Community activist Oliver Weilein and local realtor Ross Nusser are facing off for the recently-vacated District C Iowa City City Council seat. Their competing visions for the city will be decided by the public in a March 4 special election showdown.
Who’s afraid of Oliver Weilein?
Oliver Weilein is running on a platform shaped by his working-class roots and marginalized communities.
Emma Jane News Reporter news@dailyiowan.com
Iowa City City Council candidate Oli-
ver Weilein has just one apology for the social media rhetoric his opponent has called extremism.
Referring to a 2019 tweet in which he called ICE agents “pigs, evil fuc*ing traitors,” Weilein admitted the comparison was unfair. But not to the agents.
“I’m a vegan, so I would like to apologize to pigs,” Weilein said. “I volunteer at Iowa Farm Sanctuary, so a lot of the pigs are my homies.”
In addition to Iowa Farm Sanctuary, Weilein serves on the board of directors for Public Space One, is a founding member of the Iowa City Tenants Union, and regularly volunteers at the Emma Goldman Clinic.
Weilein also has a near-encyclopedic grasp of affordable housing models – armed with facts, statistics, and realworld examples to back slogans, like housing is a human right, that some might call lofty. Or even radical.
For Weilein, his political views are rooted in the simple belief that a better world is possible.
“People view competition and capitalism as human nature. It doesn’t have to be the case,” Weilein said. “Humans are capable of extreme good and extreme evil. It’s about how we structure society.”
Following former City Councilmember Andrew Dunn’s resignation at the start of the year, the Iowa City City Council special election comes as the Democratic Party faces a growing rift broadly. Centrist Democrats may push
for cooperation with Trump’s administration while left-leaning reformists typically argue the party’s failure in the 2024 presidential election lies in its refusal to address the economic struggles of most Americans, resulting in the disillusionment of the party’s base.
Some might say Weilein and his opponent Ross Nusser, a property developer, are a microcosm of this greater rift. While both align with leftwing ideas, Nusser favors an institutionalist approach that works within existing power structures, and Weilein pushes for bold action that directly challenges those structures with the goal of securing tangible gains for the working-class, poor, and marginalized groups of people.
Weilein agreed with this characterization — but with one caveat.
Iowa City Northside resident Ross Nusser was already seated in a sea of coffee-drinking college students, sipping from his own white and brown to-go cup, when I walked in and greeted him with a handshake.
IOWA CITY’S SPECIAL ELECTION
WHEN: March 4, 2025 Voting open between 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Vote early at the Johnson County Auditor’s Office before March 3.
“I don’t want to associate myself with the Democratic Party,” Weilein said. “There are people who feel like they can work within the Democratic Party and change it and have to work within the system. I’m not one of those people.”
While clarifying he doesn’t discourage anyone from voting in state or national elections, Weilein said he believes ground-up approaches to change — like grassroots organizing
The Coffee Emporium on Linn Street is a brief jaunt from the Pedestrian Mall, where much of downtown Iowa City is centralized, but Nusser’s walk was much shorter. Living just across the street from the coffee shop, the property in which he sat was also one he worked to develop not even 10 years ago.
Nusser’s familiarity with the brick streets and buildings, the coffee shops, and the eclectic joints is not new, nor is his Northside connection. In fact, the fifth-generation Iowa City resident has deep ties with the city, a legacy he wants to continue to nurture.
“My combination of experience with government and nonprofits and my desire to serve my community, this is a natural extension,” Nusser said of his motivation to run in the upcoming District C special election in an interview with The Daily Iowan Nusser and local advocate Oliver Weilein are running for the now-vacant
District C seat, serving an area that outlines the Manville Heights and Northside neighborhoods, as well as much of Shimek. That election, slated for March 4, will be open for all registered Iowa City voters.
The 38-year-old has lived in town his entire life except during his college years when he attended the University of Arizona, earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy.
Why Arizona? Former University of Iowa President Sandy Boyd was one reason. The beloved former leader who presided over the campus for 12 years was Nusser’s maternal grandfather. And attending the same university where your grandfather was in charge can be constricting, he said.
“I left for school to get a different perspective,” he said. “I did leave to not have a spotlight cast, but that was definitely not the primary motivation.”
He traveled to Arizona for variety and to make his own way, as so many do. You could call it wanderlust, but Nusser did not wander forever. He would return to Iowa City in 2008, and the family tree would continue to ramify where it began.
Boyd represents only one part of Nusser’s family tree. Nusser also comes from a line of local business owners who opened and continue to operate what is now Hands Jewelers since the 19th century.
“[Iowa City and I] are inextricably linked,” he said.
Nusser also co-owns and operates his own business in Coralville: Urban Acres Real Estate. He has served the Greater Iowa City area since 2009, further planting a stake in the community. Nusser said his experience in the real estate market grants him an advantage in
Riverside opposes new CR casino
Riverside and Washington County casinos have filed a lawsuit attempting to halt the project.
Anna Mitchell News Reporter news@dailyiowan.com
The City of Cedar Rapids is moving forward with plans for a $275 million dollar casino after the Iowa Racing Gaming Commission authorized a gaming license for Linn County on Feb. 6. After two failed attempts, the commission approved the application with a 4-1 vote.
The project’s approval has also come with push-
Ava Neumaier | The Daily Iowan
Oliver Weilein poses for a photo at Kindred Coffee in Iowa City on Feb. 14. Weilein is running in the Iowa City City Council election. Voting is on March 4.
Cody Blissett | The Daily Iowan
Ross Nusser poses for a portrait in his office at Urban Acres Real Estate on Feb. 23. Nusser is a fifth-generation Iowa Citian aiming to improve mental health resources and housing affordability.
Jami Martin-Trainor | The Daily Iowan
The Racing and Gaming Commission voted to deny consideration of a petition following the lawsuit.
Riverside Casino declined to comment on the developments, only providing its Feb. 6 statement from Dan Kehl, CEO of Elite Casino Resorts.
“We are disappointed by the commission’s decision
feature 700 slot machines and 22 table games. However, Kim Pang, vice president of development at P2E, said a new Cedar Rapids casino is about more than gambling.
“It’s about entertainment. It’s about adding another reason for people to come to Cedar Rapids,” he said.
Pang continued elaborating on the amenities he said would make the
“If we can bring different demographics at different times of the day, that means we’ve met our goal of being everything to everyone. We believe it is not just about the gambling anymore .”
Kim Pang Vice
of development at P2E
president
today,” he said. “We appreciate the time and effort the commission and staff put into this, but we do have questions and concerns, as we still believe the referendum requirement has not been met and are reviewing our next best steps.”
The casino, developed by Peninsula Pacific Enter-
casino stand out. The most prominent plans include an Arts and Culture Center, a STEM Lab, and a 1,500-person entertainment venue.
“If we can bring different demographics at different times of the day, that means we’ve met our goal of being everything to
not just about the gambling anymore,” Pang said.
Pang also emphasized the importance of giving back to the Cedar Rapids community.
By law, casinos are required to give 3 percent of Adjusted Gaming Revenue, or AGR, to a nonprofit partner. Cedar Crossing has committed to giving 8 percent.
“There is a lot of need from nonprofits in Cedar Rapids and Linn County and also surrounding counties,” she said. “So, you know, a lot of our people work in Cedar Rapids, and hopefully, our future employees in Cedar Rapids come from surrounding communities, so our goal is to give back to the surrounding community.”
Eick said the Racing and Gaming Commission had considered concerns but saw a promising opportunity for the state and the city of Cedar Rapids.
“I thought they looked at the greater picture of the increase of revenue to the state, from gaming taxes was certainly one consideration,” she said.
Eick also referenced the community’s influx of jobs,
SLATED LOCATION OF NEW CASINO
The Cedar Rapids casino will be one of two in a 30-mile radius.
as essential factors in the commission’s decision. She added the commission is working with a legal team regarding the lawsuit, as Riverside Casino is moving forward with the judicial review process.
working with the Attorney’s General Office on responding to the lawsuit. There was a request for a motion for stay this past Monday to the commission,” she said. “The commission opted to deny
Emma Jane News Reporter news@dailyiowan.com
Iowa was ranked second in the nation for book bans in classrooms and school libraries in 2024 with 3,671 titles removed — over six times more than Texas, the third-highest state. Only Florida has banned more.
In Iowa City, the Antelope Lending Library, a nonprofit bookmobile, is trying to fill the gap by offering banned titles in its collection. Cassandra Elton, founder and director of Antelope Lending Library, emphasized the importance of a diversity of accessible literature for child development.
“We know that having exposure to different stories, especially stories that reflect yourself and your family and people that you love, is a vitally important part of storytelling,” Elton said. “It also builds empathy when you read stories about people who are different from yourself.”
Elton said the subject matter most targeted by book bans is related to sexuality and gender with some bans arguing such topics are inappropriate for children in any context.
“LGBTQ stories tend to be lumped under sexually explicit stories, which is not accurate,” Elton said, adding the example that a picture book about a child with heterosexual parents is not viewed as sexually explicit, but a similar story with same-sex parents is.
Elton said many concerns arise from the misconception that books intended for teenagers, particularly those exploring themes of sexuality, are being placed in children’s sections at public libraries.
She pointed to “Gender Queer,” a graphic memoir by Maia Kobabe, as a key example of this controversy, noting that its inclusion of mature illustrations depicting the narrator’s journey of self-discovery has made it a frequent target of book bans.
“No library has ‘Gender Queer’ mixed in with the picture books,” Elton said.
This same title previously caused a stir at the Kalona
Public Library in 2023 when a patron filed a request for the library to remove the book. Trevor Sherping, the director of the library during this time, said the request sparked months of packed board meetings where community members voiced strong and opposing opinions.
“I got a lot of nasty emails, a lot of comments that weren’t to my face, either about myself or about our staff,” Sherping said.
He added the original request to remove the book stemmed from the concerned patron falsely believing the book was included in the children’s collection. Sherping said it was, in fact, on an all-ages display table at the front of the library focused on LGBTQ+ literature.
While the original patron cited concerns about the material being inappropriate, Sherping said more complaints then came in centered on the subject matter itself.
“Three-quarters of those, I would guess, were saying in addition to the fact that it was an obscene material, that LGBT is unholy against God — some of those nasty things that you hear,” Sherping said.
He said during his time at Kalona Public Library, he would receive emails from community members who were concerned the library was attempting to “corrupt” youth patrons with the selection of books offered.
But Sherping said as the one who curated the library’s collections during this time, he prioritized including a range of perspectives and subjects.
“There were plenty of materials every month that I purchased that I didn’t personally agree with,” Sherping said. “But that didn’t mean that it wasn’t going to be useful for somebody in the community.”
He said the community uproar around “Gender Queer” proved to have the opposite effect of the intended censorship.
“‘Gender Queer’ got a couple dozen checkouts in two or three months [after the complaint],” Sherping said. “But in eight months that we
had it prior, it didn’t have a single checkout.”
Currently, the issue of banned books is a major concern for many Iowa public libraries as the state legislature considers House File 274, a bill that would remove legal exemptions protecting schools and libraries from prosecution under obscenity laws.
This legislative effort signifies a shift from focusing solely on school materials to encompassing public libraries, potentially subjecting them to increased scrutiny and legal challenges over their collections.
Lauren Roberts, director of the Oxford Public Library, said this potential legislation undermines the expertise of librarians.
“I would say to the community that you should be trusting your librarians and the background of schooling and knowledge that they share to select materials for the community to be offered in the library,” Roberts said.
She added that the proposed legislation would
have an especially harsh impact on smaller libraries.
“As a librarian, especially in a small town, it can be difficult seeing books being taken from our already limited shelves,” Roberts said.
Sherping warned an effect of the proposed legislation could be exposing individual librarians to civil penalties for providing banned books.
He said he has spoken with colleagues who are seriously considering leaving the pro-
fession if the bill becomes law.
“I think that’s a pretty obvious detriment, to have people who are professionally trained and have worked in their communities and know their community members to leave,” Sherping said. “I think that just opens the door to hiring underqualified people or people who have more of a bias to get in and then narrow the scope of the collection.”
CEDAR RAPIDS CASINO
HAWKEYE WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT AREA
Map by Emily Pavlik | The Daily Iowan
Isabella Tisdale | The Daily Iowan
A row of books in the Banned Books section at Prairie Lights Bookstore is seen in Iowa City on Feb. 23. A total 3,671 books were banned from schools in libraries in 2024.
UI students carry on history of Latino protest
Protests in Iowa City against President Donald Trump’s deportation plans follow a long history of protest in Iowa supporting and advocating for the latino community.
Isobel Perez News Reporter news@dailyiowan.com
The protest by Latino members of Iowa City is the latest in a lineage of protests intended to support and uplift their community’s voices. In the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive order mandating the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, a crowd of protestors swept through the streets of downtown Iowa City on Feb. 3.
Over 150 protesters gathered with Mexican flags waving proudly in the air, chants echoing through downtown. Their message was clear: Latino Iowans were not going to back down or hide their heritage.
The protest was organized by word-ofmouth and social media, and people of all ages were in attendance.
“That was Muscatine youth — Muscatine high schoolers, West Liberty high schoolers,” the president of University of Iowa’s Latino Student Union, Daniela Pintor-Mendoza, said. “They organized that.”
Latinos have been present in Iowa since at least the 1870s when the U.S. federal census first recorded Mexican immigrants who arrived in Iowa, including Emmanuel and “Happy” Benitas. The first Mexicans who settled in Iowa often worked on the railroad, in factories, or as sugar beet workers.
