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The Daily Iowan

• The district transferred $10 million in loans from the employee healthcare fund to its general fund to cover teacher payroll without approval from the board, and by March the district was forced to cut $7.5 million from their budget. • Director Jayne Finch resigned, citing board dysfunction and concerns over the district’s financial recovery. • Amy Kortemeyer is serving as the interim superintendent while the district searches for a permanent replacement. • Nathan Kelley has taken over as president of the Iowa City Education Association. • A seven-member committee of community finance experts began to review the district’s finances in August as a way to provide the district with financial oversight.

ICCSD navigates leadership shifts as school begins The district enters the school year facing financial challenges.

ust days before the new school year, students, parents, grandparents, coaches, and teachers ﬁlled the Iowa City High School commons as they conversed, ate pancakes, and donated to athletics. Aug. 22 marked the second annual City High Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Iowa City High Booster Club the Saturday before classes began.

School spirit was at an all-time high with attendees of all ages decked out in red, black, and Little Hawk logos across their clothing. Despite the upbeat atmosphere of the event, attendees were generally uninformed about the financial pitfalls that Iowa City High, as well as other schools in the Iowa City Community School District, faced. The district’s financial crisis came into public view earlier this year after the district announced in January it had overspent its budget and was facing cash-flow issues. The district transferred $10 million in loans

• The district is balancing financial recovery with changes in its leadership and administration.

IC Farmers Market discontinues tokens

The city’s weekly farmers market is adapting as payment technology changes, attributing $30,000 in financial risk to its $5 token program.

area. Customers can choose a variety of spice levels, from mild to super hot, so both spice lovers and those who prefer something less intense can find something on the menu. The smash burgers offer a unique variety, with big flavor and a crisp taste. The Chicago Fire Double Smash burger has been a favorite for their regular customers. Agaci, who is originally from Albania, said he has found a happy life in America. “In Albania, everyone thinks of America as the place where dreams come true,” he said. “Since living in America, that statement has become a reality.”

The Iowa City Farmers Market removed its red $5 token program on Aug. 29 after the Dubuque Farmers Market discontinued its program after reports of counterfeits. While existing tokens will be accepted through the end of the 2026 season, farmers market Recreation Program Supervisor Bill Lane said the availability and use of payment technology is changing the way residents participate in the weekly shop. The $5 token program was popular, with around 9,000 people making 21,000 transactions in the last two years, he said. Lane has not personally seen a counterfeit token, but stressed the negative effect they may cause since the market does not make money from the tokens. He valued the market’s weekly red token exchanges at $9,000. Credit card fees rise to the forefront once the tokens are eliminated as a means of payment. Each season, he said, the market absorbs around $10,000 in credit card fees. The farmers market outgrew its initial need for the $5 tokens, he said. They were instituted approximately 10 years ago to help vendors participate in the market when electronic payment options were uncommon and unaffordable. Now, most vendors accept credit and debit cards, reducing the need for the tokens. Lane said the farmers market has around $30,000 worth of tokens out in the public. The tokens no longer justified the fi nancial risk and liability of continuing them in the modern age. Despite the removal of red $5 tokens, the $1 tokens will remain usable, as only electronic benefits transfer users can purchase them. Lane was happy to keep the $1 token program because it is so helpful to those in the Iowa City community who need it. “The EBT token program allows us to continue

Hot chicken, smash burger spot finds home in IC Frank’s Hot Chicken Smash Burgers is already turning up the heat.

For some customers, one visit to Frank’s Hot Chicken Smash Burgers is only the start of their quest through the restaurant’s menu. “The customer tries one item on the menu, comes back for the second item, then keeps coming back to try more of our food,” Dritan Agaci, co-owner and manager of Frank’s Hot Chicken Smash Burgers on South First Avenue, said. The restaurant, which opened June 29, brings spicystyle hot chicken and smash burgers to the Iowa City

Instruction accounted for most district expenses in the FY 2024 report

The Daily Iowan

from the employee healthcare fund to its general fund to cover teacher payroll without approval from the school board, and by March the district was forced to cut $7.5 million from their budget. The budget cut included salary reductions for administration and eliminating staff positions through attrition. The district is also facing declining enrollment, similar to other school districts across the state of Iowa. In contrast to the cheerful atmosphere of the pancake breakfast a few days prior, the Aug. 25 school board meeting put a damper on the typical back-to-school excitement. At the meeting, parents and community members made sure the Iowa City school board heard their frustrations regarding the ongoing budget crisis. “The decisions the board is making are not the right ones for the district,” said Emily Campbell, a parent of two kids in the district. Campbell, associate Vice President at the niversity of Iowa’s ce of the Provost, said she continues to show up to board meetings because the community needs to share its input. She said she participates in the public comment section to share her “strong opinions” about the decisions the board has made for the district’s future, speciﬁcally its attempts to correct its ﬁnancial woes. “In my opinion, they are not moving forward well with it,” Campbell said. “I think it’s important to hold them accountable.” The district needs to cut approximately $7 million from its current budget for fiscal year 2027. This comes after they cut approximately $7 million for fiscal year 2026.

