feel more comfortable visiting predominately white worship spaces if church staff and congregants addressed issues that impact all members, whether they be related to racism or topics like abortion. Spaces like the Newman Center should continue speaking on issues critical to all races, especially during this polarizing election year. White worship spaces should actively seek a more diverse congregation. Making a concerted effort to include people of all nationalities and backgrounds will only widen the share of perspectives held by congregants. My biggest piece of advice? Do not become complacent with the diversity that is present. Emphasize inclusivity. Churches should not only feel welcoming to Black Christians but be built for them.
For spaces that remain silent, I implore you to start speaking out today. In a divided nation, religion must be an agent of positive change rather than a misguided catalyst for harmful polarization.
‘It Ends With Us’ romanticizes abuse
The film failed to bring real awareness to abusive relationships.
“It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover is one of my personal favorite books, and most every other 20-something woman in the world would probably agree.
There was something about the detailed and empathetic portrayal of a woman in a toxic relationship that resonated with me. However, when it came to the movie, I was highly disappointed and, at times, offended.
To be completely transparent, I have never experienced an abusive relationship, but I have witnessed people I love go through one.
In a way, I identify with Allysa Kincaid, a character in both the book and the movie who witnesses the pain her best friend, Lily Bloom, endures. Unfortunately, the film, directed by Justin Baldoni, downplays Lily’s abuse and creates unrealistic standards for its viewers.
In the movie, Lily Bloom, played by Blake Lively, is abused by her boyfriend, Ryle Kincaid, who is played by Baldoni. This abuse initially occurs when he hits her, but she forgives him and returns to their relationship. Another incident follows in which Ryle pushes Lily down the stairs. Both scenes, however, portray the abuse as accidental rather than acts of violence. This could potentially cause viewers to believe the abuse wasn’t all that bad or not entirely purposeful. The final abusive encounter Lily endures is the first time that viewers see Ryle undeniably hurt Lily by intentionally holding her down and biting her, resulting in Lily leaving for good.
In the midst of the abusive relationship,
Lily runs into her ex-boyfriend and first love, Atlas Corrigan, played by Brandon Sklenar. Atlas notices her bruises and marks and questions her.
Atlas tries to convince her to leave and gives his number to her for when she decides she doesn’t want to become just another statistic.
Three incidents were all it took for Lily — four times less than the average number of attempts it takes to leave her abusive partner. This could create an unrealistic standard for those in abusive relationships by suggesting that it’s easy for them to leave.
When I saw the movie in theaters, I wondered if others felt the same. It wasn’t until I opened TikTok and saw multiple videos of women saying they would have taken Ryle back instead of leaving him that I realized the potential damage of underdeveloped stories about intimate partner violence. I was utterly shocked to see that what was supposed to be an empowering movie was actually a glorification of the abuser.
Although I loved the book, after watching the movie, I began to consider the reality of what some people experience compared to what the movie and book depict. The sequence of events laid out in “It Ends With Us” is rarely how they occur in real life.
In most abusive or toxic relationships, a Prince Charming isn’t going to save the day, which is what happened to Lily when she crossed paths with her first love
The movie glorifies abuse for young women onscreen and offscreen, from the merchandise promoted by actors to writer Hoover’s proposed coloring book.
What was once supposed to be a serious film about domestic abuse has become propaganda.
The movie grossed over $100 million globally in its first week, but many still questioned the integrity of the film as well
as the actors.
“Some viewers have accused Lively of marketing the movie as a romantic comedy and downplaying its heavy themes of domestic abuse. As for the film itself, some have criticized it for romanticizing abuse and violence, while others uphold the story as an examination of generational trauma,” according to NewsNation.
The movie also didn’t display the domestic abuse hotline at the end of the film, failing to extend help for those who are impacted. The media needs to do a better job of recognizing the seriousness of domestic abuse and make it a priority to raise awareness, rather than profit from it.
According to The National Library of Medicine, “research suggests that the
representation of violence against women in the media has resulted in an increased acceptance of attitudes favoring domestic violence.” Hoover was inspired by her mother’s own story to write “It Ends With Us,” as her mother experienced an abusive relationship with Hoover’s father. I don’t doubt this book and movie mean the world to her. What I do doubt, however, are the intentions behind the coloring book, the marketing, the unrealistic expectations of an abusive relationship, and the failure to display the domestic abuse hotline at the end of the film. We need to do better as a society to portray these situations more accurately in the media.
Creative Commons
The director of “It Ends With Us,” Justin Baldoni speaks at the TedWomen Conference in 2017.
Underdog to Olympic medalist
How Brittany Brown went from a little-known athlete to a bronze medal Olympian.
6,
Chris Meglio Pregame Reporter sports@dailyiowan.com
Colin Votzmeyer Sports Editor colin.votzmeyer@dailyiowan.com
Former Hawkeye sprinter Brittany Brown’s career has been defined by an underdog status. That same underdog won bronze in the women’s 200-meter final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Team USA’s Gabby Thomas and Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred captured gold and silver, respectively. But the third sprinter who
final during the Paris 2024
earned her spot on the podium beside the two was Brown of Claremont, California, by way of the University of Iowa. An Iowa alum, she was one of four Hawkeyes to medal this summer — along with wrestlers Spencer Lee and Kennedy Blades, and rower Eve Stewart. She dominated on the track through -
Legacy Hawkeye with big shoes to fill
Course on
cool to be able to continue the legacy,” Jack
out her five-year collegiate career with the Hawkeyes from 2014 to 2018, becoming a four-time Big Ten champion in the 200meter dash and a one-time champion in the 4x100-meter relay. By the end of the 2024 summer, she proved
first-year leads team offense
The Hawkeyes find a new opportunity for kills through first-year Malu Garcia.