While Latinos have had a significant influence on Iowan history and culture, most of Latino history in Iowa remains obscured and undocumented.
“We have a history in Iowa. Latinos have a history in Iowa,” María Leonor Márquez Ponce, a graduate teaching assistant who worked on the LNACC Oral History Project for the University of Iowa Library’s Special Collections and Archives, said. “There are these communities in Iowa [that have existed] for a long time. There were people fighting, just like now, for rights to equal education, access to equal education, access to representation.”
As current protests against mass deportations continue to take place across the U.S., echoes of past protests and acts of resilience organized by Iowan Chicanos who fought to see themselves better represented at the UI are heard.
Working alongside nationwide movements of the 1970s like the Chicano movement and the United Farm Workers movement, Chicanos attending the UI not only fought for better treatment of farm workers in Iowa.
“They were working with these national movements to have better conditions for migrant workers — farm workers specifically — and they did a lot within the university campus and outside of classes,” Márquez Ponce said. “One of the things that they did that we are still seeing today is boycotts. At that time, they were boycotting lettuce and grapes.”
Chicanos boycotted non-United Farm Worker lettuce, an April 1973
issue of The Daily Iowa n wrote, as a part of a growing movement where they demanded the UI and all of its cafeterias stop serving non-United Farm Worker produce.
The purpose behind this boycott and its protests was to protect migrant workers and pressure the agriculture industry to begin treating migrant farm workers fairly. The lettuce boycott became a tool for Chicanos in Iowa to branch into further protest and better connect with the Chicano movement, as Elisa Sanchez and Diana Gutierrez wrote in a letter to the DI
“[Chicanos] were protesting, but they were also showing up for their culture, and they were doing things to preserve their culture,” Márquez Ponce said. “They had a theater group, they had a dance group, and they were doing all these things while also being activists and boycotting as well.”
Claire Fox, a professor in the English, Spanish, and Portuguese departments who co-founded the Latino/a/x Studies minor alongside Omar Valerio-Jiménez, spoke about the importance of art and culture in political movements throughout history.
“We have a history in Iowa. Latinos have a history in Iowa.”
María Leonor Márquez Ponce UI graduate teaching assistant
in October 1972, ending their letter with, “Hasta la victoria!”
Other efforts by Chicanos in Iowa included increasing the enrollment of Chicanos and the amount of Chicano faculty and staff at the UI, with 25 Chicano and five Native American students estimated to have been attending the UI in 1971. To achieve the goal of increasing the enrollment of Chicano and Native American students at the UI, students visited Iowan high schools and migrant worker centers.
“What I found was lots of evidence that in every organizing meeting, there was art and that it was part of the way that people created a sense of belonging and culture and narrated what it was they were there for,” Fox said. “Political movements need to offer some vision of joy, or contentment, at least. Some soul nourishment in order to create a movement that can’t be dreary and can’t be a return to whatever horrible situation that people are trying to seek liberation from.”
These efforts to preserve culture and create a space for Latinos at the UI even
tually led to the formation of LNACC, which was originally named the Chicano and Indian American Student Union, the founding of the first Latino fraternity in the Midwest, Sigma Lambda Beta, and the creation of student publications like Cafe Chicano , El Laberinto, and Nahuatzen.
While these publications are no longer in circulation, the present effects of the efforts of Iowa Chicanos are seen through organizations like the Latino Native American Cultural Center and Sigma Lambda Beta.
As for the legacy of protest by Chicanos in Iowa, Márquez Ponce emphasized the importance of documenting protests and learning about our history in order to create a sustainable, powerful movement in the present.
“They were documenting their protests, and I think it’s also important for young people today, Latino high school students and university students, to learn their history because a lot of us don’t know about it,” Márquez Ponce said. “We don’t know that there is a legacy behind us of protest, a legacy of fighting for rights like access to higher education, equal opportunities, and better representation. Not only in schools but as a whole.”
Iowa city scrambling to keep up with egg shortage
Local food pantries are seeing increased demand as prices soar and donations drop.
Jacob Calvin News Reporter news@dailyiowan.com
Americans across the nation are feeling a strain on their wallets due to avian influenza, commonly referred to as the bird flu, which has led to the largest increase in egg prices in 10 years.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, egg prices surged 15.2 percent nationwide from December to January. In Iowa City, consumers feel pain — especially the financially vulnerable.
Steph Beecher, the basic needs coordinator of the University of Iowa Food Pantry, located in the Iowa Memorial Union, said the pantry’s egg supply relies on donations from Farmer’s Hen House. The local farm has not only had to cut back on its donations to the food pantry, but the inflation has also limited how many eggs it can sell to large supermarket chains, such as Hy-Vee.
“It’s definitely a pinch. We’re all feeling it,” she said. “Eggs are the most popular item in the food pantry. It spans across cultures very well. It meets a lot of the dietary restrictions that people may have. It’s high in protein, and eggs, even when we’re not in a shortage, we go through them like crazy.”
Beecher said before the shortage in September 2024, the pantry saw approximately 600 people per week and could only serve eggs to 135 of those 600.
“We get deliveries on Monday and Tuesday, and then we open Tuesday, so a bunch of people come on Tuesday, and then
“It’s high in protein, and eggs, even when we’re not in a shortage, we go through them like crazy.”
Steph Beecher
Basic needs coordinator of University of Iowa Food Pantry
throughout the week, it kind of drops off,” she said. “So, what we’re finding is we’re just running out of eggs, shortage or no shortage, by the end of the week.”
Before the egg shortage, the pantry hoped to allocate a portion of its budget to purchase eggs on top of those already donated. Now, such plans must be put on hold.
“When you have to tell somebody, ‘No, we’re out,’ or ‘Sorry, we’ve rationed them for the day,’ it feels defeating,” she said. “Nobody wants to have to tell somebody: ‘Sorry, eggs are out.’ People depend on them.”
Apeksha Adhikari, basic needs manager at the UI Food Pantry, recalls visiting Farmer’s Hen House in the fall 2024 semester.
She noted while egg production was slower, a common trend during the winter, it was nothing compared to the shortage brought on by the bird flu.
“The main problem is, avian influenza affects roosters and hens, right?” she said. “The more hens that get affected, the less eggs that they’re going to produce. [Farmer’s Hen House] prioritizes distributing them to grocery stores and then the bigger food pantries. So, we are at the bottom of that priority list.”
Adhikari recalls first hearing about the virus in a UI class, titled Finding Patient Zero.
“That was a year ago, and they were talking about how avian influenza was starting to spread. And now, a year later, it has clearly spread and has now begun spreading into humans,” she said. “Because of that, a lot of farmers are also euthanizing their poultry.”
The UI food pantry isn’t the only food pantry scrambled by the shortage.
Krystal Kabela, the Iowa City food bank manager for CommUnity Crisis Services, said they also receive donations from Farmers Hen House.
“They donate us eggs that don’t fit the standards for sizing and to be able to sell. So, we continue to receive a donation, but our donation has been cut by at least 25 percent,” she said “So, we don’t have enough to go around. We don’t have the budget, really, to purchase anymore.”
As donations have been cut from 40 cases of eggs, each with 15 dozen, to 30 at the most, spreading such a supply among the 150 to 200 households CommUnity serves has proven extremely difficult.
Kabela said the food bank also received donations from United Natural Foods in the past, but donation amounts have dropped since the summer.
“We’ve talked about trying to ration them throughout the week and only put out a specific amount each day and divide the donation up,” Kabela said. “I don’t know if I find that to be fair, either. So, it’s sort of a tough conundrum to solve.”
SINCE OCTOBER 2024
The percent of change in egg prices from November 2024 to January 2025 is over 15 percent.
Cody Blissett | The Daily Iowan
Demonstrators dance during an immigration protest in downtown Iowa City on Feb. 3. Dozens of demonstrators danced, sang, chanted, and marched throughout the early evening. A handful of counter-protesters were in attendance.
EGG PRICE FLUXATION
Sourced from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
by Emily Pavlik
Madison Frette | The Daily Iowan
A carton of eggs is seen at the University of Iowa Food Pantry on Feb. 19. Egg prices grew 15.2 percent nationwide between December and January.
and radical unionism — will prove more effective than trying to improve the Democratic Party from within.
“The Democratic Party, at the end of the day, its class interests are that of the Republican Party,” Weilein said. “You have wealthy business owners that make up the Democratic Party, and they have many of the same donors [as Republicans].”
With an unapologetic distaste for electoral politics and hierarchical power structures, Weilein insisted he is not a politician and has no plans to use a city council seat as a springboard to higher office.
If elected, Weilein said he hopes to do locally what many feel the Democratic Party has failed to do nationally: use his position to improve the material conditions of people’s lives.
“Not only make their lives better, but to empower them through these improvements to make it easier for them to organize amongst themselves and to continue to advocate for themselves as working people or as oppressed people,” Weilein said.
Where punk meets policy
Growing up in a working-class family — his father a school bus driver and his mother an emergency room nurse — Weilein said he was always aware of how policy directly impacts groups like tenants and wage workers. However, it was his early interest in punk music that sparked Weilein’s awareness of systemic injustice and drive for grassroots activism, shaping the community advocacy work he has dedicated his adult life to.
“Punk is like a living way in which society could be different,” Weilein said. “Obviously going along with that, you’re exposed to so much left-wing politics. There’s always an anarchist zine table [at a punk show].”
After graduating high school in Cedar Falls, Weilein said he moved to Iowa City for the punk scene and the city’s progressive culture. Weilein still plays in two local punk bands — Bootcamp and Death Kill Overdrive — and has regularly performed shows to raise money for charitable organizations and mutual aid efforts.
In his free time, Weilein immerses himself in complex social and economic issues that interest him and is an avid reader — finishing over 130 books last year. Yet, despite his extensive knowledge, he never set foot in a college classroom.
“That was a very conscious choice,” Weilein said of his decision to forgo formal education.
Instead of taking the college route, he used his time to travel — playing punk shows in Iceland, hitchhiking across the deserts of Egypt, and exploring the world on his own terms.Weilein said his decision not to pursue a degree also means he lives on a modest income, sharing a rented apartment with his partner, Juliette, and their cat, Lilith. He works as a caregiver for adults with intellectual disabilities at Systems Unlimited — a role that may not come with a large paycheck, but one he takes pride in for the impact he has on the small group of clients he supports.
“It’s really good for the soul to know that when you go into work, no matter how hard it is, you’re doing something that is essential,” Weilein said. “It means a lot to me. These individuals that I’ve worked with for so long, my love for them grows every day, and our bond gets deeper.”
For Iowa City community organizer Amel Ali, it is Weilein’s lived experience that makes him such a worthy candidate for the city council seat.
“He is a renter. He makes minimum wage,” Ali said. “He understands what that’s like, what life most Iowa City [residents] have to live.” Ali first met Weilein in 2020 during a surge of Black Lives Matter protests in Iowa City. She described him as someone who stands firmly against injustice while remaining measured, recalling how he routinely de-escalated tense
situations and looked out for fellow protesters.
Weilein takes on a similar role at the Emma Goldman Clinic, volunteering as a frontline advocate — a position created to help ensure patient safety amid frequent anti-abortion protests outside the clinic.
“Oliver has always been one of the first people that is willing to rally and support and utilize his privileges to help other people,” Ali said. “I find that admirable.”
But his activism has come at a cost.
Weilein is currently in the process of suing the University of Iowa Police Department for wrongful arrest after he attempted to join and document a pro-Palestine protest. Weilein said he arrived at the December 2023 demonstration at Kinnick Stadium after protesters had already been arrested. Shortly afterward, he was briefly detained when he went to the county jail where they were being held.
Weilein said officers released him after acknowledging he had violated no laws. He said he is now working with his attorney to push the UIPD to release body camera footage, which Weilein believes will confirm his account of the incident.
“It’s not the first time I’ve sued a police department,” Weilein said.
After Trump’s 2016 election, Weilein was arrested outside the White House during inauguration protests. Little Village Magazine reported he was the only Iowan among the 234 people detained that day. Weilein said he later joined a class-action lawsuit against the police department over their conduct, receiving a $4,000 payout — which he used to buy his vehicle.
Eventually, Weilein said his involvement in documenting and participating in Iowa City protests led to him and his partner receiving threats.
Their personal details, including his family’s address and his partner’s workplace, were posted online, and he said people showed up outside their window in the middle of the night. Ali confirmed the threats, and archived posts from Weilein’s X, formerly known as Twitter, account support his claims.
As a seasoned protestor, Weilein said he knew the risks of taking such a public role with local demonstrations but chose to do so anyway to protect the protest’s organizers.
“They were teenagers, they were children, and they were Black, and they were migrants,” Weilein said. “One of my biggest fears throughout that whole thing was them being targeted like I have been targeted in the past.”
“Have
fun with your opposition research”
In response to the threats, Weilein said he and his partner decided to purchase and train with firearms for protection. His ownership of an AR-15 rifle has drawn sharp criticism from both his opponent as well as current City Councilor Shawn Harmsen.
But Weilein said he opposes gun culture, despises the National Rifle Association, and has no violent tendencies. He said his decision to own a firearm was purely for protection, choosing an AR-15 because it was the most cost-effective option and the same type of weapon used in the threats against him and his partner.