As community members voiced their concerns during the Aug. 25 meeting, the board began the process of replacing former director Jayne Finch, who resigned four days before, on Aug. 21, after five years of service. In a resignation email addressed to board president Ruthina Malone, Finch said she felt constantly outvoted when challenging administrative decisions. She described the board environment as “toxic” and criticized ongoing hostility between board members. “As we climb out of the crisis, the board’s goal should be to regain the public’s trust,” Finch said in her resignation letter. “The current board’s dysfunction makes achieving this goal unlikely.” In their Aug. 25 meeting, the board voted 6-1 to ﬁll Finch’s seat through appointment instead of holding a special election due to time and financial restraints. Interested community members have until Sept. 9 to apply for the position, and the board is scheduled to choose and swear in a new director Sept. 15. The new director will serve until November 2027, unless voters petition for a special election. During the Aug. 25 board meeting, board president Ruthina Malone said selecting via appointment would help to avoid the cost of a special election, which cost the district approximately $70,000 in the last special election in 2020. The only dissenter, director Mitch Lingo, said he was aware of the drawbacks of holding a special election, but believed it was the best option for the board considering its current struggles. “I get it, the timeline isn’t great,” Lingo said at the meeting. “Without [Finch], this board has an inﬁnitely harder task of making the changes we have ahead of us. That being said, one way of rectifying this is the election process.” Former district teacher and parent Alisa Meggitt said she doesn’t trust the board and its decision-making. “I don’t know how [the board] can be trusted to appoint somebody,” Meggitt said. “They have betrayed us so many times. I wish we had an opportunity to reelect all of them.” As of Aug. 29, Meggitt is one of five applicants for the vacant director position according to the district’s application webpage. The other four applicants include Iowa City attorney Audrey Moeller, fourthyear UI student and president of the College Republicans at Iowa Drake Riddle, Iowa City Public Library community and access services coordinator Sam Helmick, and former ICCSD teacher Peter Byler. Finding a replacement for Finch isn’t the only position the board needs to fill, as it’s currently still looking for a long-term superintendent.

After years of serving the Iowa City Community School District in various positions including deputy superintendent, assistant superintendent, and director of elementary schools, Amy Kortemeyer returned to ICCSD in July with a new title: interim superintendent. For Kortemeyer, the return comes at a

consequential time for the district, which is working to solve significant financial challenges while beginning the search for a permanent superintendent after former superintendent Matt Degner stepped down from the role in June. In an email to students, staff, and families in the district, Degner cited his mother’s diagnosis with terminal cancer as the reason for his departure. Degner is to stay on with the district as the director of secondary schools. “I care a lot about this district and the people who are a part of it,” Kortemeyer said in a statement to The Daily Iowan. “I also knew this was a time when we needed stability and consistency.” Kortemeyer previously spent eight years in leadership within the district before returning as the interim superintendent. She said her familiarity with the district and its community made the opportunity meaningful. “I felt like I could step in, help keep us moving forward, and make sure we didn’t lose sight of the work happening in our schools,” Kortemeyer said. As interim superintendent, she said her immediate priorities are balancing the district’s fi nancial challenges with its responsibility to students and staff. “There is a lot happening, but we can’t let that distract us from providing a great experience for students every day,” Kortemeyer said. The school board is beginning the process of finding a permanent superintendent for the district, with the search beginning with discussion at the school board meeting on Aug. 25. Board president Malone said the district is trying to get a head start on the process so it doesn’t fall behind. “Other districts who are looking for superintendents across the nation, they’re gearing up to start their search,” Malone said in an interview with the DI. “If we delay it too far, we’ll be missing out on some great candidates.” For Kortemeyer, success in the interim role will be measured by whether the district continues to move forward despite the challenges it faces. She said she hopes to see progress on the district’s fi nancial

Kelley emphasized a push for greater communication and collaboration between the local union, educators, and the district, and said in the email he is aware of the challenges that will face all involved parties. “These are certainly unprecedented times for our district,” Kelley said. “There are a lot of questions right now that simply don’t have answers yet, and as president, I have to be comfortable saying that while also making sure ICEA is asking the right questions and advocating for our members and our students.”