Jack Birmingham Sports Reporter sports@dailyiowan.com
The Iowa volleyball squad has found new opportunities to increase its offensive presence with the addition of first-year outside hitter Malu Garcia. Garcia, as of the conclusion of UW-Milwaukee’s Panther Invitational on Sept. 15, leads the team in kills with 83.
Coming off of a tough 20-game losing streak to end the 2023-24 campaign with a final record of 8-24, the volleyball program, led by head coach Jim Barnes, has used its offseason to do some serious reconstruction.
That involved the addition of multiple first-years, including Garcia, as well as players from the transfer portal.
Garcia, who hails from Hilo, Hawaii, has catapulted from a successful high school career — which included being named an Under Armour All-American — to the courts of the extremely competitive Big Ten conference. Garcia said playing Big Ten volleyball is a way to bring pride to both Iowa and Hawaii.
“One goal for me is to show everyone that people from Hawaii can do it,” Garcia said. “Coming to a Big Ten school, I think you can make anything happen. My goal is to show everyone here on the mainland [in] the Midwest — we can make it happen, that Iowa is here to play ball.”
Despite only being a first-year player, Garcia loves the experiences associated with being on the team — and leading it in kills.
Garcia also loves that everyone on the team is very close both in and out of competitions, despite shake-ups across the roster. “We’re a very new team,” Garcia said. “A lot of seniors transferred in the portal, so it’s a lot of new girls on the court. But overall, it’s great. Our connections are great. We have fun while we’re playing volleyball, and off the court too.”
Third-year head coach Jim Barnes believes Garcia plays with the utmost effort.
“When the whistle blows, she’s just a true competitor,” Barnes said. “She’s a baller. She can adjust to plays and has
Emma Gutzman | The Daily Iowan
The Iowa men’s golf team competes in the Hawkeye Invitational at Finkbine Golf
April 14. The Hawkeyes finished in sixth place out of 16 teams.
Kirby Lee | USA TODAY Sports
Aug.
2024; Saint-Denis, FRANCE; Brittany Brown (USA) celebrates her third place finish in the women’s 200m
Olympic Summer Games at Stade de France.
BROWN
J. McCarty
Thursday,
Women’s soccer has what it takes
The Hawkeyes boast a powerful offense and stout defense that has
After a magical run that helped the play ers win the 2023 Big Ten Tournament as the eighth seed, the Iowa women’s soccer team is more than capable of pulling off another historic season in 2024.
The Hawkeyes have sprinted off to a strong start, going 5-0-2 in the non-conference portion of the schedule. A highlight of this stretch was a 2-0 victory over No. 18 Wake Forest and a draw with No. 12 Texas.
Volleyball
ITA
WHAT YOU’VE MISSED
Iowa third-year running back Kaleb Johnson has emerged as one of college football’s best rushers this season, leading the nation with 479 yards after three games.
That is 20 yards more than Ashton Jeanty of Boise State in second place and 31 yards over RJ Harvey of UCF in third.
Johnson showed flashes of his running ability over his first two seasons with the Black and Gold, highlighted by a 134-yard, one-touchdown rushing performance against Purdue last season. But nothing matched the breakout the player from Hamilton, Ohio, native has demonstrated this year. Despite first-year back Kamari Moulton earning the starting nod on the depth chart heading into the 2024 season, Johnson’s ability to hit the hole hard and burst out into acceleration has not gone unnoticed by both the Iowa coaching staff and the general football landscape.
Johnson picked up the brunt of the offensive load in Iowa’s next two games, beginning with a 187-yard, two-touchdown performance in the 20-19 loss to Iowa State on Sept. 7. In the rocky 38-21 win over Troy the following weekend, Johnson solidified himself as a top running back in the country with another 173 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson will continue to be a reliable asset on an Iowa offense as his running game continues to grow.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I’m not even going to give no credit to myself — I’m giving all my credit to my [offensive] line. They played their asses off today. Sorry for my language, but them boys — they played hard today.”
One of the reasons for the success is Iowa’s bench play, as several players regularly pro duce productive minutes. Berkeley Binggeli, Maya Hansen, Delaney Holtey, and Alexia Griffin bring a unique mix of experience to the field that could pay dividends in Big Ten play.
The depth of this Iowa offense has been truly impressive and has caused problems for its opponents. Eight different Hawkeyes have scored a goal this season, with first-year sensation Berit Parten leading the charge with five this very young season.
Following Parten is fourth-year forward Meike Ingles, who has tallied four goals on the season. Additionally, three other Hawkeyes have scored two goals, while two players have recorded one goal in the season. Having multiple threats on offense has prov en to be a distinct advantage for Iowa that many teams do not have.
The Hawkeyes have also dominated shots on goal attempts compared to their oppo nents, having a total of 149 total shots while their opponents have less than half of that, at 67 shots on goals. Keeping defenses on their toes and controlling the pace of the game has proved to be very effective for Iowa so far.
However, this is not going to be an easy feat by any means. lowa has a tough Big Ten schedule, including matchups against Penn State and Rutgers.
Not surprisingly, the offensive success has translated to defense.
The Hawkeye offense controls the field in such a dominant fashion that opponents’ offenses are struggling to find opportunities to score. Even when those offenses do find a
Q&A | MILLY SHORT
glimpse of hope in scoring, goalkeeper Macy Enneking stands in the way. The two-time Big Ten Player of the Week has Iowa tied for seventh in the nation for goals-against average alongside powerhouse Stanford.
Enneking’s efforts have led Iowa to a tie for ninth in the nation for shut-out percentage. The fifth-year broke the all-time school record in career shut-outs with 27.5 during a win against in-state rival Iowa State on Sept. 15.