At a Feb. 10 meeting with local advocacy group Moms Demand Action, Weilein’s opponent criticized his ownership of an AR-15. In response, Weilein called Nusser’s characterization a “disingenuous hit piece,” stating he had already explained his reason for owning a firearm.
The day after the heated meeting, Moms Demand Action member Temple Hiatt, a veteran and gun safety advocate, endorsed Weilein — a decision City Councilor Laura Bergus said speaks volumes.
“I know [Hiatt] has met with Oliver and spoken with him at length and is willing to put her credibility behind him,” Bergus said. “That’s all I need to know.”
Weilein’s social media posts — including images of burning an American flag at a barbecue, joking about the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and praising vandalism after the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests — have also drawn criticism. Bergus, however, said she doesn’t see the posts as an issue.
“I am a long time user of Twitter and understand how social media works and how people speak on the internet,” Bergus said. “So, I’m not concerned by [his posts] and his punk ideology. I think it’s been intentionally misconstrued to paint him as someone who he’s not.”
Not shying away from the issue, Weilein added a section to his X bio after launching his campaign that reads, “Have fun with your opposition research.” He has also refused to delete controversial posts, saying that would be dishonest.
“The way I’ve run my campaign, specifically, I don’t hide anything about myself,” Weilein said.
No war with the workers, no peace with the machine
While critics have called Weilein’s social media activity and positions — such as his pledge to fight ICE rather than comply with the agency — radical, Ali emphasized that marginalized communities see value in an elected official who is unwavering in his commitment to protect and advocate for them.
“It’s really easy to say that these things are radical when you come from a position where they don’t directly affect you,” Ali said. “I think that the time for cowering is not now.”
Ali said Weilein’s decisive primary win — taking nearly 70 percent of the vote in District C — shows voters are ready for a candidate who goes against the status quo.
Similarly, Bergus said she values Weilein for his unapologetic stances and personal commitment to protecting fellow residents from injustice. She added while some may view his rhetoric as inflammatory, she has found his interpersonal communication to be anything but.
“He’ll set aside differences of opinion,” Bergus said. “I’m sure he’ll do a good job working even with those who’ve been intentionally smearing him.”
Weilein has echoed that sentiment himself, emphasizing advocating for tenants doesn’t mean vilifying landlords and saying his disagreements with Nusser wouldn’t stop him from working together if it served the greater good. But his willingness to collaborate has its limits. When it comes to what he sees as fascism, Weilein said there is no middle ground. As many brace for what’s ahead — state crackdowns on protests, heightened immigration enforcement, and growing political uncertainty — Weilein remains true to his punk roots. He isn’t afraid to fight the law.
“There’s lots of things to be fearful for, but we can weather this by looking after each other in a very personal and community-minded way,” Weilein said. “We have more power than they want us to think.”
Ava Neumaier | The Daily Iowan
Oliver Weilein takes a campaign sign out of his car in Iowa City on Feb. 20. He delivered multiple yard signs to houses around Iowa City for residents who requested them.
Ava Neumaier | The Daily Iowan
Iowa City Councilor Laura Bergus speaks to a potential voter during a canvassing event for Oliver Weilein’s Iowa City City Council campaign on Feb. 15. Ten volunteers split up to knock on doors across Iowa City to drum up support for the March 4 election.
Ava Neumaier | The Daily Iowan
Oliver Weilein speaks to the Young Democratic Socialists of America at the Iowa Memorial Union on Feb 20. The YDSA invited him to a Q&A to talk about his campaign for Iowa City Council, where he is running against Ross Nusser in a March 4 election.
NUSSER from 1A
a race steeped in questions and controversy around development concerns that have plagued Iowa City with increasing debate surrounding housing affordability.
Experience is important, Nusser said, who argues that a career in the real estate business has provided him with practicality and understanding.
“It’s easy to have an idea that sounds good on paper,” he said. “But in the real world, there are real logistical constraints on some of these things where we can’t just do everything that sounds good.”
Nusser has named affordable housing and mental health care as objectives in his campaign and believes his understanding and ideas to solve these issues are what the city needs.
Affordable housing is a critical issue among Iowa City residents, and both candidates have addressed ideas about making more housing available to a wider range of incomes. In a Feb. 12 question and answer session at Oaknoll Retirement Residence, community members voiced concerns about the high costs of living in Iowa City, with Nusser reaffirming his belief enhanced nonprofit support can help address these issues.
He cited the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County as a nonprofit he would aim to support as a part of the fight to improve housing affordability. Programs such as these may provide no-interest loans and leased land contracts, which combat high living costs.
Nusser said a central City Council directive, its comprehensive plan, is an important, systematic approach to responsible development. The plan, he said, is intended to incentivize strategic development in Iowa City.
The plan itself is a 115-page document addressing city land use abilities, regulation of infrastructure like floodplains in response to the 2008 Iowa River flood, and economic development incentives, among a myriad of other subjects that define the City Council’s development goals for the next several years.
Nusser said he believes the city needs to focus on these big-picture development plans to guide the ecosystem between land developers, city government, and local businesses. He emphasized property development and real estate should be affirmed instead of “villainized,” a portrayal brought to the forefront during the race, as Weilein has historically fought against landlords and for housing as a human right.
“It’s villainizing those who are trying to do it [develop],” he said. “It’s counterproductive to the goals of the city.”
In 2018, the property at 202 N. Linn St., home to the Webster, was rezoned by the council to allow Nusser to develop the property. Initially, he indicated the property was idealized for senior housing at a June 2017 meeting. Nusser said due to a misunderstanding by his attorney of regulatory language by the U.S. Housing and Development, however, the planned property would no longer be suitable for senior housing, according to Little Village Magazine
The building finished construction in 2019 and is now home to several condominiums for sale and listed by Nusser and other agents at Urban Acres.
Phil O’Brien, realtor and broker at Urban Acres, said in a conversation with the DI that Nusser is someone who understands the housing market and its needs.
O’Brien mentioned the continuous efforts that Nusser and others at Urban Acres undergo to lobby for government-market tools like tax increment financing, or TIF, which is used to prioritize development in some areas by specifically adjusting property tax rates to allow cheaper property development.
“It’s not just about making a living, it’s about giving back to the community,” O’Brien said of Nusser’s work.
Nusser currently serves as the board president of Community & Family Resources and is a board member at Successful Living, both nonprofits serving much of Iowa that, in addition to providing affordable housing assistance, deal
prevention and awareness.
Nusser said he is committed to policies and actions that address the individuals who struggle with mental health issues, a sentiment Community and Family Resources Executive Director Michelle De La Riva agreed with in a conversation with the DI Community and Family Resources provides outpatient and residential behavioral health programs that assist patients with substance addictions as well as help prevent them. De La Riva said Nusser’s business and treatment experience positions him to serve as an effective voice on the City Council, where he will help put policies in place that could help individuals in need.
“I just think that if people are looking for someone who has a heart for their community, Ross is certainly their candidate,” she said.
Campaign controversy
In 2018, according to court documents, Nusser and his then-wife Jill Gretter entered divorce proceedings.
At that time, Nusser also underwent a lawsuit by American Express and received a wage garnishment of his earnings at Urban Acres as a result of unpaid credit card debt and property taxes totaling over $75,000. Nusser said this came at a time of recovery from active substance addiction.
“We found ourselves like a lot of people in trouble not knowing what to do,” he said. “I was so entrenched in the middle of active addiction that I couldn’t do anything. I could’ve just settled it out. I had young kids, and I was trying to get sober.”
Nusser has critized Weilein’s social media history and Weilein himself — a theme of analyzing his opponent’s personal history.
In a public appearance by both candidates in a meeting on Feb. 10 sponsored by Moms Demand Action — a firearm training and education advocacy group — Nusser called out a number of what he called “troubling social media posts” made by his opponent over the past several years.
Among them, Nusser pointed out one that made light of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and another that indicated his opponent’s ownership of an AR-15 assault rifle. Nusser noted, however, that he also owns a firearm.
Weilein, in response, said he purchased the firearm for self-defense against death threats received from individuals who disagree with his work to serve marginalized populations and LGBTQ+ Iowans, and deleting his past social media posts in light of the election would be dishonest.
“There is no place for that kind of extremism in local leadership,” Nusser said during a portion of the meeting. “I see firsthand how gun violence is tied to so many other systemic issues, domes
community trauma.”
The two candidates have also posed different opinions on issues like ICE’s presence in Iowa City.
Weilein came out strong against ICE, for instance, referring to the federal immigration agency as a “terrorist organization” at a January debate hosted by the Johnson County League of Women Voters.
“I think that ICE should not exist, and I think that ICE is a terrorist organization in the U.S. that separates families,” Weilein added.
Nusser, in turn, has criticized anti-ICE stances, a position he said was “mischaracterized” by Iowa City residents.
In a Feb. 1 Facebook post, Nusser encouraged cooperation with ICE authorities, saying a failure to comply would translate to critical state and federal funding dollars being stripped from the Iowa City community.
These comments were met with a negative community response, with some Facebook responders calling Nusser’s opinion “a losing position.” The minority of responders took the opposite side, with one calling Nusser’s response “spot on.”
Nusser elaborated on his position in his interview: Fighting ICE and losing millions of dollars in public funding will only hurt the city’s ability to protect marginalized communities further.
While speaking with the DI , Nusser drew a contrast between himself and his opponent Weilein — a trend during his campaign.
“I bring a level of experience that he just does not have,” Nusser said, referring to his experience on nonprofit boards and working directly with the real estate market.
Iowa City Councilor Shawn Harmsen
he agrees with his position on the current presidential administration.
“He noticed the mission was to vote for Kamala to stand up against Trump in 2024,” Harmsen said in a conversation with the DI Harmsen complimented both candidates, however, for their efforts to support the Iowa City community and said he is happy to have service-minded individuals running for City Council.
“I think it is a very Iowa City thing to have two candidates running for office who have found ways to give back to their community before running for City Council,” he said.
After meeting Nusser in January, Harmsen said he was impressed by his ideas for and attitude toward key issues like affordable housing, and Nusser, even with overlap between the two candidates, has greater expertise to handle the challenges.
“I was really impressed with Ross’s work and how he talks about his work,” he said, “also his discussion about facing down his own demons, not just doing that for his own good but also helping other people in the community with their own alcohol or substance abuse issues.”
Nusser summed up his campaign for Iowa City City Council as one built on a foundation of advocacy for the improved health and living conditions of those in Iowa City and Johnson County as a whole. He said he believes his extensive history serving Iowa City residents will prove that sentiment through relationships and support for the people and organizations that make Iowa City special.
“We have real people who have dedicated their real careers to solving these real issues right now,” he said, “and they just need to be propped up and emboldened
Cody Blissett | The Daily Iowan
Ross Nusser’s mother Betsy tells a story to Susan Boyd at Oaknoll Retirement Residence in Iowa City on Feb. 19. Nusser read birthday wishes to his grandmother, who just turned 99 years old.
Cody Blissett | The Daily Iowan
Ross Nusser eats breakfast with family at Hamburg Inn in Iowa City on Feb. 23. Nusser has been working in real estate since 2009.
Cody Blissett | The Daily Iowan
Ross Nusser speaks with residents while canvassing in Iowa City on Feb. 21, 2025.
Nusser is president at Community & Family Resources and has been a board member at Successful Living for 13 years.
The rising politicization of Iowan classrooms
New legislation places teachers and legislators at odds, with students in the middle.
Mia O’Connor-Walker Politics Reporter politics@dailyiowan.com
Teaching history and government at Ames High School for 30 years, retired teacher Kirstin Sullivan has observed a shift in the profession.
Sullivan said for many, becoming a teacher feels like a calling, and it’s not for the faint of heart. She said teaching has become increasingly exhausting with workloads increasing without an adequate increase in support.
These strains have led to increasing numbers of teachers leaving the Ames School District and schools across the state. A study done in Iowa in 2024 revealed a shortage of approximately 1,000 teachers in the state.
“In the last few years in my district, there was a mass exodus of teachers, which was very uncommon,” Sullivan said.
The increasing teacher vacancy rate is a trend nationwide, with a 2022 study by Brown University finding approximately 52,800 vacant teaching positions across the U.S. Sullivan said part of the stress falling on teachers comes from the increasingly politicized environment of teaching, which she sees as a major issue.
“Education is one of those things that shouldn’t be politicized because it’s for everybody. It’s a leveler,” Sullivan said. “It takes the poorest kid and gives them a chance.”
This phenomenon began prior to COVID19, but the pandemic exacerbated the issue. Now, more teachers are quitting than before, and the gap between teacher openings and hirings is widening.
The Iowa legislature has passed sweeping laws reshaping the landscape of education. Some examples of these laws include House File 802, which limits lessons on systemic racism and sexism, and Senate File 496, which prohibits instruction relating to gender identity and sexual orientation from K-6 classes.
Iowa Rep. Elinor Levin, D-Iowa City, a former teacher, said these bills — along with other legislation targeting public schools — make teaching in Iowa more difficult.
“When we see bill after bill that is demonizing public school teachers, that is suggesting that teachers are trying to enact some sort of a radical agenda rather than just trying to wrap care around Iowa’s kids,” Levin said. “It makes it a really hard place to be a teacher.”
On top of this divisive legislation, new education bills are currently being debated at the State Capitol in Des Moines. This includes legislation prohibiting school districts from taking action against teachers who refuse to use a student’s preferred name and requiring Iowa schools to show a three-minute video of fetal growth and development.