As the district works to strengthen its financial practices, a newly formed Financial Oversight Committee began its work at its first meeting on Aug. 11. According to the district, the committee’s purpose is to review financial records and documents and make appropriate recommendations. The committee is composed of seven community members with backgrounds in fi nance, including chairman of ANMAR America Jeffrey Albright, executive director of The Housing Fellowship Simon Andrew, grants manager for Johnson County enevieve Anglin, director of finances for the City of Iowa City Nicole Davies, retired president of Midwest One Financial Group Charles Funk, former financial planner for Collins Aerospace Dustin Gwee, and treasurer of the First United Methodist Church Charles Orr. When applications for the committee opened on June 30, Davies considered submitting an application and stepping into the role due to her experience in local government financing. The committee is an unpaid volunteer position, and, through a public review panel, the number of applicants was narrowed from 55 to 7. The application closed July 13, and on July 28 members were selected by the board to serve on the committee. “I just felt with my background that it would probably be a good fit and something where I could offer some insight and perspective on different things, and so I thought it would be a worthwhile cause to look into,” Davies said. Davies has worked in local government finances for over 12 years. While she said many aspects of accounting, financial reporting, and budgeting are similar between local governments

With the retirement of Brady Schutt, the Iowa City Education Association needed a new president. The union is the local branch of the Iowa State Education Association and acts as the certified bargaining representative for teachers and paraeducators employed by the Iowa City Community School District. Nathan Kelley, the district’s general music curriculum coordinator, decided to take on the responsibility of being the association’s president and ran unopposed for the position. In an email to the DI, Kelley said his past experiences as a co-chair on the local branch’s Rights Committee, his position on the Iowa State Education Association executive board, and over a decade as a National Education Association delegate made him the right fit. “I had reached a point where I had the experience, relationships, and understanding of our association to step into that role and serve our members in a new way,” Kelley said in his email. “What really motivates me is making sure educators have a meaningful voice in the decisions that affect their classrooms, their working conditions, and, ultimately, their students.” For the 2026-27 academic year, Kelley said in his email that his goal is to increase communication not only between the local union and its members but also between educators and the district. “Another major focus is supporting educators as we navigate some significant challenges, particularly the district’s financial situation,” he said in the email. “There are going to be difficult conversations this year, and I want to make sure educator voices are part of those conversations.” As the district faces approximately $7 million in budget cuts, Kelley said his focus is on ensuring educators are a part of the conversations that will affect them, their classrooms, and their students.

goals, stronger systems and practices, and improved relationships with families and the community by the end of the school year. “At the end of the year, I hope we can look back and be proud of what our students and staff accomplished, feel good about the progress we’ve made as a district, and be excited about where we’re headed next,” Kortemeyer said.

and school districts, school district funding structures are intricate and take time to learn. “I will still have some insight from day one,” Davies said. “But it will still be a learning curve to learn all the different types of school finances because it’s definitely complicated.” She said the committee’s first meeting largely focused on establishing how the group will operate and reviewing its responsibilities under its charter. Members also received an overview of school finances from the Iowa Association of School Boards. For Davies, the presentation provided a foundation for the committee’s upcoming work, as the members began examining the district’s finances. She said the committee’s first focus will be to examine the Fiscal ear 202 audit, which contains internal control deficiencies. These deficiencies are categorized as minor operational errors, according to the Government Finance cers Association. The committee will also be looking at the Fiscal ear 2025 audit, as changes to financial handling for the district did not begin until Fiscal ear 2026. The F 26 audit, expected to be complete this winter, will be the first real opportunity to see an accurate and cleaned-up financial picture for the district. “We have to make sure that we’re looking at accurate fi nancial information before we’re going to start making any judgments about what can possibly change,” Davies said. The committee’s role is not to make decisions for the district, but to advise the school board and district administration on financial matters and decision-making. Davies said the board still retains all decisionmaking authority over policy, direction, and changes. She said the committee is eager to get started, but everyone will need patience as accurate numbers are assembled. “I think people are definitely interested in this. I just think it’s going to take time for it to fully unfold,” Davies said. In his email to the DI, Kelley said that getting community members’ perspectives, along with knowledge of finance, accounting, banking, and business, could be beneficial to the district and its constituents. “The value of the committee will be determined by the work it does and how that work is communicated to educators, families, and the broader community,” he said.