The Hawkeyes have tremendous depth, offensive threats, and a tough defense. If you combine all of these attributes together, it will likely lead Iowa to great success in 2024— perhaps enough to make a tournament run.
However, this is not going to be an easy feat by any means. lowa has a tough Big Ten schedule, including matchups against Penn
Field hockey midfielder talks team traditions, Iowa athletics
Jake Olson Sports Reporter sports@dailyiowan.com
The Daily Iowan: What does the team’s pregame tradition look like?
Milly Short: We do the same thing every week whether we are home or away. We walk up to the field to the same song and, class by class, just to get our connection together. Another thing we like to do in pregame is you will see us in the corner and it’s time to lock in. We will slowly come up and down the field, and then we will run into the bench together. It’s all about being together.
What is one thing you like to do while traveling for a road game?
We put the speaker on the bus and play some songs or sing along. A few people might get up
Kaleb Johnson after rushing for 173 yards and two touchdowns against Troy
STAT OF THE WEEK
22.20
former Hawkeye sprinter
Brittany Brown’s finish that earned her a bronze medal in the Paris 2024 Olympics
and dance and do some karaoke. We just try to have a bit of fun in that way.
What type of music do you like to listen to before the game?
I’m not on the aux — that’s not my specialty. But we like a bit of Rihanna on the team.
State and Rutgers.
Penn State is off to 2-0 start in Big Ten play with an overall record of 8-1-1. Rutgers is also off to an impressive 2-0 record in Big Ten thus far. The Scarlet Knights are 4-1-1 in non-conference games and are currently on a five game winning streak. Winning backto-back Big Ten tournaments is a challenging feat, but the Hawkeyes have the weapons available to not only repeat in the Big Ten, but also to make a run in the NCAA Tournament. lowa could be the first team since Penn State to win back-to-back Big Ten titles, which occurred in 2001 and 2002. Do not be surprised to see a headline that reads, “Iowa women’s soccer clinches back-toback Big Ten tournament championships” in the near future.
If you could play any other sport beside field hockey, what would it be? It would be tennis or skiing. I’ve played tennis from a young age. I love going skiing. I go every year pretty much, but those are my two other favorites.
What is your go-to Iowa City restaurant?
When my parents are in town, I love the Webster. But typically, I’d say Bread Garden is quite the go-to. Ordinary, but it is a good one for me.
What is your favorite University of Iowa athletic event to attend?
Women’s basketball. [Being] from England, I didn’t know very much about basketball. I love going. When Carver is packed, it is a great
What is the coolest field hockey field you have played on, outside of Grant Field?
Probably North Carolina’s. It’s a bit sunken, and you are surrounded by the fans and the trees. And their field is very nice.
What are the team’s post-game rituals?
Sometimes ice cream. A good win will mean ice cream. But we usually just go back to the hotel or back to the bus. We usually just enjoy it and have a good time.
Kaleb Johnson a Heisman contender?
Yeah, you read that right. Starting Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson is a legit Heisman contender this year. Since the Heisman Trophy first started in 1935, over 40 running backs have been able to take home the illustrious title of “Best Player in College Football.”
If the last few games are any indication, Johnson has the potential to be the first Hawkeye Heisman Trophy winner since Nile Kinnick in 1939. While the Heisman Trophy is considered by some to be a “quarterback award,” running backs have been more than capable of taking home the honor.
Running backs including Derrick Henry, Mark Ingram, and Reggie Bush have all won it and continued their success on to the NFL.
The Iowa running back leads
the NCAA in rushing yards, with 479 yards through three games. Johnson has also recorded a total of six touchdowns and is averaging 7.9 yards per carry. Johnson is on pace for a 24-touchdown season and has the potential to rack up more than 1,880 yards if the running back can continue his electric play through the conclusion of the season.
For reference, when Mark Ingram won the Heisman Trophy for Alabama in 2009, he recorded a total of 17 rushing touchdowns and rushed for 1,658 total yards. With an offense that has been notorious for struggling to put up points the last couple of seasons, it would only make sense for Iowa to continue to feed the lone bright spot on what has been a fairly weak motor. The idea of an offensive player winning the Heisman Trophy may be hard to grasp for most Iowa fans. However, Johnson has proven after few games of play that he is a legit Heisman candidate.
Do not be surprised when Johnson’s stock continues to rise throughout the season.
Hawkeye running back Kaleb Johnson is a bright spot for sure — but not a Heisman candidate. Now don’t get me wrong here. I’m all for the love Johnson is getting in the college football world. The third-year has been the best Iowa running back for some time now, and he’s embraced waiting his turn when other schools called his phone in the transfer portal. One might argue he has singlehandedly saved this offense that has been so hit or miss yet again this year. That’s evidenced his stellar touchdown and yardage numbers. Unfortunately, the fact of the matter is that too many obstacles sit in his way right now. Four weeks into the season is too early to definitively say Johnson can contend for the Heisman Trophy this year.
Let’s continue with the Mark
Ingram example. Sure, Johnson is on pace to beat his numbers, but Ingram’s season resulted in first-team All-SEC, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and unanimous All-American nods en route to a BCS National Championship. Of course, I think it’s safe to say Johnson won’t be the motor pushing the Iowa Hawkeyes that far in the postseason. A Big Ten Championship is even a long shot, let alone a College Football Playoff berth. Ingram was, however, that motor for Alabama. And strong numbers don’t mean much right now when they’ve only come against Illinois State, Iowa State, Troy, and Minnesota — not the SEC powerhouses of a decade ago.