Beyond the state level, President Donald Trump has proposed eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, which provides funds for low-income students on the K-12 and higher education levels, along with funding for students with disabilities, school-provided meals, and more.
“I’d like it to be closed immediately. Look, the Department of Education is a big con job,” Trump said to reporters on Feb. 12. In his 2024 campaign platform, Trump justified this stance with the claim that the U.S. spends more per pupil than any other nation yet is on the bottom on international educational rankings.
However, neither of these claims are true. In the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development rankings of education, the U.S. ranks 20th out of the 40 OECD member nations, and according to the National Center of Education Statistics, the U.S. does not have the highest per pupil cost in the world.
Moms for Liberty says policies aimed to protect kids
Jennifer Turner was inspired to begin the Polk County chapter of Moms for Liberty
after learning some third grade classrooms in the Johnston Community School District were partaking in a virtual field trip called, “A Kid’s Play about Racism,” which sought to explain systemic racism.
Turner — whose son is biracial — said she felt this kind of coursework being taught in Johnston could alienate her son.
“I don’t want my biracial son to go sit in this class and be singled out because to his classmates, he wasn’t different,” Turner said.
Turner launched her chapter of the conservative advocacy group that focuses on K-12 education in July 2021.
Moms for Liberty of Iowa, which consists of six chapters including Turner’s, released a list of priorities for this legislative session. Among these priorities were removing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion positions from K-12 schools, which the organization said indoctrinates children and diverts schools’ focus away from education. This action could be achieved through the passing of House Study Bill 155, which is currently being debated in Des Moines.
Amber Williams, treasurer of the Polk County chapter of Moms for Liberty, said the fundamental goal of the organization is to restore and enhance parental rights in K-12 education and return curricula to what she describes as, “the basics.”
“When we’re focused on social issues, when do we have time for the curriculum?”
Williams said.
Williams said she hopes this goal could be achieved through House Study Bill 84, which would remove all gender studies lessons from K-12 curricula. This would act as an extension of Senate File 496.
Williams and Turner both said these bills are not based on anti-LGBTQ+ ideology but rather are targeted at removing sexually explicit content from school bookshelves. They said such content includes descriptions of sex between biological men and biological women, and they said the bill is not a full ban but rather limits what is accessible in schools.
“We don’t touch public libraries, and we don’t want books banned,” Turner said. “We just want — in our school walls, that our tax dollars pay for — that our kids are not seeing photos of blowjobs.”
They said current curricula focus too greatly on gender studies and systemic racism and paints a disturbing picture of America, arguing that certain lessons, like the history of violence against Native Americans and their displacement, are not age-appropriate for younger students.
“At the end of the day, we think that our students — our children — should be proud to be American, and that is the piece that is missing from our education today,” Turner said. “We are teaching the bad and none of the good.”
Levin, however, argued altering curricula to exclude lessons on racism, sexism, and gender studies won’t benefit schools but will instead harm them.
“The fact that we have kids in our schools who are just trying to get through the day and be happy, and teachers who support them and allow what is seen as divisive and indoctrinating is, in my view, disingenuous,” Levin said.
Teachers say politicized policies harm schools
Joshua Brown teaches special education and social studies at Goodrell Middle School in northeast Des Moines. Brown is currently on release from this position to serve as president of the Iowa State Education Association, a union that represents over 50,000 educators across the state.
Brown said ever since the first Trump administration, teachers and the state education association have increasingly had to combat political rhetoric implying public school teachers are some kind of enemy. This rhetoric, Brown said, became exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the nation became increasingly polarized regarding COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
Brown said this polarization fostered a
“you’re either with me or against me,” attitude among the general population, which he said hindered compromise and conversation in the public school sphere.
Brown said the conservative legislation targeting schools purposefully distracts from what the government should be doing, which he said is working with schools to ensure students are gaining access to education to prepare them for an ever-changing technological world.
Sullivan said certain bills, like House File 802 which limited lessons on racism and sexism in Iowa classrooms and forbade teaching that the U.S. or Iowa is systemically racist, made teaching her curriculum more complicated.
As a history and government teacher, Sullivan said it was hard to avoid teaching systemic racism, as it comes into play when understanding the reason for the 14th Amendment — equal protection under the law — and strict scrutiny.
For students to understand curricula, especially for those enrolled in AP classes, Sullivan said these lessons must be taught, and teachers shouldn’t feel threatened by the law for doing so.
Sullivan said the political debates about what teachers should and should not be doing add to a workload that has already made heavy through understaffing and poor administration. It exhausts teachers, she said.
Since the beginning of her career, Sullivan has said support for teachers has waned, workloads have increased, and the profession has become increasingly politicized and divisive. All the while, pay has remained low. This, Sullivan said, is what she believes is leading to many teachers having had enough.
“People don’t go into teaching for the money,” Sullivan said. “They tend to go into it because they believe in the work. They believe in the calling. But I think more and more you’re going to see people move away from education because it is not worth the money to have to put in the work and have so many things fall on you and not be appreciated even in an incidental way.”
Future teacher finds hope in students
Kylie Edwardson, a fourth-year elementary education major at Iowa State University and current student teacher, said ever since the first grade, she knew she was going to be a teacher.
“I would just come home and teach my American Girl dolls,” she said.
Edwardson said she has never seriously considered doing anything else with her life and, like Sullivan, she believes that becoming a teacher is a calling.
But in recent years, Edwardson said the prospects of becoming a teacher have become increasingly frightening as new legislation targets public school classrooms across Iowa and the nation.
Area Education Agencies funding came under threat last year when Reynolds proposed lowering the funding public schools receive for AEA programs.
Ultimately, most of AEA program funding was retained, but Edwardson still fears what the future of AEA in Iowa may look like, along with programs for students with disabilities on the federal level, as Trump’s administration proposes terminating the U.S. Department of Education.
Edwardson’s sister uses a wheelchair and is nonverbal. At school, she is able to receive speech and occupational therapy — programs that are provided on the state level by AEA and on the federal level by Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs.
Edwardson worries an uncertain future for AEAs coupled with the possible termination of the federal Department of Education will result in her sister and students like her across the nation losing access to those services.
Edwardson said she understands why teachers in Iowa are leaving but is sad to see them go.
She is hoping as she enters the profession she will receive guidance from school districts and fellow teachers on how to best navigate the changing political climate of the classroom but also acknowledges that if this climate worsens, she may choose to teach in another state.
“I’ve been here a long time, and I would love to stay here to be around my family, but unfortunately, I have already started to look into teaching in other states,” she said. Josie Babcock, a first-year student at the University of Iowa studying English and creative writing with the hopes of becoming a teacher, also said if legislation continues to target public schools, she may look to teach outside of Iowa.
“If it gets bad enough to where it’s going to severely affect my job or how I teach my students, then if it’s best for me, I’ll do what I have to do,” Babcock said
Like Edwardson, Babcock said now is a scary time to enter the profession of teaching, especially after witnessing how legislation impacted and frustrated her own K-12 teachers.
“I see so many teachers quitting or leaving their jobs, so it does make me scared for what I might have to go through,” Babcock said.
Babcock said teaching is the only career she’s ever wanted to pursue, and her passion has kept her motivated despite the stressors. She said another one of her motivations is knowing that no matter how politicized classrooms become, it is essential for communities to have access to education. Like Babcock, Edwardson is determined to teach. She currently works as a student teacher, and her inspiration to keep going, she said, is her students.
“I just love every single one of them, and to be able to be such a role model for so many students, I think that’s something that’s so beautiful that not many people can say that they do.”
OPEN STATE TEACHING SLOTS
Over 275 superintendents across Iowa identified open teaching positions in their district.
Jessy Lane | The Daily Iowan
First-year student Josie Babcock poses for a portrait in Iowa City, on Feb. 22. Babock is studying English and creative writing at the University of Iowa with hopes of becoming a teacher in the future.
OPINIONS
COLUMN
DEI reversals open door to new attitudes
DEI programs have been reversed at the federal level. Can Iowa’s Black history inform how new approaches to supporting diversity and inclusion are shaped?
Julia Anderson Opinions Columnist opinions@dailyiowan.com
Since returning to the White House last month, President Donald Trump has signed a slew of executive orders in a bold display of his administration’s new agenda. Included were policies aimed at the total elimination of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, or DEI, from previous administrations. An executive order titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” described the policies as “illegal and immoral discrimination.”
DEI offices and training programs have been established in abundance in schools and workplaces across the nation, including the University of Iowa.
These programs intend to address systemic inequalities tied to identity by promoting diversity in educational and professional environments, making the services these institutions offer more reflective and accommodating of a diverse public.
This approach, however, has been framed as divisive and unnecessary by more conservative audiences who feel emphasizing differences in identities is not an issue for governmental address.
The order against DEI has prompted a mandatory shutdown of all existent federal DEI offices and the suspension of work with contractors engaging in DEI practices. The executive order states, “Americans deserve a government committed to serving every person with equal dignity and respect, and to expending precious taxpayer resources only on making America great.”
DEI is also being fought at the state level. In May of last year, the Iowa legislature passed Senate File 2435 restricting DEI practices across the state. The move primarily focused on the role of DEI on public university campuses in the state. The restrictions most prominently include limitations on DEI-related graduation requirements such as courses on social justice, anti-racism, and cultural compe-
COLUMN
tence.
DEI promotes the idea that extra assistance should be given to populations who have inherited disadvantages in order to make the quality of life more equitable for all populations. In workplaces, this largely means diversifying staff, and in schools, expanding coursework to include information more relevant to marginalized populations. These motions have been met with legislation to remove content deemed inappropriate or provocative from schools, largely being applied to racial and LGBTQ+ content.
Now that a party is in power that has claimed credit for the demise of long-standing precedents like affirmative action and doubled down on its anti-DEI stance, progress on the social justice front today looks less than promising.
DEI programs were a success for social justice infrastructure development over the last decade. However, in losing them, not all future progress has been lost. Those invested in the mission of DEI should shift focus to ways to stay engaged without institutional aid. In Iowa City alone, there are several historical markers detailing examples of personal initiative that ultimately ushered in significant progress for the city.
The Tate Arms House, for instance, located at 914 S. Dubuque St., is recognized today for its usage as an off-campus housing facility for Black men attending the UI before dorms allowed Black residents.
The university has admitted Black students since as early as the 1870s with the first on-campus dorms constructed in the 1910s. The dorms were not integrated until decades later in 1946. In that time, there were several homes in the community, like the Tate Arms House, that offered off-campus housing so that Black students could attend the university despite resistance by way of housing discrimination.
The Iowa Federation House, located at 942 Iowa Ave., is another relevant example. This property conversely housed Black female students attending the university and was operated by the Iowa Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs. The house also notably contributed to the presence of Black Greek organizations in Iowa City, having housed the Kappa Alpha Psi Fra-
Stop wearing other schools’ merchandise on campus
You attend classes at Iowa, you pay tuition to Iowa, and you live in Iowa. Represent your own school.
While walking to my 10:30 a.m. lecture last Monday morning blasting the classic hits of Hall and Oates in my headphones and attempting to stay warm in the unbearable Iowa cold, something caught my eye.
At first, I didn’t believe what I was witnessing. But as I got closer, my eyes were unfortunately proven right. I saw a group of what appeared to be three students walking into the Biology Building, all wearing merch from dif -
EDITORAL CARTOON
ferent state universities.
One was donning a navy and orange Illinois hoodie that presented the classic block “I” logo front and center, while another was repping a bright red Wisconsin Badgers beanie. The final member of the crew was supporting, of all the teams in the world, the Michigan Wolverines by draping a bright blue and maize starter jacket over her shoulders as she sashayed into a science classroom.
Seeing this ridiculous collection of Big Ten clothing on Iowa students made my chili run red hot, and even as I trotted off to class, I couldn’t shake the traumatic image from my mind.
Now, I understand I am a uniquely proud Hawkeye and the University of Iowa undergraduate population con -
ternity for several years while in operation.
Resources like the Tate Arms House and the Iowa Federation House ushered in the eventual full integration of the UI campus by tangibly normalizing and broadening the presence of Black students.
Both of these sites are testaments to how social progress can be facilitated at the local level without interaction with any politicized governmental system. They canonize the stories of Iowa City community members who witnessed inequality in their city and took the personal initiative to fill that gap.
Although DEI has been essentially
tains students from all sorts of geographic backgrounds. With those backgrounds come local allegiances and familial support for specific schools and teams. However, I believe if you are a tuition-paying student of the UI, while on campus and around Iowa City, you should only wear Hawkeye merch to show support and bolster pride for your institution — or at least to make my negative 10-degree walk to class slightly more palatable.
I am well aware this is an unpopular opinion, especially since the UI has a large swath of students reigning from states where multiple Big Ten universities preside, like Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana. But it pains me every day to see people wear clothing from schools they don’t attend just because they’re from that given state or because they had a passionate uncle or obscure cousin “go there.”
This notion isn’t necessarily a novel concept, with other students on campus sharing similar beliefs like current fourth-year student Nicole Quist.
The Texas native and environmental science major believes it can be somewhat jarring to see Iowa students rocking non-UI clothing, especially when walking around Iowa City. She also
extinguished as a reliable source of reparative progress for minority populations, there are still ways to curb the societal disparities on an individual level. If the consensus is that government resources are not best spent on paving the way to social reform, then maybe community resources are. At the local level, there are innovative ways to support minority communities without government oversight. We should collectively take note of the foundational successes that took place in times past before DEI and government were ever intertwined.
thinks that “by wearing other Big Ten school’s merch on campus, it tends to dampen this community we have worked so hard to build here at Iowa.”