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Agaci ﬁrst moved to the .S in 2023 he lived in New ork City. There, he felt he had not found true American culture. He was told to move to the Midwest to ﬁnd that true American way of life. “I absolutely love it here,” he said. “My favorite part is the people. Everyone is so kind and proud to be an American.” For Agaci, opening Frank’s is the latest step in a long career in the restaurant business. Before becoming a co-owner and manager, Agaci worked for the restaurant’s other owner, Ben Bekiri, who owns several other restaurants throughout Iowa, including locations in the uad Cities and Eldridge.

“I worked every job you could think of for Ben dishwasher, cashier, busboy, and cook,” Agaci said. That experience allowed Agaci to learn diﬀerent sides of the restaurant business. Today, he runs and manages the Iowa City location, while Bekiri handles supplies and manages his other restaurants. Since opening, Frank’s has begun attracting customers who have discovered the restaurant both through word of mouth and online. Iowa City local, Chloe Wallerich, decided to give Frank’s a try after seeing the restaurant on social media. “I saw videos of people reviewing it online,” she said. “The food looked absolutely stunning, so I decided to give it a try.”

Despite being open for only a few months, Frank’s has begun to build a loyal customer base. Ruby Slemmons, a student employee at Frank’s, said the restaurant has quickly become a part of the local community. “The community has been so welcoming and truly cares about our business,” Slemmons said. “We have served cops and firefighters, and we already have plenty of regulars.” Slemmons, a junior at Iowa City High School, began working at Frank’s as a way to save money for college. After a few weeks on the job, she encouraged. ged her friend, Jayda Palmer, to apply as well. Since joining the staﬀ, the two have not only gained valuable work experience but also formed

connections with coworkers and community members. The two friends, Slemmons and Palmer, have worked their way through trying the whole menu. “There really is no other place to get a smash burger in Iowa City,” Slemmons and Palmer explained. “The Chicago Fire Smash Burger and Honey Butter Chicken have been our favorites.” Palmer said the burgers are not their only standout item, as the restaurant’s secret sauces give the food a competitive edge in a saturated dining market. “The sauces are homemade, which adds more of a unique flavor to it,” Palmer said. “The food is a lot diﬀerent than what you get at a chain restaurant, which will leave people coming back for more.”

making local food and produce more accessible,” he said. The program also benefits the farmers market’s Double p Food Bucks program, which provides up to $15 per day to EBT users to purchase $1 tokens. Lane was happy to see the $1 program stay, but vendors and shoppers at the Iowa City Farmers Market were disappointed by the $5 token removal. Buffalo Ridge rchard vendor Emma Johnson, whose mother started the business almost 25 years ago and is known for selling apples as well as plant starches and vegetables in the offseason, commented on how the farmers market sent vendors an email in August about the token removal and possible counterfeiting. “It s really too bad because I don t know that there were any issues with it. But there s nothing we can do. At the same time, we re gonna keep moving forward. We re gonna still be at the market,” she said. endor of Pheasant Run Farm, Calvin Fran enburg, who has been selling cut f lowers at the Iowa City Farmers Market for 15 years, was not surprised about the removal of the $5 tokens, but shared in Johnson’s sadness for the tokens’ removal. “I saw what happened in Dubuque, and then I talked to Bill Lane,” he said. “I saw it coming, so I wasn t super surprised. He let us know way ahead of time, a month ago, and it s not super surprising. It just sucks that people have to ruin a good thing for other people.” Johnson is not worr ied about their sales. However, the removal of tokens means more shoppers will use credit and debit cards, which means more transfer fees. “I think our sales will be the same. But it just means we re gonna be taking more credit cards instead of having the tokens. We ve always taken cards, so I don t know if it s gonna impact sales. We re just going to incur more,” she said. Fran enburg echoed Johnson’s idea, stating his business would also be lightly impacted and that the processing fee would affect them the most. Johnson said she enjoyed the tokens because they removed the processing fee for customers. “The tokens were a nice thing. There’s a three percent fee on every credit card purchase, while all the token purchases, the city was taking that on for us, which was really nice,” she said. Johnson was also concerned about vendors who do not accept credit or debit cards. “And I think that is something where if a customer comes to your stall and you don t take a credit card or they don t have the tokens, then it would impact sales,” she said. However, tokens did not seem to be that popular, as Fran enburg reported only a few people use tokens at his booth. “At my booth, probably not as many as other people. It s, like, 10 to 20 percent,” he said. Johnson agreed, stating she only had

a couple hundred people using tokens at her place. Naomi Smith, a shopper and token user at the Iowa City Farmers Market since 201 , did not know about the token removal until Aug. 29, the last day tokens can be purchased. She has been using the tokens every time she comes to the market, buying anywhere

from $60 to $100 worth of tokens. Depending on what she is buying, she will use tokens, enmo, or a credit card to purchase her goods. She primarily uses tokens for more affordable items like produce, while using digital currency to buy more expensive items like meats. However, Smith said some vendors only take cash and tokens.