When the Hawkeyes dive deeper into Big Ten play, it’s going to get much, much harder for Johnson to maintain the pace he’s on right now. That’s because Iowa has yet to take on three of the top 20 run defenses in college football: No. 2 Ohio State, No. 6 Northwestern, and No. 16 Nebraska.
If he finds a way to upkeep such numbers and Iowa starts to make some noise because of it, that’s a Heisman winner. But I don’t see that happening.
Milly Short #12 Junior Midfielder Worcester, England
Colin Votzmeyer
Trey Benson Sports Reporter
Complex in Iowa City on Sept. 12. The Hawkeyes defeated the Cornhuskers 2-0.
on the largest stage that she’s one of the best in the world.
Coming from Claremont
From a northeast suburb of Los Angeles, Brown dealt with asthma problems growing up. Running was a difficult activity for her, let alone competing in a running sport. But this didn’t stop her from trying it out.
The sprinter continued to run track when she got to high school and became one of the best runners — not only in the state of California but in the entire country.
In fact, throughout her four-year high school tenure, Brown composed a lengthy resume:
• 100-meter national champion at the 2013 USATF National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships
• California state runner-up in the 100meter and 200-meter
• Ranked third in the 100-meter and fourth in the 200-meter in the nation among high school seniors
• Logged personal-best times of 11.49 seconds in the 100-meter and 23.68 in the 200-meter
But there’s one thing Brown failed to do: become a state champion. Looking back at it, Brown said she is grateful for the experience of competing among the best in the state.
“I feel like I’ve been a slow burn type of story,” Brown said in an interview with The Daily Iowan . “I made it to the California state meet once, and it was a lot of trial-and-error trying to get to that state meet. But I finally made it, and it was a great experience … it was a process for me to get to that point.”
On the tail-end of her never-ending pursuit of a state tournament appearance, Brown knew she wanted to extend her track career beyond high school through the energy and passion of one small moment.
“I was at a track meet in high school … they would play drums while we ran the 4x400-meter relay,” Brown recalled. “I was winning, and the drums were going crazy. It was a night meet, and the lights were going crazy. So that’s when I knew I wanted to compete collegiately.”
West Coast to Midwest
Brown’s youth success didn’t translate to the recruitment she was hoping for. In fact, Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody told The Cedar Rapids Gazette that she was not highly recruited out of high school and wasn’t even signed by the time the state meet in her senior year rolled around, which is unusual for collegiate athletes.
The Iowa track program wasn’t looking at Brown; that was, until a high school friend and then-Iowa jumper Klyvens Delaunay told Woody about the California-based sprinter. Shortly after Hawkeye coaches started recruiting her, she made the visit to Iowa City, where she immediately fell in love with the campus. She committed to Iowa shortly after.
“[Woody] was shocked that I wasn’t signed,” Brown said. “So it was basically word-of-mouth. My coach that recruited me didn’t know much about me until my
MCCARTY
from 1B
McCarty said. “He definitely raised the bar a lot.”
The leadership and passion for golf that Sean McCarty ingrained in his son from a young age led Jack McCarty to place in the top 10 at the Iowa High School Athletic Association state golf meet every year during his time as a Spartan. Despite all his triumphs in his high school career, Jack McCarty wasn’t always sure that college golf was right for him.
“Growing up, college golf wasn’t something I thought about,” he said. “I didn’t understand golf and recruiting until high school.”
high school teammate told him about me.”
The opportunity to run track in the Big Ten conference was too good to pass up. She made the move from the West Coast to the Midwest in 2013 and immediately made her mark on the Iowa track program.
Brown’s 2014 collegiate track season was highlighted by breaking the then31-year-old school 60-meter dash record
can for both indoor and outdoor seasons while capturing the Big Ten 200-meter title with 22.83 indoor and 22.30 outdoor performances.
In the midst of this breakout season, Brown got the sense she could run track for a living.
“Professionally, I knew around my junior year of college,” Brown recalled.
“We went to a meet in California, which is where I’m from, and I ran against some pros and did really well. I was like, ‘OK, I can do this. I can really do this at a professional level.’”
Brown Former Hawkeye sprinter
with a 7.41 finish at the Big 4 Duals prelims. She was named an outdoor season second-team All-American.
In the 2015 collegiate season, Brown won the 200-meter race at the Alex Wilson Invite with a time of 23.93 and broke her own then-200-meter school record while placing second in 22.89 at the Big Ten Championships.
She ran the first leg in the relay that placed second at the Big Ten Championships, and this all led to an outdoor honorable-mention All-American nod.
A hip injury kept her out throughout the 2016 indoor season, and she pulled her hamstring during the spring season — limiting nearly her entire track season that year.
But where injuries could ruin a career, hers made them. That’s because the 2017 season was when Brown became a household name.
Brown was named first team All-Ameri-
course in order to prove himself to the Iowa coaching staff. In doing so, he left a mark on the Solon golf program for years to come.
“In my eyes, his legacy would be one that is extremely successful. He came in with very high expectations for himself,” coach Stahle said.
During his last two years of high school, Jack McCarty decided that college golf was going to be his next step. With his father’s alma mater and the school that he grew up cheering for in his backyard, there was no question that his move would be to the Hawkeyes. McCarty worked on and off the golf
GARCIA
really good instincts. That’s allowed her as a freshman to really produce.”
One of Garcia’s fellow first-year players is setter Jenna Meitzler, the topranked setter in Illinois last year. Meitzler, who aided the Barrington High School Broncos in a 2020 state title grab, agreed that Garcia brings a lot of depth and leadership to the relatively new team.
“I think she brings good energy and is also someone who’s very dependable,” Meitzler said. “Especially as a setter, you like to send people you can depend on. She’s one of them, and she’s grown to be one of them. I also think we have a pretty young team, so it’s good to have such a young person act like they’re a fifth-year or a senior here.”