Similarly, other students are more bothered by specific types of school merch being worn rather than upset by the general act of someone wearing random college gear.
Fourth-year student Ethan Umina claims, “if I saw someone wearing a Rutgers shirt I’m not gonna care, because… it’s Rutgers. But when I see someone in Nebraska or Iowa State stuff, I just assume they are desperate for attention. They have to know wearing rival stuff around campus will catch peoples’ attention, and I think that’s kind of what they want. And that’s what bothers me the most: the lack of care and the dismissal of one’s own school pride.”
Now I recognize school merch can be expensive, and oftentimes “gold” isn’t everyone’s first choice of color. But I feel that if you’re going to wear college merch, you might as well represent your own school. And as the Beach Boys said in their 1963 classic hit, “Be true to your school and let your colors fly,” or else you might find your pride and identity lost amid your winter wardrobe.
Editorial Board: Jami Martin-Trainor, Marandah Mangra-Dutcher, Jack Moore, Stella Shipman, Muskan Mehta, Charlie Hickman
COLUMNS, CARTOONS, and OTHER OPINIONS CONTENT reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board, The Daily Iowan, or other organizations in which the author may be involved.
EDITORIALS reflect the majority opinion of the DI Editorial Board and not the opinion of the publisher, Student Publications Inc., or the University of Iowa.
Illustration by Stella Shipman | The Daily Iowan
Cody Blissett | The Daily Iowan
The U.S. Capitol Building is seen in Washington D.C. on April, 9, 2024.
IC lieutenant earns Fire Officer designation
A scientist turned firefighter, Axel Swanson
Emma Jane News Reporter news@dailyiowan.com
Axel Swanson, a lieutenant with the Iowa City Fire Department, recently earned a Fire Officer designation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Swanson, a 25-year firefighter, is one of only 848 designated Fire Officers worldwide.
“This job has become part of me,” Swanson said.
The Fire Officer designation signifies a firefighter’s demonstrated expertise in leadership, professional skills, and community involvement, meeting nationally recognized standards.
After earning his master’s degree in science from the University of Iowa in 1998, Swanson first worked for the UI doing prostate cancer research. His interest in
working for the Cedar Rapids Fire Department. Out of curiosity, Swanson began the testing process for the Iowa City Fire Department and, before he knew it, received a full-time job offer.
“You get to help people,” Swanson said. “You get to be out there in the community, and just that aspect is very fulfilling.”
He said he’s had several opportunities to apply his background in science to his career in fire service.
“I found myself at the hazmat station and periodic chart,” Swanson said. “All the chemicals that we’ll see at the interstate. Radioactivity, Geiger counters, all the things that we use to detect the presence of spills happening.”
Bill Schmooke, assistant fire chief for the North Liberty Fire Department and lieutenant for the Iowa City Fire Department, said he has witnessed Swanson’s devotion
is one of 848 Fire Officers worldwide.
worked together.
“Axel has done a lot of things in the fire service,” Schmooke said. “He’s currently out at station four, which is our public education station. And for the last few years, he’s really put his heart and soul into the fire prevention week.”
Schmooke said Swanson took the initiative to earn certification as a car seat installation technician, allowing him to assist parents who seek help from the department.
“It’s quite a noble endeavor,” Schmooke said, adding the technician role often involves assisting parents on a drop-in basis.
Schmooke, who was also recently designated as a Chief Fire Officer through the Center for Public Safety Excellence, described the designation process as rigorous.
suming process of walking through your years of the fire service and everything I’ve done from the beginning until the present,” Schmooke said. “And then even forecasting future growth.”
The future growth is what Swanson said excites him most about the Fire Officer designation, which he will need to renew in three years.
“It’s validation that you’re on the right track,” Swanson said. “And it’s also good to have that self-evaluation that you can look at. ‘Here’s where I’m at. Where do I need to go so that you can continue improving?’”
Mike Higgins, credentialing program manager for the Center for Public Safety Excellence, said the Fire Officer designation involves demonstrating formal education, documenting career experience, listing professional development and certifications, highlighting contributions to the fire service, detailing memberships and community involvement, and completing 14 technical competencies aligned with national standards.
While the designation does not affect firefighters’ daily work, Higgins emphasized it serves as an important mark of recognition.
“It fosters a sense of pride in their accomplishment,” Higgins said.
On the arduous certification process, Higgins said applicants often struggle most with the community involvement section.
“In the fire service, that’s something we don’t boast about, giving back to the community,” Higgins said. “That’s probably the hardest one for [applicants] to fill out. Not that it’s hard to do. It’s just nobody likes to pat themselves on the back too much.”
Fitting this trend, Swanson didn’t tout the educational or technical services his colleague highlighted but instead shared a unique aspect of the community involvement section.
“Part of our community involvement is we foster kittens at home,” Swanson said.
Reflecting on his most memorable experiences with the fire department, Swanson said he brings his best to every call but cherishes the experiences where he was a part of saving someone’s life.
“They’re all memorable, I wouldn’t say just one,” Swanson said. “But it’s when we have code saves where, as a team, we help somebody get their heart beating again. Those are memorable, and I was part of a couple this past year.”
Christopher Warnock has represented five different landlord-tenant cases in Iowa.
Jack Moore
Managing News Editor
jack.moore@dailyiowan.com
Challenging some of Iowa City’s largest landlords in the courtroom, Iowa City Attorney Christopher Warnock has led a career that seeks to define the relationships between landlords and tenants where the government fell short.
“What I’m doing is educating and inspiring people on the stuff that can be changed,” Warnock said. “There’s plenty of stuff the system handles. Well, what I do is come in when the system’s not handling things. When stuff falls between the cracks.”
Starting his law practice in 1990, Warnock worked as a public defender in Washington, D.C., for 25 years. He moved to Iowa City with his wife, who grew up in the area, in 2005, but said he had no intention of getting into landlord-tenant law.
More than half of Iowa City’s properties are occupied by renters due to the high population of students in town. Warnock said he noticed a general disdain in the city toward landlords, but a conversation with his friend Michael Conroy sparked his landlord-tenant practice.
Conroy rented with Apartments Downtown, the largest landlord company in Iowa City, and was charged more than $400 for a carpet cleaning cost he said was unjustified because there were no damages to the carpet when he left. Apartments Downtown argued it was a provision in the lease Conroy entered and was mandatory.
“They were trying to hustle money out of me, and so I didn’t want to pay that,” Conroy said. “I decided I wasn’t going to pay that come hell or high water.”
He brought his concerns to Warnock and, after his review of the lease, Warnock believed the carpet cleaning provision was prohibited by the Iowa Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
While he did not have previous experience in the practice, Warnock decided to file a class action suit, which totaled more than 14,000 tenants, against Apartments Downtown for their lease provisions. In 2016, a settlement led to removing the carpet cleaning provision and a monetary award to impacted tenants.
“It was just sort of a process of being on a trapeze and jumping in without having anything to grab onto, and then there would always be something to grab onto,”
Warnock said.
Warnock founded the Iowa Landlord Tenant Project to continue representing both landlords and tenants against injustice and argued five landlord-tenant cases in the Iowa Supreme Court, two of which were against Apartments Downtown.
Currently, Warnock is representing a case under review by the Iowa Supreme Court. Butter vs. Midwest Property Management deals with a dispute between a landlord who repeatedly entered Butter’s residence during their lease period and claims the landlord gave too little notice.
While the landlord has the right to enter the property, Warnock argues it requires some amount of notice and the ability for the tenant to decline a landlord entering the home within reason. He hopes this new case will set a precedent for how landlords can enter their tenants’ homes.
He believes educating residents about their rights as both landlords and tenants is something Johnson County can expand
on. Warnock appeared before the Johnson County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 18 to discuss potentially embedding his services within the county.
Supervisor Mandi Remington said she was unsure of using county funds for Warnock because the resources available to tenants are already depleted. Supervisor Lisa Green-Douglass also said there would need to be an open application to pursue a contract with educating residents on landlord-tenant issues.
Supervisor Rod Sullivan said there is room for growth in dealing with landlord-tenant disputes and wants more
conversations to take place before they make a decision.
“We know we’ve got a lot of issues in this county with landlord-tenant relationships,” Sullivan said. “I don’t think it hurts for us to consider some things.”
Looking over his career, Warnock said he believes anyone can make social change through finding opportunities where they can. For him, it was by representing landlords and tenants.
“It was never about fighting landlords,” Warnock said. “It’s about inspiring people. It’s basically so everyone can get along, you know. Let’s make this work.”
John Charlson | The Daily Iowan
Lt. Axel Swanson poses for a portrait inside of Fire Station 4 in Iowa City on Feb. 18. Swanson received the designation as Fire Officer by the Commission on Professional Credentialing, which is valid for the next three years before his revaluation.
Ava Neumaier | The Daily Iowan
Christopher Warnock poses for a portrait in his home in Iowa City on Feb. 21. Warnock is a local attorney at law with five cases that have reached the Iowa Supreme Court.
MEN’S WRESTLING
UI alum Spencer Lee’s Hawkeye homecoming
Lee is back in Iowa for a match, this time with one of his best opponents yet.
Colin Votzmeyer
In Spencer Lee’s trip to Japan after a pin cut his journey for a fourth NCAA title short, his mind was elsewhere. He wanted nothing to do with wrestling. When he sat in on a local practice, though, the club’s wrestlers convinced him to throw his shoes on — and suddenly, everyone in every weight class wanted a spar with him. But Lee wanted one with their World Champion coach, Yuki Takahashi, whom Lee knew beat former Hawkeye and Olympic bronze medalist Thomas Gilman for the world title in 2017. Takahashi in turn wanted to see Lee in a quick round with his protege Masanosuke Ono, entirely unknown to the wrestling world.
WOMEN’S WRESTLING
“No, he’s better than me,” Takahashi told Lee.
“No, you’re a World Champion,” Lee responded. “He’s not better than you.”
“No, no, no. He’s better,” Takahashi said, pointing to Ono.
So Ono and Lee went at it for a three-minute round.
“I remember going, ‘That guy was pretty dang good,’” Lee said at media availability on Feb. 12. “I always wanted the opportunity to wrestle him in a real match.”
Eyeing back-to-back national championship victories
There are 15 wrestlers competing for individual titles, each relying on a fighter’s mentality to help them.
Iowa 117-pound No. 1 Brianna Gonzalez wrestles Augustana’s Gisele Gallegos during the NCWWC Women’s Region 7 Championships at Cowles Fieldhouse at Simpson College in Indianola on Feb. 22. Iowa had champions in every weight class with all 15 Iowa wrestlers making the first place matches.
Jackson Miller
The Iowa women’s wrestling team aims to add another chapter of its legendary young program with their second consecutive NCWWC National Championship.
The Hawkeyes completed the first step of that journey last weekend in Indianola, Iowa. Iowa brought 15 wrestlers to regionals and watched all of them advance to nationals. Five of those championship bouts were all-Hawkeye affairs, as Iowa claimed 10 individual champions en route to the team title. Four champions from the 2024 squad have returned to defend their championships. Although women’s wrestling is still a developing program, the veterans’ experiences enhance the confidence of the newcomers.
“Our team does a really good job of feeding off each
Chun
other,” head coach Clarissa Chun said at media availability on Feb. 18. “We have great leadership within our room that helps each other, whether it took a little longer to warm up, or maybe it was harder practice. It’s all about how they’re framing their mindset.”
The Hawkeyes pride themselves on being a group of fighters, which is exactly the mentality that redshirt fourth-year Nanea Estrella said she believes will bring the Hawkeyes the title once again.
“We are all fighters,” Estrella said at media availability Feb. 18. “We always like to fight for Iowa, we fight for each other. We continuously press on, we press forward in practice, in matches, and in everything. That’s pretty much
Health and financing make it difficult to bring big name professional freestyle wrestlers on for big cards. But when Lee got the call for a matchup back in Iowa with Ono, now a World Champion himself, he gave an immediate yes. It’s been two years since Iowa wrestling fans have heard the blare of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” as Lee adjusts his singlet and strolls smileless to the mat inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena prior to his 125-
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Fans maintain their loyalty to the Iowa game
The Hawkeyes have had a challenging season, but that hasn’t stopped these loyal fans.
As Frank Mitchell walked up to the free throw line during the waning seconds of the Iowa-Minnesota game on Jan. 21, an unusual, relaxed feeling seemed to rush through his body.
Mitchell, only a 47 percent free throw shooter, was tasked with sinking at least one of his two foul shots to nearly lock up a Golden Gopher upset victory. Normally, this would have been a tough spot for the forward, but the game’s location probably made this challenge slightly easier.
Rather than face a shooting backdrop of more than 1,000 screaming fans in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Mitchell’s shooter’s eye was merely 30 rows of gray plastic seats. He knocked in both free throws, and Minnesota escaped Iowa City with a 72-67 victory.
The announced attendance inside Carver-Hawkeye that night was just over 8,000, but only 4-5,000 people likely showed up. If you do the math, that’s roughly one-third of a 15,000-seat arena filled for a Big Ten game. That entire day was marred by brutally cold Iowa weather, but dwindling attendance continues to be a glaring cloud over the rich and storied history of the Iowa men’s basketball program.
Much of the media’s focus is on the fans who haven’t shown up to Carver this season, but through the thick, apathetic fog, loyalty still remains.