“Some of the produce people are cash or token only. And I love their produce, so I always have tokens in case someone doesn’t take any,” she said. Smith had a lot of questions concerning the future commerce of the Iowa City Farmers Market, especially vendors who did not take digital currency, but she ultimately accepted the change as the markets attempted to push toward the cultural norm. “Does that put a greater burden on the vendors that have been token or cash only Are they going to have to get enmo Are they going to have to do a credit card swipe ” she said. “From my perspective, I m just so used to credit card fees that if it increases my fees, like I think that s just everywhere nowadays. But I do wonder about the vendors that just only take cash or token.”

Wilde takes charge UI accounting professor Jaron Wilde will serve as Tippie’s associate dean of undergraduate programs.

After spending over two decades in the West and then getting his doctorate in accounting at Texas A&M University, Jaron Wilde decided to go somewhere he’d never been: the Midwest. More specifically— Iowa City, Iowa. Wilde arrived at the University of Iowa in 2013 and began as a visiting assistant accounting professor in the Tippie College of Business. After 13 years at Tippie, Wilde has become the associate dean of undergraduate programs at the business school. Since then he has served as the director of the RSM Institute of Accounting Education and Research from 2018 to 2024; in 2023, he became a full-time professor; and from 2024-26 he served as the director of graduate studies for the accounting department. “Other opportunities have presented themselves, but my wife and I just feel that this is where we’re supposed to be,” he said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to be here at Iowa.” During his tenure as a University of Iowa professor, Wilde said he has taught about 2,500 students, the majority of whom were undergraduates enrolled in courses on accounting and taxes. He has also taught graduate students and a few doctoral students over the years. For the longest time, the associate dean position wasn’t on his radar. After speaking with a mentor, he said he felt inspired to apply, so he worked out the details with his wife and went for the job. “I think there’s a lot to be said for the culture here at the University of Iowa and Tippie,” Wilde said. “It’s a joy to be able to associate with them and now try to do what I can to serve them.” In a statement to The Daily Iowan, Amy Kristof-Brown, the dean of the Tippie College of Business, said the hiring team conducted a nationwide search, brought in many “strong candidates,” held multiple rounds of interviews, and listened to presentations from the ﬁnal four applicants. In the end, Wilde was the right person for the job. “Jaron brings a unique combination of excellence in teaching, scholarly achievement, and academic leadership,” she said in her statement. “What stood out throughout the search process was Jaron’s broad understanding of the student experience.” His knowledge of student life may also be an asset in his new position. Wilde said, as associate dean of undergraduate programs, he is responsible for admissions and enrollment, advising on the student experience, and Tippie Career Services for business students. He also said that he is surrounded by an ama ing staﬀ at Tippie. “We have the opportunity, with the advent of technological disruption or progress, to be able to be very deliberate and thoughtful as to what our students need,” he said. In her statement, Kristof-Brown said she is ecstatic to see the work Wilde will do in the role.

“Jaron has demonstrated throughout his career that he cares deeply about helping students succeed, and I’m excited for them to benefit from his leadership in this new role,” she said in her statement. Throughout his career, Wilde has taught and mentored countless students. One of those students, accounting doctoral candidate Mariel Bruxvoort, said she first had him as a professor when she was an undergraduate student at Iowa. She originally had him as a professor for advanced tax topics, and he was a major reason why she decided to focus on tax accounting. “His class was super interesting,” Bruxvoort said. “One of the biggest things was you could tell just how much he cares about his students.” She said Wilde was focused on teaching students how to be successful in school and life rather than just listing off content, which was very inspiring to her and others. Bruxvoort then began pursuing her master’s in accounting and served as Wilde’s teaching assistant for two fall semesters.

While working for him, she continued to see why Wilde is so admired by those at Tippie. She also further experienced his positive attitude and the energy he brought to each class. “He would call his exams celebrations,” Bruxvoort said. “That is a small testament to how positive he is and the energy he brought to his classroom and to his students.” After working at Deloitte and earning her master’s, she decided to pursue a doctorate in accounting with a focus on tax, with her experience as a teaching assistant playing a role in that decision. “He played a big part in me deciding to do the Ph.D.,” she said. Since then, Wilde has acted as a mentor for Bruxvoort. Based on her experiences with him and how he interacts with students, she said he is the right fit for his new position. “There’s no one better suited for the job,” she said. “It’s just so good for Tippie.”