As Jack McCarty begins his Division 1 golf career, those same lofty expectations and goals remain.
“All of the potential of the world is there. [McCarty] is a strong athletic kid,” Iowa head coach Tyler Stith said. “In this environment, he will be surrounded by guys with more experience than him and if he works hard, he will continue to improve.”
Stith also credits the freshman class for their effort and dedication to the game.
“They have raised the bar. That competitiveness will fuel everyone to work hard and make it into the lineup,” Stith said.
Meitzler, who also played with the Broncos on their way to two third-place state finishes in 2021 and 2022, admires Garcia’s confidence coming into college competitions.
“She’s a really confident person,” Meitzler said. “I remember, before we even got here, we were on our visit. I remember her mom coming up to me, and she was just like, ‘Jenna, if you ever need someone to set, you can set Malu. She’ll get there, she’ll get that ball.’
“That really shows on the court,” Meitzler added. “In the back of my mind, I can always depend on her. She has the confidence to play at a Big Ten level.”
Barnes agreed Garcia has a lot of skill to work with over her career.
“She was an All-American in high school, so she was high on a lot of people’s lists,” Barnes said. “We managed to get her to be a Hawk. She’s got a load of talent, and we’re hopeful she can maintain her consistency.”
“We went to a meet in California, which is where I’m from, and I ran against some pros and did really well. I was like, ‘OK, I can do this. I can really do this at a professional level.’”
She capped off her collegiate career with All-American honors for both indoor and outdoor seasons again, and she captured another Big Ten title in the 200-meter race with a 22.93-second finish. She left the Iowa track program with school records in the 100-meter and 200-meter with times of 11.28 and 22.30, respectively.
Going professional
Once she finished college and began the journey of becoming a professional track athlete, Brown struggled to make a living for herself.
She stayed in Iowa City, working a multitude of different jobs just to make ends meet while in search of earning a shoe con-
tract — something that the most successful track athletes need.
Steady focus and training produced a second-place finish at the U.S. Championships that ultimately earned her a 2019 selection for the 200-meter race at the World Championships. There, she won silver — and signed a deal with Adidas the next year.
Come 2024, Brown had the experience under her belt to succeed at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, finishing second in the 200-meter event with a personal record of 21.90 seconds and qualifying for Paris.
“We are all so proud of Brittany and everything she has overcome to make her first Olympic team,” Woody said. “She had her PR performance at the perfect time to punch her ticket to Paris, and we are so excited for her.”
Signing a new deal with Nike shortly after, Brown’s journey to Paris was less exploration and absorption and more execution, culminating in the third-place finish to stand at the podium in the end as one of the fastest sprinters in the world.
Still, she soaked in the environment as much as possible — including meeting the likes of Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles — before returning to the U.S. for a tour across the country that will culminate in a return to Iowa City next month.
For now.
As the 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles, Brown’s sights are set on competing again — this time in her backyard.
“That is definitely the plan to do that,” Brown said. “I firmly believe I would love to end my career at the [2028 Los Angeles Olympics], my home state. That would be a full circle moment for me.”
Joseph Cress | The Daily Iowan
Iowa’s Brittany Brown crosses the finish line during the 4x100-meter at Drake Stadium during the Drake Relays on April 29, 2017. Iowa finished first, with a time of 45.17.
Brittany
Woody
Stith Barnes
Tisdale and Emily Nyberg | The Daily Iowan (Top) Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson runs around Minnesota defensive back Kerry Brown during a football game between Iowa and Minnesota. Johnson scored three touchdowns for the Hawkeyes. (Above) Minnesota wide receiver Elijah Spencer plows through Iowa’s defense during a football game between Iowa and Minnesota at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sept. 21. Spencer scored one touchdown and received twice for the Gophers. (Beside) A Minnesota fan reacts to an Iowa touchdown during the football game. 52,048 fans were in attendance, drawing a large crowd from both Iowa and Minnesota. (Bottom) Iowa players celebrate after the football game between Iowa and Minnesota. The Hawkeyes reclaimed the Floyd of Rosedale trophy a year after a controversial fair catch call caused the Hawkeyes to lose to Minnesota at Kinnick Stadium.
BACK THE FLOYD OF ROSEDALE
The Hawkeyes reclaimed the Floyd of Rosedale trophy after defeating the Golden Gophers 31-14 on Sept. 21.
Isabella
The audiobook boom
For Gen Z, dwindling attention spans are making audio the new and more accessible alternative to traditional reading.
Haya Hussain Arts Reporter arts@dailyiowan.com
Discussions on whether the digitization of literature deprives people of the physical experience of reading have taken the literary community by storm. Thousands are left wondering if the introduction of e-books and audiobooks is bringing about the death of traditional hard copy.
However, some argue these digitized tools and resources encourage reading.
“Reading has always been a bit boring for me, but listening to audiobooks allows me to engage with the story more,” University of Iowa sociology student Yesenia Alcala said. “I am more of a visual and [auditory] person, so reading the words off of a page doesn’t activate my imagination much.”
Reading from physical text is not for everyone. Whether it be dyslexia or hyperlexia, visual impairment, or language barriers, there are plenty of obstacles that prevent people from indulging in reading.
Audiobooks mitigate these issues by using the medium of sound. The first audiobooks emerged in 1932 when the American Foundation for the Blind established a recording studio to produce vinyl records for books, increasing accessibility. Now, in the digital age,
audiobooks are proliferating online. Literature is not the only field in which digitization has been introduced. Shortform videos on TikTok and Instagram Reels take the forefront of entertainment among teens, their attention spans trained to consume 15 seconds of spoon-fed media.