Davenport native Gary L. has been an Iowa men’s basketball season ticket holder for over 40 years, a run that spans the final years of the old Iowa Field House and the entire 42-year-history of Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
While the Field House was regarded as one of the loudest venues in the country, its leaky roof and obstructed views warranted the construction of Carver, which opened in 1983. Once Gary heard the new building was on its way, he raced to secure his seat. It took a parking pass mishap and a shared ticket for one season, but Gary did earn a spot for Carver’s inaugural season, where he has been ever since.
Gary has seen some exciting games in Carver but said the 1993 game against Michigan is definitely one of his favorites. The game was the first Hawkeye home game after the tragic death of power forward Chris Street.
“Michigan was the favorite, and we pulled it out, and
Paris, France; Rei Higuchi (JPN) defeats
Isabella Tisdale | The Daily Iowan
Women’s Basketball
Wednesday, Feb. 26
Michigan
6 p.m.
Sunday, March 2
Gymnastics
Sunday, March 2 Michigan State, Penn State, Wisconsin Coralville, Iowa
6 p.m.
Lucy Olsen heats up season turnaround
After posting lower figures in earlier contests, the fourth-year nabbed 28 points in an upset win over USC, kicking off an improved surge near the end of the regular season.
Jack Birmingham Sports Reporter sports@dailyiowan.com
In the wake of a dismal Big Ten losing streak, the Iowa wom en’s basketball team has flipped its season around, winning six straight games before a tough loss to then - No. 8 Ohio State on Feb. 17.
Many players have stepped up their games, but arguably the pri mary factor for the turnaround has been the strong play of fourth-year guard Lucy Olsen.
Olsen averaged just 12.2 points per game during a previous five-game skid in Jan uary.
The point guard netted 20 points in the Hawkeyes’ 85-61 road win against Washington on Jan. 22, kicking off the thrill ing six-game win streak. That game proved to be the spark Olsen needed, as she totaled 22.8 points per game during the surge, including a 28-point performance in an upset victory over then-No. 4 USC on Feb. 2.
“I’ve been struggling just because we’ve been losing,” the fourth-year said after the USC game in a press conference. “I feel like I haven’t helped a lot with helping my team get the win. I’m glad today, the shots were falling.”
3
Track and Field
Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28-March 1 Big Ten Indoor Championships Indianapolis, Indiana
WHAT YOU’VE MISSED
After a silver medal each at the 2024 Paris Olympics, two Hawkeyes won gold while representing the U.S. at the Zagreb Open in Croatia from Feb. 5-9.
The Zagreb Open is the first ranking series tournament of the year, so it brings top wrestlers from across the world to compete. Former Iowa men’s superstar wrestler Spencer Lee struck gold in the men’s freestyle at 57 kilograms. Current Hawkeye women’s wrestler Kennedy Blades won gold at 68 kilograms in the women’s division. Blades is in her first season with the Hawkeyes, undefeated thus far with all victories coming by tech fall or pin.
Lee cruised through his quarterfinal and semifinal matches, winning 11-0 and 8-3, respectively. In the final, Lee faced off with Islam Bazarganov of Azerbaijan and won by decision, 6-2, to take gold. Blades, wrestling two weight classes lower than she did at the Olympics last summer, coasted her way into the final, defeating her first two opponents by pin and securing a championship bid with a victory by technical superiority. Blades handled business in the final, defeating Karolina Pok of Hungary by technical superiority to claim the title.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“It’s going to be difficult, but that’s what’s fun. The work that we’ve done, I think, to get here, I’m really just so thankful. Five weeks ago, that just seemed like a distant opportunity.”
- Iowa women’s basketball head coach Jan Jensen, after 55-43 win over Rutgers on Feb. 13
STAT OF THE WEEK
Olsen also credited her newfound momentum change to a more fluid practice routine.
“I think in practice, we’ve all been clicking a lot better,” Olsen said. “I think it just takes time sometimes.”
As if the showing against USC wasn’t impressive enough, Olsen followed it up with a spectacular 32-point, six rebound outing in an 81-66 road triumph at Nebraska on Feb. 10.
Q&A | TATIANNA ROMAN
“I think we all really poured into her, how good she was, as soon as she stepped on campus and the type of shots she can make,” fourth-year Sydney Affolter said after Iowa’s 55-43 conquest of Rutgers on Feb. 13. “I think we’re sharing the ball a lot better, running our offense better, giving her more opportunities. I think our offense is flowing much better.”
While Olsen’s mid-season slump was surprising, her recent hot streak has been the exact opposite. The senior entered Iowa City as one of the nation’s most touted
transfers after a stellar 2023-24 campaign at Villanova, where she posted 23.3 points per game, a number that slotted behind only Cailtin Clark and JuJu Watkins. Those accolades followed her to the Midwest, where she was named to the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year and John R. Wooden Award Top-50 preseason award watch lists.
“She’s such a great kid,” firstyear head coach Jan Jensen said after the USC game. “I think what’s harder to understand from the outside is when you transfer in as a senior, and you’re a point
Iowa softball outfielder talks future, advice
Morgan Burhans Sports Reporter sports@dailyiowan.com
The Daily Iowan: If you didn’t play softball, what sport would you play?
Tatianna Roman: Honestly, I would love to play gymnastics. I love gymnastics. I love watching our team. They’re really good here at Iowa.
What’s your favorite thing to do in Iowa City? I don’t know why … but in the Midwest they have really good steak. So, I love to go out to eat … with my teammates.
What’s something about you that most people don’t know?
I’m left-handed. People don’t think I am left-handed. People are always surprised
POINT | COUNTERPOINT
when I say, ‘I’m a lefty.’
What is your favorite activity to do back in California? I love to go to the beach.
guard, you’re still very new, and you’re trying to learn it and run it, and there’s a lot that happens in your head.”
While Iowa’s winning ways have left the team in a good situation, Olsen knows the Hawkeyes still need to take things one game at a time.
“The Big Ten season’s a long season,” the fourth-year said after a loss to Illinois on Jan. 9, 2024. “There’s a lot of teams in there. Got to take every game one by one, and hopefully, we can knock off some other teams along the way.”
What do you miss about California? Probably the warm weather; probably the 70 degrees. It’s a big change coming from there to here.
Why Iowa? When I came on campus, everybody was just so welcoming. It just felt like a second home. It felt super safe. I loved the support from the fans. That was a big thing for me.
Where is your dream vacation? I really want to go to Greece. I love trying new food. That’s like my favorite thing.
And I really like Greek and Mediterranean food.
What advice would you give to other aspiring student-athletes?
I think in the world of athletics, you see so many people going to big schools, small schools, and I don’t think people understand that … it’s a privilege to go to any form of college, whether it’s D1, D2, or D3. People should be proud of that because it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. And not everyone gets to be in this position. So, you should be proud of yourself no matter what level.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I want to have a successful job. I am looking into radiology and maybe owning a house. I don’t know where, just explore — probably not Iowa.
How many games will Iowa baseball win?
40 wins
I’m going to scare the college baseball world and say the Iowa baseball team will shock the entire country.
If there was any season where the Hawkeyes had the chance to grab 40 wins, it was last season.
Led by star pitcher Brody Brecht, the team had all the talent needed to make a College World Series run. Instead, they missed the tournament as a whole — and by a wide margin, too.
A chip on the shoulder of head coach Rick Heller and Co., alongside some key returners, can certainly make that goal achievable.
For all of you ball-knowers out there, Iowa will possess the role the Virginia men’s basketball team played during 2018 March Madness — going from huge upset to the ultimate prize.
Disappointment is an understatement when talking about the 2024 Iowa baseball team. Even though the Black and Gold finished with a 31-23 record and placed fourth in the Big Ten standings with a 14-10 record, the expectation was that this team would be one of the last teams standing — if not the team crossing the finish line in the
summer.
The deep shame of greatly underachieving can and should be churned into vast motivation.
If 31-23 is a down year, nine more wins with a half-decent turnaround is well within reach.
As well established as Rick Heller is, having another rough season won’t get him shipped off but will tarnish his legacy. The time to win is right now, especially with the return of strongarm Cade Obermueller. And he knows that.
With that being said, Illinois, the top Big Ten team in 2024, finished with a 35-21 record and an 18-6 record. That was arm’s length ahead of the underwhelming Hawkeyes, but it is certainly reachable this time around.
Even without the abundance of talent that departed after last season, whether that’s to the major leagues or the end of NCAA eligibility, Iowa has that type of system built around the team that can produce the talent needed within the program that’ll contribute to a World Series push.
With the addition of Sean Kenny, the bullpen can make serious noise in taking the weight off the defense and offense altogether. Now, this take could reflect badly on me. The Hawkeyes don’t have the expectations of a World Series-winning team right now. But there’s always a chance. I’m betting on the Black and Gold — to win 40 games at least.
A 30-win season is almost always a guarantee when talking about head coach Rick Heller and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Looking into the 2025 season, expectations are all over the board when predicting the fate of Iowa baseball. D1 Baseball has the Hawkeyes finishing in ninth for what should be a very competitive Big Ten conference. This is due to Heller having to replace several key starters who have all departed to the MLB or lost eligibility. However, while some see the program entering a year of transition, I see a team that boasts a plethora of returning talent with the ability to remain competitive in the Big Ten. Starting with the elephant in the room, Iowa returned thirdyear starting pitcher Cade Obermueller. Last season, Obermueller made his debut in the starting rotation and became one of the Hawkeyes’ most consistent arms — posting an ERA of 3.92 and holding opposing batters to a .187 batting average. Obermueller, who was
selected by Perfect Game as the Big Ten Preseason Pitcher of the Year, gives Iowa a bonafide Friday night starter and an ace to lean on in must-win games. Offensively, the Hawkeyes return a mix of upper and underclassmen who have proven the ability to succeed at this level.
Second-year catcher Reese Moore is looking to build off an impressive 2024 campaign. With the ability to swing the bat and catch behind the plate, expect Moore to be a consistent face in the Hawkeye lineup. After making his debut last season, third-year Gable Mitchell is poised to make an even bigger jump in 2025. With a combination of offense and defense, many spectators of the sport expect Mitchell to be a well-known name in the 2025 Big Ten conference.
Rounding out the returning talent is fifth-year outfielder Andy Nelson. Hitting at a .325 clip and leading the team with nine home runs last year, Nelson has become one of the top bats for the Hawkeyes and will be a key piece returning in 2025. With this mix of returning talent and the consistency of Heller’s baseball program, I can see the Hawkeyes eclipsing the 30-win mark one more time and staying competitive in the Big Ten.
Sports Reporter
Chris Meglio Sports Reporter
Isabella Tisdale | The Daily Iowan
Iowa guard Lucy Olsen calls a play during a women’s basketball game between Iowa and No. 4 Southern California at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Feb. 2. The sold-out game marked Iowa’s first Big Ten game against the Trojans and the retirement of the No. 22 for former Iowa guard Caitlin Clark. The Hawkeyes defeated the Trojans, 76-69.
Olsen
from 1B
pound match.
Two years later, fans might hear it again — and back in Iowa nonetheless, Lee set to take on Japanese Olympic prospect Masanosuke Ono at Xtream Arena in Coralville on Feb. 26.
It’s common for Iowa wrestlers to opt for classic rock like 285-pounder Ben Kueter’s “Rooster” by Alice in Chains or even hype rap music like 184-pounder
Gabe Arnold’s “A Milli” by Lil Wayne for their walk-out songs.
But the wrestler from Murrysville, Pennsylvania, chose a slightly different approach for the 2018 NCAA championships, opting for the iconic “Pokémon Theme” that produced a first-place finish and kicked off a historic postseason wrestling career.
An avid Pokémon fan, the lyrics still ring true — “I want to be the very best, like no one ever was,” encapsulating his approach on the mat and ambition for more.
With two Dan Hodge trophy wins, three national titles, three Big Ten titles, and five All-American nods, Lee cemented himself as one of the greatest collegiate wrestlers of all time. But with a 2021 team championship to add to it, Lee has always been about more than himself.
“You can’t win a team title with just one guy,” he said after the event. “Even if I pinned every single opponent, the most I can score is 30 points … You have to win it with a team. That’s all that matters. It takes a team effort.”
Indeed, since his illustrious career as a Hawkeye, Lee has continued his prowess on the mat in international competition. Lee became the 23rd Hawkeye men’s wrestler to compete on the world’s biggest stage upon qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Lee captured the silver medal with commanding wins over the world’s best 57-kilogram grapplers in Zou Wanhao of China, Bekzat Almaz Uulu of Kyrgyzstan, and Gulomjon Abdullaev of Uzbekistan before losing to Rei Higuchi of Japan in the final match.
Even then — a silver medal representative of his storied career in both black and gold and red, white, and blue singlets — nothing sat right. Dissatisfaction swelled.
“I’m a guy who believes more in wins and losses,” Lee said after the match,
the mentality, we’re gritty, we’re going to fight, we’re going to bring the fight to you, and we’re not going to let up until the final whistle blows.”
While there might seem to be some pressure on the Hawkeyes to replicate their past success, the team is focused on what they can achieve in the present and future.
“I always think of it as not trying to do what we’ve done, but just go out there and go get it,” Chun said. “Anytime we step on the mat, we can’t wrestle what has happened in the past because it’s a new day. The tune doesn’t change much from week to week, as far as just going out there and doing their best and control what they can control.”