Johnson County adjusts vaccine rules Public health adheres to recommendation splitting the MMR vaccine amid measles outbreak.

Amid the measles outbreaks in Iowa, Johnson County Public Health has recommended an accelerated vaccination schedule. On Aug. 10, President Donald Trump signed an executive order stating that the combined measles, mumps, and rubella, or MMR, vaccine should be given in three separate shots, but currently the separate vaccines do not exist in the United States. For the past few decades, measles has been rare in the U.S., but according to data from Iowa Health and Human Services, this year Iowa has 19 reported cases of measles, more than double from cases reported in 2025. Typically, children get the ﬁrst dose of the MMR vaccine at 12 months, and the second dose between 4 and 6 years old. This alternative vaccination schedule recommends children get the second dose 28 days after dose one. In addition, for children 6-11 months, parents have the option to get dose ero, which can oﬀer some protection until their child can receive dose one and dose two.

Melanie Wellington is a clinical professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and an associate hospital epidemiologist at the Stead Family Hospital. She also serves as the chair for the Johnson County Board of Health. Wellington said Johnson County’s Public Health made the correct recommendation, encouraging families to get dose zero if they are in an area where measles is present. “It’s a good strategy right now to protect kids,” Wellington said. “Because with the cases circulating in Iowa, there’s a signiﬁcant chance that anybody could be exposed to measles at any time, and these kids who are six months to 12 years old are the most vulnerable.” Wellington explained that when initially determining vaccination schedules, researchers look to see what times families are already coming to the hospital in order to reduce barriers, and the pre-kindergarten age seemed e cient. According to data from Iowa HHS, 77.3 percent of adolescents ages 13 to 15 received the recommended doses of the MMR vaccine in 2025, which diﬀers from its 90 percent target. Amelia Slaichert is a disease prevention specialist at Johnson County Public Health and she described what medical professionals call herd immunization.

“If enough people in a population are vaccinated, then it makes it really hard for that illness to be able to find enough people that it can infect in order to really start moving through the population,” Slaichert said. “So for measles, that place where we want to see enough herd immunity that it’s protecting people, on a population level, is between 95 and 98 percent of the population.” When a person with measles walks into a room, they breathe out droplets of nuclei that can float on air. Then these droplets remain in the air space for two hours after the infected person leaves, which makes professionals like Wellington say measles is the most contagious infection that has been discovered. “I think the best way that people can protect themselves is making sure that they’re up to date on their vaccines, making sure their loved ones are up to date on their vaccines, and just paying attention to public health announcements,” Slaichert said. “Public health will work very quickly to make sure the public knows if there’s been an exposure of measles.” Yet, while people are listening to their doctors and medical professionals, they are also seeing the presidential administration critique the MMR vaccine, and suggest it be split into three separate vaccines. Although, the U.S. does not have three separate vaccines. If someone wants to be protected against measles the only option is the MMR vaccine. Wellington said it is a possibility someone may research alternative vaccines due to high demand, but it would take a significant amount of time to conduct the necessary studies. She also explained that, while there are measles cases in the .S., to effectively test, they would have to find more people with the infection to volunteer for the studies. Of the 19 people in Iowa who have been infected with measles, 17 of them were either unvaccinated or it was unknown whether they had received the vaccine. Wellington said people have to weigh whether someone’s wanting to avoid measles is more important than someone wants to not get vaccinated. “It’s always been a terrible thing to have to do with public health because no one wants to limit anyone’s freedom,” she said. “But if the public is full of people who are at risk and don’t have a way to protect themselves, then the individual right to make their own choices has to sort of take a back seat.”

OPINIONS

Mandatory enrollment is not a student demand The Center for Intellectual Freedom has struggled to attract students before a new mandate was created that will guarantee participation as a graduation requirement.