The UCLA School Mental Health Project reported a 28 percent increase in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, diagnoses from the early 2000s to the late 2010s. This was largely due to television and media consumption. Gen Z became immersed in television as early as the synaptic development ages between one and three.
“[This shortens] children’s attention spans, contributing to attention problems by age seven,” the UCLA study by Sang Yon Yeum states. “[Kids grow up watching] fastpaced shows like “SpongeBob SquarePants”, where scenes change on an average of every 11 seconds.”
It gets complicated as kids get older. Now that young adults use social media sites that shuffle through stimuli faster than television, the impacts are immediate and worse than cartoons like “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
As symptoms of ADHD worsen, reading becomes more difficult. University of Iowa elementary education major Haven White described how her attention span is intertwined with her reading habits.
“I wasn’t allowed to have a phone until I was 14, and that’s when I got social media. Throughout the four years I’ve had my phone and TikTok, I realized something very quickly,” White said. “When I was 12, I could sit down AUDIO | 3C
Maggie’s Pizza Catering and Beverage Manager Reina Matsuura experiments with flavor and presentation of three cocktails.
Maggie’s Farm Wood-fired Pizza in Iowa City is founded on
“Before I got here, and actually at the beginning of when I was here, we didn’t really have a formal bartender, so because of that, none of the servers prepped all the drinks,” Matsuura said. “So, this was one way to batch something in a way that’s still presented beautifully.”
Margaret Qualley and Demi Moore stun in new film ‘The Substance’
Coralie Fargeat’s 2024 film showcases unforgettable horror.
The Bottle-Aged Manhattan is a delicious stiff drink, each warm sip exploding with sweetness on the tip of the tongue, followed closely by the tartness of the bitters.
A lighter drink to contrast the intense flavors of the Bottle-Aged Manhattan is the Hugo Spritz, a refreshing and bubbly spin on
During a period of time when Aperol was not among the selection of alcohols offered for purchase to establishments by the state, Matsuura sought out other options for the cocktail.
Her research led her to the Hugo Spritz, which is made with St. Germain elderflower liqueur instead of Aperol.
Matsuura adapted the recipe, which traditionally includes leaves of mint, to include basil to better complement food items like a
After laying the leaves at the bottom of a hurricane glass, Matsuura added a pour of St. Germaine, a splash of Prosecco, club soda, and ice. She topped the rim with a simply yet classy slice of lemon to complement the flavors and add an aesthetic touch.
The longer the drink chilled, the more infused it became with the sweetness and brught flavors of the basil, which paired well with its hint of elderflower.
Emma Isenhart Arts Reporter arts@dailyiowan.com
Full of bold colors, detailed close-ups, and tearing flesh, “The Substance,” directed by Coralie Fargeat, takes body horror to a new level.
The commentary on Hollywood’s treatment of women and the concept of “aging gracefully” can’t go unnoticed. Our misogynistic culture — personified by Dennis Quaid’s skeevy television executive — forces women to accept the fact that beauty and youth are everything, and at a certain age, forced to become all but invisible. This concept is portrayed throughout the film like a bulldozer — loud, harsh, and unavoidable.
There’s one thing for certain: This movie isn’t for the squea
mish. Bones crack, blood sprays, and cells divide, leaving every sense heightened after leaving the theater. Close-ups of needles and stitches leave little room for anything else on the screen, fully captivating and disgusting the audience all at once.
The cinematography is stellar, albeit gruesome. The opening and closing scenes with Elisabeth’s star on the Hollywood
Podcasts provide niche content at a cost
As podcasting grows, mindless virality with shows like “Talk Tuah” thrives.
Kate Wolfe Arts Reporter
arts@dailyiowan.com
Podcasts, a medium once dominated by NPR deep-dives and thoughtful cultural commentary, have exploded into the mainstream over the past decade.
Now, there’s a podcast out there for every niche interest, hobby, or hot take.
If by some miracle, what you’re looking for doesn’t exist, today’s easy access to technology allows anyone to pick up a mic, plop down on their bedroom floor, and bring any discussion they would like into the public spotlight.
Some listeners, like University of Iowa student Emma Lankin, point out the benefits of this increased accessibility.
“I like the TMI podcast, Alix Earle, Hot Mess,” Lankin said. “[Having lots of options] gives people a chance to share their voices and allows everyone to hear different perspectives.”
There is indeed no shortage of perspectives to be found. The UI alone hosts or is associated in some capacity with dozens of podcasts, such as “From the Front Row,” a studentproduced podcast from the UI College of Public Health; “Fight For Iowa,” which discusses Hawkeye athletics and upcoming matchups; and even The Daily Iowan’s very own “Above the Fold.”
The question begs itself, though: Does every bedroom floor visionary need to be heard? What used to be a sparse, dignified media landscape has become cluttered, now buzzing with what can be categorized at best as white noise and at worst as toxic garbage.
Kaiden Youngblood, a UI student, does not seek out podcasts himself but often stumbles upon clips while browsing other social media platforms.
While Youngblood sees the value in longer formats offering more depth than short-form platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, he also knows that length does not always equate to quality.
“There are some podcasts today that I think are stretching for something to say or are just not very truthful,” Youngblood said. “Like that Hawk Tuah podcast. That is just kind of outlandish.”
“Hawk Tuah” refers to Haliey Welch, a young woman featured in a viral TikTok posted in June.
The video features Welch making a sexual joke using and coining the phrase ‘hawk tuah’ as an onomatopoeia for the sound of spitting.