Although all 15 Hawkeyes who participated in regionals progressed to nationals, their work is far from over. Redshirt second-year Brianna Gonzalez views this postseason as just another chance to put on a show and leave it all on the line.
“It feels amazing,” Gonzalez said at media availability on Feb. 18. “This is another opportunity to perform with my teammates
from 1B
according to USA TODAY. “It’s more about effort, and I don’t think I put a lot of effort in that match, so I didn’t deserve to win today.
“First thing I thought of was to take [the silver medal] off,” he continued. “I don’t think there’ll ever be a perspective where I think it’s good. Twenty years from now, you try and name Olympic silver medalists. I bet you can’t. It’s because no one cares.”
But he does.
Still training and competing on the international stage, Lee kicked off 2025 with a gold medal at the Zagreb Open in Croatia, winning the men’s 57-kilogram freestyle bracket.
The open was the first Ranking Series tournament of the year, supervised by United World Wrestling and awarding wrestlers points for the world rankings at the end of the year. So, it was the first step toward the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, too.
“I think that competing more is to my benefit as always,” Lee said. “We’ve always agreed with that.”
The next step hits much closer to home: Lee matching up against Ono at Xtream Arena in Coralville on Feb. 26.
With the 59.5-kilogram matchup the main event of a stacked card of wrestling for FloWrestling Night in America, Lee remains a coveted talent in the wrestling world.
“He’s on the Mount Rushmore [of Iowa wrestling] for sure,” FloSports Content Director Christian Pyles told The Daily Iowan. “If you’re one of the biggest draws … it’s an incredible statement. And Spencer Lee was not only the flag carrier for the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling program when he was there … Now he’s the flag carrier for USA Wrestling.”
That’s especially when he’s pitted against Ono, a 21-year-old, 61-kilogram wrestler from Matsue City, Japan, with a bright future and stellar 2024 season — crowned the Japanese National Champion in May, U20 World Champion in September, and World Champion in October.
“I’m the one that wanted this match,” Lee said. “He’s hyped right now. He just dominated everybody. As a competitor, I want to wrestle the best guys in the world … I thought it’d be awesome for fans to watch. Hopefully, someone can go out
and just go out there and have fun and let all the hard work be put on the mat. It’s excit ing, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Gonzalez brought home the firstplace title at 117 pounds at regionals on Saturday. She defeated all three of her opponents by tech fall to claim the cham pionship hardware.
While the competition didn’t seem to be too much of an issue for the Hawkeyes on Saturday, they must be prepared for opponents to reappear in the fold at nationals. Not only will those opponents be hungry for revenge, but the stage is much brighter, as the national champi onships will take place in the backyard of the home of the Hawkeyes – at Xtream Arena in Coralville.
All eyes will be on the Hawks, as backto-back national championships would develop huge strides for not only the Iowa program, but women’s wrestling as a whole on the college level. In fact, the NCAA has sanctioned women’s wrestling as one of their new championship sports, highlighting its growth.
there and give him a match.”
Ono told Pyles he would be training in the U.S. at Penn State until March, so Pyles jumped on the chance to get him in for an event. Lee was the first name that came to mind. When he proposed the match to Lee, Lee was immediately all in.
“It sets the stage not just for 2028 but potentially the World Championships in 2027,” Pyles said. “These two look to be on parallel legendary trajectories … That’s just the potential budding of an incredible rivalry with two wrestlers with seemingly limitless speed, power, and technical ability.”
Lee’s win-or-go-home mindset has broadened his name on the national and international stage, making ripples in the wrestling world around him.
Alex Smith, an Iowa City native and long-time Hawkeye wrestling fan as a result, just recently made the move back to his hometown to teach in the University of Iowa Political Science Department. Lee’s success harkens Smith back to visits from the likes of Hawkeye national champion Mark Ironside to his childhood wrestling camps, making Lee an impactful name in the Iowa City community, too.
“With the dominance of Penn State, it’s really big to have a wrestler like Spencer Lee who not only represents Iowa but also who grew up in Pennsylvania,” Smith said. “Lee came to Iowa specifically because he knows what Iowa wrestling is and its tradition and history … He’s one of the bigger names in the wrestling world right now and definitely in American wrestling.”
And with that, he’s inspiring the next generation. For example, Bo Bassett’s journey to the top-ranked wrestling recruit in the class of 2026 included an adoration of Lee.
The 144-pounder from Johnstown, Pennsylvania — who will be in attendance for the event on Wednesday — even caught a picture with Lee years ago, the photo resurfacing now that he’s committed to join the Hawkeyes.
“The definition of Spencer Lee in high school — that dude was locked in,” Bassett told FloWrestling. “He did everything hard. He trained the right way. He lived the right way, and he was a great role model for me. To see someone in my area from the same club doing what he did, I knew that it was possible.”
The Hawkeyes will have a week to rest up before returning to the mat on March 7-8 in Coralville. Each day of competition is set to kick off at 10 a.m.
What needs to change?
the place just erupted,” Gary, who requested that the DI not use his full last name, said. “It was a very emotional time.”
While Gary was just beginning his lengthy season ticket career in the early ‘80s, Barb and Loren Leistikow were nearly a decade into theirs. Both UI graduates and Iowa City residents, they’ve been coming to football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball games for 55 years. Name a famous men’s basketball moment inside Carver-Hawkeye, and they’ve probably witnessed it.
“I’d rather have the excitement being created by students. I think that’s the key.”
Loren Leistikow Iowa men’s basketball fan
“We had a lot of great memories watching the Tom Davis teams,” Loren said. “It [Carver] was always full back then.” The Davis era also holds a special place in the heart of Zach Phelps of Tipton, who fell in love with Iowa basketball after watching games with his grandmother.
“She was always getting mad at the refs, or she’d be slapping the couch,” Phelps said. “I just always learned from her.”
Some of Phelps’ favorite moments over the years in Carver include the program-altering upset of Purdue in 2011, Josh Dix’s buzzer-beater earlier this year, and Fran McCaffery’s iconic staredown that led to a thrilling win over Michigan State in 2023.
“That was a memorable one because we had a big comeback,” Phelps, reflecting on the McCaffery staredown game, said.
While Carver-Hawkeye Arena was considered a state-of-the-art facility when it opened, it has never had a major renovation in its 42-year history. This, along with the ongoing decline in fan atmosphere, has left many fans hoping athletic director Beth Goetz will make a change.
Phelps wants the primary focus to be on moving the older donors out of the front row and moving the students there to create a better environment, a similar style popularized by Michigan State.
“But there’s just so much room between the court and where the seats are,” Phelps said. “It just looks terrible on TV, even if it’s packed. They have to figure out something with the layout.”
That same argument is also shared by Gary and the Leistikows, who argue the program needs student support to win more games.
“We’d rather have them [the students],” Loren said. “I’d rather have the excitement being created by students. I think that’s the key.”
While Gary agrees students need to be closer to the floor, he said the university could also benefit from adding more suites
at the top of the concourse to allow donors easier access to concession stands and restrooms.
“That would be a win-win because all these rich donors get a suite and wouldn’t have to walk down the stairs, and you can move some younger students in there,” Gary said.
Iowa may be having a down season this year, but these fans do not care. They love their team and won’t stop showing up to games anytime soon.
“‘I’m an Iowa basketball fan,” Phelps said. “I don’t care who the coach is, what you think of the coach, or whatever, I’m always going to support who it is.”
“Everything goes in circles,” Barb said. “We’re loyal supporters no matter what.”
Ethan McLaughlin | The Daily Iowan
Spencer Lee answers questions from the media during a press conference held in the Goschke Family Wrestling Training Center on July 18, 2024. Lee will compete this evening at Xtream Arena against Masanosuke Ono.
FANS
Ethan McLaughlin | The Daily Iowan
The Iowa women’s wrestling team cheers as awards are given out during the NCWWC Women’s Region 7 Championships at Cowles Fieldhouse at Simpson College in Indianola on Feb. 22. Iowa had champions in every weight class with all 15 Iowa wrestlers making the first-place matches.
Pyles
IOWA HAWKEYES’ FOUL ENDING
Isabella Tisdale | The Daily Iowan
(Top) Fans watch UCLA guard Kiki Rice drive down the court during a women’s basketball game between Iowa and then-No. 3 UCLA at CarverHawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Feb. 23, 2025. The Bruins defeated the Hawkeyes, 65-67. (Middle left) Iowa forward Hannah Stuelke is blocked by UCLA center Lauren Betts during a women’s basketball game. Stuelke finished the game with eight rebounds and 11 points. (Middle right) Iowa forward Hannah Stuelke and Iowa forward Addison O’Grady pick up Iowa guard Kylie Feuerbach from the ground during a women’s basketball game. Throughout the game, 38 fouls were called. (Above) Iowa guard Lucy Olsen falls and trips UCLA guard Elina Aarnisalo during a women’s basketball game. The play resulted in a foul on Olsen in the final minutes of the game and was controversial among fans. (Beside) Iowa head coach Jan Jensen reacts to a call by the referees during a women’s basketball game. The loss to the Bruins leaves Iowa at 8-8 in conference play.
80 Hours
Inside the development of Riverside’s ‘Native Gardens’ from script to stage
The cast and crew of Riverside Theatre’s 300th production open the curtains on the iterative and lengthy process of bringing “Native Gardens” to life.
RECIPE
Roxxy's Cookie Dough Shot
'Phonetics On and On' is a warm, layered refuge
Released on Feb. 14, Horsegirl’s new album carries meaning that transcends comprehensible words.
residents.
• Cookie dough Ole' Smoky
Haya Hussain Arts Reporter arts@dailyiowan.com
• Ryan’s Irish Cream
• Crème de cacao
See the review online
Catch the full review of the Cookie Dough Ole' Smoky shot and past cocktail columns from around Iowa City online at dailyiowan.com.
Humans have become too accustomed to language. Our ears forget to listen to the musical and emotional intricacies holding words up. Horsegirl attempts to teach us this in its new album, “Phonetics On and On,” released on Feb. 14.
In the synopsis, the band writes “the two weeks in 2024 that we spent recording [the album] were some of the coldest days in Chicago that year.” With so many compositional layers, I imagine the vowels and consonants of every song like blankets, the noises bundling together to bring each other warmth as they are released from warm mouths into the frigid air.
Since the release of its former album “Versions of Modern Performance,” the band relocated to New York for college, seeing even harsher winters. The first song to take a brave step into the cold is “Where’d You Go?”
This sense of ambiguity and uncertainty spreads through the rest of the album, vaguely hinting at the loss of a hometown and sense of belonging.
“2468” copes with this by taking comfort in the warmth of childhood amidst the chill of adulthood.
Opening with the artistically sloppy drawl of a string instrument, it has a childlike, nostalgic quality.
Only two intelligible phrases are repeated for the entire three minutes and 17 seconds: “2-4-6-8” and “They walk in twos,” which innocently chronicles the partnership in friendship.
After that, there are only "da-da-da-das," which inherently mean nothing, making them mean everything. Our childhoods are marked by nonsensical moments, from babbling in diapers to petty recess fights. But these slivers of life are the purest of us.
Memories from early life are too fickle and visceral to be captured by words. Horsegirl instead tells these stories through floating consonants and vowels.
As the album continues through time and life, it introduces more words and phrases. “Information Content” follows the structure of any other song, oscillating between several different lyrics.
As Gigi Reece’s drums mimic frantic running and Penelope Lowenstein’s guitar takes on an upbeat, childish melody, there is a sense of anticipation and wonder from a new city. Nora Cheng asks, “Where’d you go?” to which the response is “Far, far, far away.” This repeats throughout the entire song, often overlapped by "la-da-da-das." Cheng and Reece keep the piece from becoming boring despite the repetitive musical and verbal phrases — an effort achieved by using phonetics and seemingly meaningless sounds to embellish the melody. They also symbolically fill the space of a future unknown to the new
The closer, however, is the paramount piece of the album. “I Can’t Stand to See You” is the only song in the album with a explicit message and purpose. It immediately opens with the jab of Cheng asking, “Do you want to go home now?”
Unlike the rest of the album, it lacks obscurity, rooted in the present feeling of missing home with clear depictions like, “Just another block now / we’ll shake hands goodbye now.” Specificity is an adult’s privilege, and so is missing home.
There is still phonetics littered here and there, reminding us that we are still children at heart, longing for home.
Despite how alienating adult reality can become, Horsegirl communicates that we will always have the choice to abandon adult hardships and restrictions, even momentarily.
Modern fashion trends exploit South Asian culture
Cultural colonization persists in the form of fast fashion and microtrends.
Haya Hussain Arts Reporter arts@dailyiowan.com
Henna is the new temporary body mod. Pashmina head scarves are a rave staple. Nose piercings are edgy and alternative. Gold is for girls with warm undertones. Every smoky eye comes with a sexy, black waterline.
REVIEW
‘Captain America’ isn’t
quite a ‘Brave New World’
While the film doesn’t live up to the title, it is standard Marvel fare.
Grant Darnell Arts Reporter arts@dailyiowan.com
Throughout much of the runtime of “Captain America: Brave New World,” there was a feeling of unease in my stomach.
It wasn’t that I wasn’t enjoying the film necessarily, but all too often I was reminded of the difficult political realities we face today. Fortunately, however, it also provided a role model to emulate during polarizing times: the ever-inspiring Captain America.