Universities are supposed to be institutions where ideas compete on their own merits. Programs succeed when students find value in them. Departments grow when enrollment increases. New academic initiatives earn their place by convincing students and faculty they are worth their time and investment. That is why the University of Iowa Center for Intellectual Freedom raises an important question: If this program is truly filling a need on campus, why has there been so little interest in it? The answer is simply because it isn’t needed in the first place. Beginning in Fall 2028, students at Iowa’s regent universities will be required to complete six credit hours of civics-focused coursework to graduate. At the UI, the Center for Intellectual Freedom will be the only academic unit authorized to offer those courses. Supporters will argue that the requirement ensures students receive a stronger civic education. I see something different. When the center was launched, student interest was almost nonexistent. Out of 64 available seats, just six were initially filled. Classes had to be delayed — enrollment eventually reached only nine students across two courses in Spring 2026, and another was dropped entirely. Those numbers tell a story supporters of the center cannot ignore. Students were given the opportunity to take these classes voluntarily, and most chose not to. Proponents of the center argue there were legitimate reasons for the weak turnout. The courses were only one-credit electives and did not fulfill general education, major, or minor requirements. Fair enough, since that undoubtedly made it more difficult to attract students. Still, students voluntarily enroll in elective courses every semester. They take classes that interest them, complement their career goals or provide skills they feel are worth acquiring. When students see value in a course, they find room for it in their schedules. Fourth-year business management student and Resident Assistant Saiphani Sirimalle said the center’s mission has never been clearly justified to him. “I’ve heard more opinions about it, about how it’s something that the government’s trying to force on us, saying you have to take classes because they think the University of Iowa is too liberal, basically,” Sirimalle said. Whether one agrees with that assessment or not, it highlights a larger issue facing the center: Many students still seem uncertain about why it exists and what educational gap it is trying to fill. The center’s mission focuses on U.S. history, government, civic leadership, and intellectual freedom. Those are unquestionably worthwhile subjects, but the problem is that many students already encounter those topics naturally throughout their education. Sirimalle said he already studied government and history extensively before the center was created. “I did have to take a history class when I came to college. I had to learn about world history,” he said. “I had to learn about U.S. history, and I had to learn about how the Senate works, how Congress works, and what it takes to have a bill passed. So I’m kind of lost on what they’re trying to teach.”

That raises a fair question. If students are already exposed to these subjects through existing coursework, why is an entirely new graduation requirement necessary? More importantly, students shouldn’t be forced to pay for it. College students are increasingly focused on maximizing the value of every credit they take. Tuition is expensive, and students regularly balance graduation requirements, internships, and career preparation when selecting courses. “If I want to take a class that’s outside of my major or concentration, I have to see that it’s going to give me some sort of monetary benefit,” Sirimalle said. “I have to see that post-college there’s a return on investment on this. I’ve already learned about the government, so it’s not like I need to spend thousands of dollars doing it all over again.”

I happen to agree. There is a significant difference between teaching students a practical skill and requiring them to retake concepts many have already learned. If supporters believe these courses offer unique value, they should demonstrate that value. Students should not be expected to simply accept another mandatory requirement because lawmakers believe it is important. But that is exactly what is about to happen. When a program struggles to attract students voluntarily and then receives a mandatory enrollment

Lower attention spans are driving movie remakes Movies might be getting a little worse, but we are getting worse at watching them.

Even in my third rewatch of Curry Barker’s “Obsession,” I felt enthralled. It asked something of me as a viewer. It asked for my attention. It has been a big year for horror, with filmmakers experimenting with ideas and styles that feel genuinely different. Take ane Parsons’ “Backrooms” for example — even though the idea was taken from the internet, it incorporated something familiar with a cinematography style that felt authentically dreadful and analog. But that originality is at odds with the direction of mainstream Hollywood. Nowadays, many movies don’t want to take that extra step; they will stick to a reboot, remake, or a sequel. Any creative liberty depends on the producers’ financial motive. And the reason those movies make the most money is because people will not sit through something unfamiliar. The logic is understandable. A recognizable title comes with a built-in audience, making it seem like a safer financial investment than an original idea. But without

those original ideas, movies lose their artistic touch. In 2025, 88 percent of the top 50 films were adaptations, remakes, or sequels. It has also been 15 years since the top film of the year has been an original. ther than Avatar and Titanic, the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time have been some form of sequel, specifically Marvel sequels, like “Avengers: Endgame” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” And when a finite series is rebooted simply because there is money left to be made from it, the result can feel formulaic. For example, the “Fear Street” trilogy followed a threepart story that intentionally moved backward through time to uncover the origin of Shadyside’s curse. Netflix had even described the trilogy as having “started and concluded” in 2021. Yet, four years later, “Fear Street: Prom Queen” joined the trilogy. Fred Jensen, a UI fourth-year studying cinematic arts, also argued the budget is part of why Hollywood is obsessed with reboots and remakes. “I think Hollywood needs to not only stop trying to remake already great films, but needs to stop throwing $250 million at every project, because most great stories don’t need expensive visual effects or A-list actors. They just need opportunity,” Jensen said. But the problem goes deeper than money. Movies are being made for an audience whose attention is divided between the silver screen and the phone screen. Our attention spans have decreased from 2.5 minutes