Since then, Welch has capitalized on her brief 15 minutes of fame through “Hawk Tuah” merchandise, various paid appearances, and most recently, her very own podcast titled “Talk Tuah.” There are currently two episodes of “Talk Tuah” posted on Spotify as of Sept. 17, with the first posted on Sept. 10. The show has prompted extensive debate about whether Welch is a businesssavvy opportunist or simply a cash-craving clout chaser.
For many, podcasts serve as an escape from the repetitive, “brain-rot” short-form video content that dominates social media.
Unsurprisingly, however, as social media figures have branched into podcasting, the medium has begun to experience the same trend of antiintellectualism.
Platforms like “Talk Tuah” reflect the wider digital culture around them — endless, simple content that allows, and maybe even requires, the viewer to shut down their brain as they scroll.
Ultimately, even if Welch has nothing to say, she will continue to rake in viewers in the current media landscape that glorifies virality.
“It’s a weird way to get fame, but regardless, she’s been able to thrive off of it,” Youngblood said.
The final drink Matsuura prepared was a specialty cocktail called Porch Water. She began by filling a mixer with ice, a pour of Bacardi rum, coconut milk, a splash of Triple Sec, lime juice, and lemongrass syrup.
Porch Water Maggie’s complements pizza with cocktails
Maggie’s lemongrass syrup is made with lemongrass grown by a server’s father, testifying to the restaurant’s roots in family and community.
Matsuura gave the concoction a few good shakes, emptied it into an Old Fashioned glass rimmed with Tajin, added ice, and finished with a few drops of sassafras bitters — Matsuura’s “special ingredient.”
The Porch Water has been described by other customers as a rum margarita, according to Matsuura. This holds true, as the rum’s notes of vanilla enhance the tropical taste of the coconut milk and citrusy tang of the bitters.
Matsuura intends to continue experimenting with cocktails to identify ideal food and drink combinations, as well as to provide a richer array of nonalcoholic options.
“If I were to have a fourth cocktail for you today, it would have been a nonalcoholic cocktail,” Matsuura said. “That is something I’m really excited to roll out.”
Along with expanding Maggie’s menu of beverages, Matsuura hopes customers will branch from pizza to other food items, like pasta dishes and salads.
“We get customers who are very loyal to us or very regular. We know what they’re going to order, so they don’t actually have to tell us,” she said. “I think everyone cares for each other.”
Walk of Fame are haunting, beautiful storytelling, and showcase the lengths she is willing to go for something as trivial as fame.
The extreme close-ups throughout the film give a cringeworthy but detailed look at the characters, highlighting every freckle and tooth stain on their faces. Bright, bold color palettes dance across the screen — everything from Elisabeth’s canary yellow coat and the soft pink of Sue’s aerobics outfit to the crimson spray of blood at the end of the movie.
Sue’s beauty, contrasted with the mangled monster she turns into, fully encapsulates the film’s themes, all tied with a hideous ribbon. There hasn’t been a film this unnerving in years, and it doesn’t look like there’ll be another one anytime soon.
“The Substance” is now playing at FilmScene.
Online refer Read more of The Daily Iowan’s review of “The Substance online at dailyiowan.com.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World by Edgar Wright on Max
and read a book in one sitting. I can’t do that anymore.”
Books require longer periods of concentration with out any additional visual stimuli. Once accustomed to the fast-paced stream of content provided by social media, it becomes increasingly difficult to commit to a book.
Compared to a slew of loud, 10-second videos, a book that contains hundreds of pages of branching plot points feels like a different language.
“I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until I was 15. I just didn’t know why everyone seemed to be able to stay on the same topic all the time. I had to be switching focus constantly,” White said.
One of the solutions to this is to reduce screen time and media consumption, but that is not a realistic goal for many.
With so many ideas, people and events enticingly woven together, it is hard to blame people for getting stuck in the cobweb of doomscrolling.
Alcala is a perfect example of someone victim to this digital behavior.
“In one sitting, I can end up spending over two or three hours doom scrolling. The videos are addicting because they’re funny and super short. It keeps me en tertained,” Alcala said.
Books are also a source of entertainment, but they are unable to grasp our attention in the way that social media has been programed to do.
Mitigating this, audiobooks have become a nuanced, innovative form of “reading” that effectively weaponiz es this weakness in people’s attention spans. UI nurs ing student Cora Bryan has recognized audiobooks help her multi-tracked mind.
Someone with a one-track mind may find it easier to concentrate when directing their energy and focus on one thing at a time.
People with ADHD, however, generally have racing thoughts and see higher levels of productivity while multitasking because it exercises and satisfies their multi-track mind.
“My ADHD makes me easily distracted, so I use audiobooks to help me stay on task when I clean up or go on walks,” Bryan said.
Shorter attention spans drive students, particularly people who have ADHD, away from tasks that require a one-track mind.
Consequently, task completion becomes all the more laborious, but audiobooks allow people to engage in two or more things at once.
Listeners can occupy their minds with a continuous story and their hands with whatever they’d like, whether that be doing the dishes, cleaning their room, going on a walk, or working out.
“I love being able to multitask. If I’m doing something that doesn’t require me to engage heavily with
the material, like homework, I can get my reading for school done or read for fun,” Bryan said. “Even when I don’t have time, I can still get my school work done because I am able to multitask.”
Many Americans have flocked to audiobooks instead of physical books as an alternative way to consume literature. According to the Audio Publishers Association, over 67 million Americans listen to audiobooks annually.
The number of available audiobooks for listeners has rapidly increased with over 35,000 published annually.
Iowa City Public Library Collection Services Coordinator Anne Mangano said 146,224 audiobooks were checked out this last fiscal year — a number that has been on the rise in the past several years.