It’s been many years since Steve Rogers handed over the mantle of Captain America to his friend and ally Sam Wilson in “Avengers: Endgame.” In that time, both the real world and the Marvel world have changed drastically. With Sam having taken the time and consideration to fully accept his new position in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” he now finds himself facing a presidential conspiracy that threatens to steer the U.S. into a global war. From the first few minutes, I could tell “Brave New World” wouldn’t live up to the previous three Captain America films. The editing is quite choppy, certain lines of dialogue seem to talk down to the audience, and the infamous reshoots can be felt in practically every other scene. Considering these stipulations are in effect, however, I don’t think the film is a bad time at all.
Firstly, it’s always great to see Captain America in action. Sam has a bit of a different charm than Steve, but it’s consistently clear Steve made the right choice of successor. In addition to being a brave soldier who’s never afraid to do the right thing, Sam always tries to see the good in others, and I think everyone could benefit from taking a page out of his book.
Although the mystery isn’t as involved or thought-provoking as it was in 2014’s “The Winter Soldier,” the journey here never really left me bored. The climax it builds to is a little obvious, sure, but the ride is decent fun while it lasts.
Several talented actors made their Marvel debut in this film, namely Harrison Ford and Giancarlo Esposito. I won’t say
they turned in the best performances of their careers, but their weighty screen presences brought a lot to their scenes.
As for the "Marvel-ness" of it all, there isn’t much new to report. If you’re like me and you cheer when Red Hulk throws a car at Captain America and he slices through it with his robot wings, then you’ll probably leave a satisfied customer.
Much of “Brave New World” plays out like a watered-down version of what’s come before, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t enjoyment in sequences like this.
When the third act hit and everything was wrapped up in a neat little bow, something felt wrong. Problems are never solved that easily in the real world. It was then I realized that perhaps the film isn’t meant to offer a perfect solution to all our troubles – the character of Captain America is meant more as an ideal to strive for, someone who’s brave and caring and isn’t afraid to go against the grain if it means doing the right thing. I think that’s a message that will always be relevant regardless of the world in which it is delivered.
“Captain America: Brave New World” may be just another standard Marvel sequel in many ways, but it’s for this reason that I’m glad it exists. We should all be brave and caring like Captain America, and if this film spreads that message to more people, then I think it was worth it.
All these microtrends are misnomers of South Asian cultural traditions and pieces. They are fads that constitute appropriation more than appreciation.
Nepali student Alina Silwal’s four years at the University of Iowa have been shaped around cultural enrichment.
She has performed for both Andhi and Agni, the dance and a cappella teams, and stood in for mock bride at Mock Shaadi in her third year. Even her everyday life is embellished by Desi memorabilia.
“My culture is very graceful,” she said. “I like wearing traditional pieces like Jhumkas and bangles. Jhumkas are tiny and bell-shaped, and they have so many designs that they’re timeless. Bangles can be matched with any outfit and come in different sizes and weights. They make me feel so feminine.”
It seems the Western world has caught onto this divine femininity.
Hinduism, a predominant religion in South Asia, has a multitude of female goddesses, placing women as higher spiritual role models. This then translates into society, incentivizing Desi women to have their own subculture of jewelry and clothes.
As these values and pieces reached the Americas, gold, layered jewelry, and vibrant clay-like colors became increasingly associated with non-Desi women as well.
“I’ve seen a lot more of white people and Americans wearing jewelry similar to ours on social media. Especially on TikTok, you have all these ‘maximalist’ trends and people asking, ‘Are you a gold or silver girl?’” Silwal said. “I think it’s only OK if they go to an actual Desi store to get authentic jewelry because the bangles Americans wear are so specific to our culture. But I keep seeing people omit the fact that the roots are in South Asian culture or just refuse to
try and learn where they come from.”
In fact, there is a generally negative disposition toward authentic Indian gold. Many users take to the internet to call it “too yellow” or “tacky” when it’s one of the only sources of pure, 24-karat gold.
Third-year UI student Raksha Kumar grew up around a lot of Indian gold but recently began to embrace more silver. “My mom would buy real gold from India. I got my nose pierced when I was 18. She wanted me to wear real gold with my piercings, and it wasn’t until later that I began to switch it out for random stuff I’d get on Amazon,” Kumar said. “Recently, I switched to silver, and brown people don’t ever wear silver. The all-gold trend is from our culture.”
Kumar is from Bangalore, which is considered South India.
She noted that in comparison to North Indians, her clothing and makeup draw out her darker and stronger features.
“I started wearing eyeliner a lot in high school, but I went to India last summer for the first time in over 10 years and bought actual kajal. That made me realize how many makeup products are Americanized here but are actually from South Asian culture. I was able to wear actual kajal and feel the real texture,” Kumar said.
Western trends have stripped the Arab, Persian, and South Asian heritage behind Kajal by renaming it “waterliner” or “tightlining.” The tradition of Mehndi has encountered the same fate.
“Mehndi is marketed towards Americans now, which is weird because they use it as freckles. I’ve even seen ‘white henna’ on TikTok Shop, but the whole point of henna is that it’s brown, and once it comes off, it reveals a more orange or red tone that depends on your skin color,” Kumar said.
Hannah Neuville | The Daily Iowan
Nepali student Alina Silwal poses for a portrait outside the Iowa Memorial Union on Feb. 22. Silwal's time at the University of Iowa has been shaped by cultural enrichment.
Behind the scenes of Riverside’s 300th production
The cast and crew of “Native Gardens”
Riley Dunn Digital Editor riley.dunn@dailyiowan.com
Flynn Milligan Arts Reporter arts@dailyiowan.com
Orchestrating a play is no easy task, especially when constructed on the professional level Riverside Theatre strives for. After weeks of work and development, the theater will open its 300th production, “Native Gardens,” on Feb. 28.
It’s a milestone show for Riverside that only adds to the pressure in the air in the rehearsal space. In the weeks leading up to the big opening, actors and crew tinker with their roles to make “Native Gardens” as funny and heartfelt as possible iteration after iteration.
Tensions rise on the back porch of a Washington, D.C., home as a young married couple looks out at their inadequate yard and agonizes over problems they never thought they would have to solve.
Pablo Del Valle, an up-and-coming lawyer from Chile, stands at the edge of the porch as he argues with his pregnant wife Tania. The pair are in the middle of a garden border dispute that could change their lives. Hesitant at first, Tania is devoted to fighting for her land.
This scene is gripping, moving, and clever. And yet, something feels off.
What would the scene be like if Pablo was more persuasive than argumentative? How would it change if both halves of the couple stood in their garden rather than on the porch set?
Kirsten Brooks, the director of Riverside Theatre’s “Native Gardens,” has asked herself questions like these frequently since rehearsals began on Feb. 4. Franco Machado-Pesce and Jessica Murillo Kemp, who play Pablo and Tania, respectively, ran through the same scenes multiple times in response to Brooks’ questions.
“When I’m watching the scene, I’m looking to see what about the story is coming across and how the movements and vocal intonations are related,” Brooks said.
This meticulous trial and error is often the unseen aspect of the play production process.
Natanael Payán, who works on the show as the assistant stage manager and ensemble cast member, focuses on the production with both roles in mind. He thinks about honing his character and actively keeps his eyes on every detail of the show.
“Since this show is so prop-heavy, there’s a lot of little things to keep track of, especially when I’m the one going in and out during a transition,” Payán said. However, trying to discover the balance between acting and stage management has been worth it for Payán. Through the show’s development, Payán has enjoyed developing his ensemble character, an immigrant who helps run a landscaping business.
Though Payán’s character is not the story’s focus, the work he puts into the character helps bring him to life and enriches the entire show.
As tweaks are made to character interactions by the play’s director and stage managers, the actors’ perceptions of their roles evolve.
Ron Clark and Jody Hovland, Riverside’s founders who now work as freelance actors, returned to the stage to play Frank and Virginia Butley in “Native Gardens.” Clark and Hovland have enjoyed seeing the growth of Riverside over the years — from a bare stage and small staff to a thriving hub for the arts.
According to Clark, reading, re-reading, and researching the script is
where he always starts before trying to play a new role, sometimes months before rehearsals begin. For Clark, if an aspect of his character is not justified or supported by the script, it does not need to exist.
“I’m not going to invent the fact that Frank was in prison for 15 years — there’s nothing to suggest that,” Clark said. “But there are things that are suggested. Frank grew up wealthy, and Virginia didn’t. That’s interesting.” After getting a good grasp on their characters’ identities, actors must also learn and adapt to other actors around them who also have a unique vision of who their characters should be.
Edited by Will Shortz No. 0122
Ava Neumaier | The Daily Iowan
Jessica Murillo Kemp plays Tania Del Valle destroying the flowers of Virginia Butley, played by Jody Hovland, during a performance of “Native Gardens” at Riverside Theatre on Feb. 22. The play about neighborly disputes and tolerance is directed by Kirsten Brooks and will be performed from Feb. 28 to March 16.
New ideas spawn in table readings when actors sit at a table across from one another and go line-by-line through their scripts. In this space, acting transforms into a collaborative process.
“Our characters would be slightly different if we played across from different actors. That’s what makes each production,” Hovland said. “That’s why we see ‘Romeo and Juliet’ hundreds of times — because there’s a different collection of actors and directors.”
Machado-Pesce is thrilled to be at Riverside working with the theater’s founders. He traveled a long way to be a part of this legacy.
The young actor currently lives in and works in New York, but when the opportunity came to be part of Riverside’s 300th production, he couldn’t turn it down.
“It’s phenomenal to be a part of this production. It’s such an immersive set as well, so I feel like it’s such an enjoyable experience, not just as an actor, but also to participate with the audience so closely,” Machado-Pesce said.
Most people think of theater as watching a story from afar, looking down on the actors from the seats rising above
theater consists of three sections of seats surrounding the stage. But the stage is not elevated at all save for the two porches in the families’ yards. The audience is on the same level as the actors, mere feet away from the story. It brings the audience closer to the characters strolling through the gardens.
“It’s such a different layout. In traditional theater, we have to be aware of our positioning, making sure we’re not blocking and just sending our backs to the audience,” Machado-Pesce said.
“It makes a lot more sense to play and feel free to move around the set as much as possible.”
Beyond the beautiful mise-en-scène,
“Native Gardens” strikes very relevant notes in today’s social climate, as it deals with themes of identity struggle regarding race, gender, sexuality, career, and age. The themes are important to MachadePesce because of his Venezuelan heritage.
“As much as it touches on race and political ideologies, it’s really about two people who are right in their own way but don’t listen to each other. You realize so many issues come up from this idea of not wanting to listen to each other,”
Machado-Pesce said. “As a Latino, I think it’s an honor and a privilege to be part of a play where Latino characters aren’t stereotypes.”
this depiction.
“I’m first generation, so I’m familiar with these issues when it comes to parents who have opinions about what it means to come here legally, what it means to fulfill an American dream, what it means to assimilate,” Martinez said. “I hope the
But as he spent more time in the character’s shoes, he thought about it more.
“What does chronic stress do? Has he had a panic attack? I thought about that and how when he seems angry, he’s scared, so maybe he’s had a health scare in his history,” Clark said. “That enriches
“This is a play that young audiences will love ... They will see a microcosm of the world before them in a very humorous way. Their generation is portrayed by a pair of beautiful young actors, and we have an ensemble I’m very proud of. They do great stuff and are working extremely hard.”
Ron Clark Riverside co-founder
audience learns from watching the show to be mindful of the directions that we go, whether left or right. They can take us further and further away from talking and knowing each other.”
As rehearsals went on, actors’ perceptions of their characters changed. Through interactions with fellow actors and read-throughs of the script, Clark discovered Frank Butley is more vulnerable than he originally thought.
At one point during the play, Virginia said gardening has helped to deal with
the character.”
“You rely on the director’s eyes, too, to give feedback to you because you might think you’re sending out one thing, and the director says that’s not how it’s playing,” Hovland added.
While acting, Kemp tries to imagine what her character’s life would have been like before the events of the play. Her first impressions of Tania have shifted as a result of this exercise. Kemp began reading deeper into the subtext of her lines.
“Lines aren’t always necessarily just saying what you mean,” Kemp said. “Sometimes, we don’t quite get that during the first read around until we start working with the character, and we find other motivations for why they say what they do and do what they do.”
For this play in particular, Kemp has considered how being Hispanic may have affected her character, especially as she is living beside wealthy white neighbors.
“Normally, we don’t think of these things from an American perspective. We tend to stereotype,” Kemp said.
Seeing the perspectives of each character, such as Kemp’s Tania, and recognizing their good intentions despite their actions is at the heart of “Native Gardens,” a play that shows how a group of people mend fences, so to speak.
“We have all these things that — consciously or unconsciously — shut off our willingness to be open and vulnerable and make that human connection,” Brooks said. “A lot of the time, I think we don’t even know what’s happening. How do you get around that, if it is possible?”
For Brooks and the cast and crew around her, “Native Gardens” tackles the divides that form between human beings and the assumptions people can make about one another.
“This is a play that young audiences will love,” Clark said. “They will see a microcosm of the world before them in a very humorous way. Their generation is portrayed by a pair of beautiful young actors, and we have an ensemble I’m very proud of. They do great stuff and are working extremely hard.”
Ava Neumaier | The Daily Iowan
Jody Hovland and Ron Clark play Virginia Butley and Frank Butley during a performance of “Native Gardens” at Riverside Theatre on Feb. 22. The play about neighborly disputes and tolerance is directed by Kirsten Brooks and will be performed from Feb. 28 to March 16.
