The Daily Iowan - 10.30.2019

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The Daily Iowan THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COMMUNITY SINCE 1868

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019

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Financial troubles potentially motivated Browning murder Court records filed Tuesday cast light on a potential financial motive behind Roy Browning Jr.'s alleged murder of his wife, UI Health Care Director of Operating Budgets JoEllen Browning. BY MARISSA PAYNE

marissa-payne@uiowa.edu University of Iowa Health Care budget official JoEllen Browning questioned her husband about discrepancies in their financial records days before he allegedly stabbed her to death in April, authorities alleged in court records filed Tuesday. Roy Browning Jr., 67, was charged with first-degree murder of his wife Monday night. He was being held at the Johnson County jail on $5

Barta talks 'unintended consequences' of sports laws

million bond. If convicted, he faces mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. He called 911 the morning of April 5 to report that he found his wife unresponsive in their residence at 114 Green Mountain R. Browning Drive. Law-enforcement officials found her dead on her bedroom floor at 7:07 a.m., according to court records. Autopsy results showed she had been stabbed

multiple times on the front and back of her torso and on her left hand. Her death was ruled a homicide by sharp-force injuries. Investigators found no signs of forced entry into the home and they did not find the alleged murder weapon. Information revealed in the court records casts light on a potential financial motive for JoEllen Browning's homicide. A review of the couple's finances show that she was financially stable while her husband did not have a revenue source. She had a retirement account and life-insurance

policy worth more than $2 million. According to the criminal complaint, there were numerous discrepancies between apparent documents of banking records. In one photographed record, there was a listing of a nonexistent account. Another discrepancy showed a balance of $97,830.17 in an apparent photographed statement of a joint account dated Dec. 31, 2018. Financial records provided by the institution, SEE BROWNING, 2

Faculty rally for sick-leave bank

UI Athletic Director Gary Barta discussed national changes to sports including student athletes being paid to play and sports betting. BY ELEANOR HILDEBRANDT

eleanor-hildebrandt@uiowa.edu University of Iowa Athletic Director Gary Barta took opposition to the NCAA Board of Directors’ move Tuesday to allow collegiate athletes to own the individual right to their name, image, and likeness in conversation with the Faculty Senate. In response to conversations about paying collegiate athletes that are gaining traction after California lawmakers passed legislation to permit such payments, Barta on Tuesday said the policy creBarta ates unwanted consequences in collegiate sports — especially when it comes to the equal opportunity specified in Title IX and antitrust issues. The NCAA Board of Governors earlier Tuesday voted unanimously to direct each of the NCAA’s three divisions to immediately consider updating relevant bylaws and policies to allow student athletes to benefit from their name, image, and likeness. “The concept of student athletes becoming employees of the university is something I’m not supportive of at all,” Barta said. SEE BARTA, 6

Wyatt Dlouhy/The Daily Iowan

Rhetoric Associate Professor of Instruction Megan Knight reads a statement during a protest for a sick-leave bank at the Old Capitol on Tuesday. Faculty Forward would like to establish a sick-leave bank for nontenure-track faculty and protested the UI's catastrophic-leave policy change. The group says a small portion of faculty meet the criteria to donate time under the policy and cannot make up for the needs of the rest of College of Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty.

University of Iowa Faculty Forward rallied outside the Old Capitol to protest a recent catastrophic-leave policy change that the group says does not support all faculty and staff.

BY KINSEY PHIPPS AND KATIE ANN MCCARVER dailyiowan@uiowa.edu

“What do we want? Sick leave. When do we want it? Now. If we don’t get it? Shut it down.” Members of Service Employees International Union Faculty Forward, a grass-

roots effort by nontenure-track faculty at the University of Iowa, chanted on the steps of the Old Capitol on Tuesday to protest the UI’s current catastrophic-leave policy. Several faculty and staff members pushed for the implementation of a sickSEE RALLY, 2

CITY COUNCIL RACE

UI names Megan Alter hopes to promote Reams dean racial, social equity in Iowa City of students

Megan Alter’s platform for the Iowa City City Council includes advancing racial and social justice, equity, offering affordable housing, and fighting climate change. BY HANNAH ROVNER

hannah-rovner@uiowa.edu Since her move to Iowa City nearly 25 years ago, Megan Alter has called the area her home. Now, Alter aims to give back to the community that she said has been so generous to her as she runs for one of two vacant at-large seats on the Iowa City City Council. Alter said her tenacity, passion, and drive led her to run for City Council. Alter also pointed to her many volunteering experiences as pivotal, saying she serves in Big Brothers and Sisters, the City of Iowa City Housing and Community Development Commission, and the Iowa Women’s Foundation. She currently works as a manager at ACT. Alter said she will work to advance social and racial justice in Iowa City, create sustainable options for the community to combat climate change, and increase affordable and accessible child care if elected. “One thing I have come to relish [about Iowa City] is how diverse it is,” Alter said. “It’s a strength of Iowa City, but we need to continue to strengthen our inclusivity.” Alter said change starts within local government and simple policy changes. As Iowa City grows, local government needs to strengthen the community by allowing access to the necessities of day-to-day existence, Alter said. For example, she said, affordable housing could alleviate need. “There is a unique challenge, because there is such a high proportion of rental needs within the student population,” Alter said. “But there is

After the Office of the VP for Student Life asked to waive the search for a dean of students, Angie Reams was appointed to the role. BY LAUREN WHITE

lauren-white@uiowa.edu

said. “Almost always this puts students out of the running for affordable housing in student centric areas.” Alter added that vacancy rates are high and said students are the second most vulnerable population in housing security.

The University of Iowa Office of the Vice President for Student Life on Oct. 18 requested to waive the search process to choose a dean of students and on Tuesday named Angie Reams to the role, which she has filled temporarily since January. The waiver states that the office wanted Reams to be considered for the position in order to provide continuity of leadership. The UI started a third search for a permanent dean of students in September because of two previous unsuccessful attempts to retain a candidate. Reams will begin serving in her new role as early as Nov. 1, pending state Board of Regents approval. Her appointment comes after Lyn Redington left Reams the UI in 2017 to become the vice president for Student Life at Idaho State University. Redington's departure left the role vacant for more than two years. The UI launched its first search for candidates in spring 2018 and began another search in November 2018. Although Vice President for Student Life Melissa Shivers told The Daily

SEE ALTER, 6

SEE REAMS, 2

Katie Goodale/The Daily Iowan City Council candidate Megan Alter sits down for an interview with The Daily Iowan in the Adler Journalism Building on Oct. 23. a notion that they are transient, always moving around.” Alter said she hopes to find permanent solutions to help that transient population and will strive to help students with affordable housing. “Right now, if your parents claim you on income taxes, they become [essentially] your roommates and contribute to rent,” Alter


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