“Audiobooks are one of our fastest growing collections in terms of use. Library users checked out more than 40,000 audiobooks than they did two years ago — a 32 percent increase,” Mangano said. “This isn’t surprising. It matches num -
bers reported by Publishers Weekly for U.S.
Mangano’s life is intimately connected to books. Aside from being an enthusiast of historical fiction
“My ADHD makes me easily distracted, so I use audiobooks to help me stay on task when I clean up or go on walks.”
Cora
Bryan University of Iowa nursing student
and British classics, she has spent 11 years cataloging and processing digital and physical materials for the library. “There is a link between audiobooks and the ability to do something else. Many of our users report that they listen to audiobooks while they are doing something else,” Mangano said. “I listen to books, and I also read books. And, like everyone, I do find myself drifting to other thoughts in either version. But I also find myself immersed. A good book is a good book, and it’ll grab your attention either way.”
Edited by Will Shortz No. 0821
adults.”
Lily Barriball | The Daily Iowan
Erin Birler, a student at the University of Iowa, waits for her classes to start on the UI campus on Sept. 18. Birler said she rarely listens to podcasts and prefers to listen to music instead.
Historic barn hosts ArtiFactory event
ArtiFactory’s painting group embraces nature and creating art socially.
Isabelle Lubguban Arts Reporter arts@dailyiowan.com
Clear skies and cornfields were as far as the eye could see in sunny West Liberty, Iowa, on Sept. 15. However, the beautiful scenery was not the only focus of ArtiFactory’s Plein Air Group, as the Secrest Barn, a unique eightsided structure, also drew attention.
The goal of every Plein Air group painting session is to enjoy nature and promote relaxation. Sessions are held twice a month on Saturday mornings in various locations. Last year, the participants visited areas including the Terry Trueblood Recreation Area and City Park.
The inside of the barn was just as calming as the scenery outside, complete with hanging string lights and the sound of jovial chatter from the visitors.
Participants were spread out across the grassy field, armed with various easels and utensils such as pastels, watercolors, and
acrylic paint. Nearly every single person chose to paint a different angle of the barn, evoking a wide range of perspectives.
“Getting to be out in nature with nothing to do but create art...I feel like that is not an opportunity I take very often,” Annie Jones, an event attendee, said.
Jones chose a vantage point a good distance away from the center of the barn under a tree. Already getting to work with her oil pastels, Jones laid down a few strokes on her paper.
Mid-America Emmy Award winner Dana Telsrow was also in attendance. The University of Iowa alum is a renowned musician and painter who is a frequenter of ArtiFactory’s group sessions.
“I like being around other people who are interested in art, too. It’s a good way to relax and clear your mind, and it’s just a low-pressure social outing,” Telsrow said.
According to the website Art Story, the French term “en plein air” is defined as “in the open air,” which refers to when artists
paint a landscape outdoors. It allows painters to capture the emotional and sensory dimensions of a specific moment in time, signifying the honesty of the reality that is presented before them.
“When you’re working from a photograph, it’s not the same as working from the place.
“In
a group, doing art is more fun. It’s a little more comfortable.
Beppie Weiss Co-president
of ArtiFactory
You get a different idea of lighting, you know, things are changing all the time,” artist and attendee Robert Richardson said. “When you do things from real life, it gets a little more lively — a little more dimensional.” Richardson was stationed at the side of the barn with a chair and an easel set up
before him, nearly finished with his piece.
“The difference, too, is when you’re working from a photograph, there’s this tendency to want to copy the photograph,” Richardson said.
As the artists gazed at the changing colors of the sky, visitors pulled into the parking lot for tours of the historic barn. Some of the tourists even made it into artists’ portraits.
Richard Tyler, the owner of the Secrest Barn, was more than happy to provide ArtiFactory with a venue for its session. Between providing tours of the angular building, Tyler recalled how frequently the barn is used for artistic inspiration.
“There’s photographers that have made special images of the place, too,” Tyler said. “It’s open every day, and people have done wonderful works of art — not just from the outside but also the inside, since the architectural structure is beautiful as well.”
According to Tyler’s brochure, the Octagonal Barn was purchased by Joshua and Esther Secrest in 1875, and it was originally created by local master builder George Longerbean.
“There is no barn like this anywhere in the world,” Tyler said.
ArtiFactory Co-president Beppie Weiss and watercolor painter Andrea Gage were working on the far right of the barn, separated from each other by an array of oil pastel containers. While Weiss had an easel, Gage had a piece of paper in her lap.
“Our little group started because a lot of people liked doing plein air art,” Weiss said. “In a group, doing art is more fun. It’s a little more comfortable.”
Her work was almost done, the watercolor landscape capturing the barn with impressive accuracy. The changing of the natural lighting doesn’t just create a prettier picture, though. As the sun shifts, painting becomes more challenging.
“Light changes about every 20 minutes but dramatically about every couple hours,” Gage said. “So, you only have a short amount of time to get a quick sketch down, and a lot of times, then, people use these small pieces to create a bigger piece in their studio.”
The group sessions evoke a sense of community and encourage experimentation with different arts media, whether that be watercolors or acrylics. Additionally, artists can appreciate the natural scenery right in front of them.
“When you listen to good music, and you just kind of get into it and the world slows down a little bit, I think it’s the same way with any kind of art, whether that’s drawing or painting,” Gage said. “It gives your brain a chance to slow down.”
John Charlson | The Daily Iowan
Beppie Weiss (left) and Andrea Gage (right) work with pastels during a plein air painting session organized by the ArtiFactory and hosted at the
Secrest 1883 Octagonal Barn in West Liberty on Sept. 14. “Plein air” refers to the art form of painting outside and capturing the natural spirit of a subject or landscape in the artist’s full view.