pipeline through state law, it becomes difficult to separate educational goals from institutional preservation. Once the requirement takes effect in 2028, enrollment numbers will no longer tell us whether students value the courses. Students will be there because they need the credits to graduate. This is not demand. This is compliance. What makes this particularly ironic is the center’s emphasis on intellectual freedom. “When I think of intellectual freedom, I feel like it’s quite in the word freedom. I get to choose whether I want to take those classes or not,” Sirimalle said. Whether or not one agrees with this interpretation, the point is hard to ignore. Freedom implies choice. Requiring students to take specific courses removes that choice. I believe students should understand American history and government. I believe civic education is important. But I also believe universities should persuade students that a course is valuable rather than force them to enroll. If the Center for Intellectual Freedom offers something students truly want and need, enrollment will grow on its own. If it provides a unique educational experience, students will choose it voluntarily. So far, however, we have seen low enrollment, canceled courses, and a future mandate designed to guarantee participation. This is not how successful academic programs typically prove their worth. The Center for Intellectual Freedom has every right to offer classes and compete for students. What it shouldn’t have is a captive audience. If students genuinely wanted these courses, lawmakers wouldn’t have needed to make them mandatory in the first place. The fact that they did may be the clearest indication of all that students have already rendered their verdict. to just over 40 seconds today, according to a study by Dr. Gloria Mark. TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts have changed the way we consume entertainment. A viewer can watch dozens of short videos in the time it takes to watch a single movie. If something is boring, there is no reason to wait for it to become interesting. With that in mind, it makes sense that people don’t want to sit through 96 minutes of only dialogue like in “12 Angry Men.” But in return, film producers try to force-feed us another action comedy with Dwayne Johnson in a jungle. Reid Harper, a second-year cinema and screen-writing student, noticed people sneaking looks at their phone during slower scenes or toward the middle of movies. “Sometimes this gives other people the green flag to check theirs and I think that totally sullies the moviegoing experience. When you see others giving less attention to a movie it takes away the magic of watching with a group and places less importance on the film,” Harper said. There is a difference between making a movie that demands patience and making a movie that demands nothing from its audience. Hollywood seems to have forgotten the middle ground films that are accessible and entertaining while still trusting their viewers to pay attention. Jensen claimed there could be good remakes, and I do agree. A remake can be worthwhile and justified when it offers a new interpretation rather than simply repackaging what we already know. “I would love to see a ‘Jurassic Park’ remake that stays closer to the horror tone of the book, rather than another Jurassic World’ dinosaur action film with A-listers,” he said. “Final Destination: Bloodlines” is another good real example. It is part of a franchise that can just keep going. With that in mind, Hollywood does not need to stop making blockbusters or abandon franchises. And audiences should not be expected to suddenly trade every action movie for a monologous drama. Hollywood needs to trust its audience again. And even if some people will be on their phones, at least we won’t need to see another version of Moana — live action or a sequel.

Put a pin in it The annual poster sale at Hubbard Park ran from Aug. 22 -29. Students were able to look through an assortment of posters featuring sports, music, movies, and much more.

Education laws change Iowa classrooms

New state laws implemented in July will change classroom discipline policies and school funding.

Iowa education laws that took effect July 1 are reshaping how schools handle student discipline, funding, and educational opportunities as districts across the state work to implement these laws into classrooms. Senate File 2428 changes how schools respond to students who engage in violent or nonviolent disruptions in the classroom. The law allows teachers to remove students from their classrooms for certain disruptive behaviors and establishes procedures to determine when students can return to the classroom. Disability Rights Iowa, a legal protection and advocacy group, has been tracking the bill since it was introduced, and recently published guidance for parents about the new law. The organization has concerns that students with behavioral disabilities could be removed from their classrooms more frequently due to the new law. “When you have a child removed from the classroom setting, those services and supports stop,” Catherine Johnson, the executive director of Disability Rights Iowa, said. Data from a report by the American Civil Liberties Union showed students with disabilities make up 13 percent of the student population in the state, but account for 27 percent of behavior referrals across districts. Johnson said she is concerned additional classroom removals could further interrupt students’ education and, in some cases, remove them from behavioral supports specifically designed to address their needs. From an educator’s perspective, Iowa City Community School District’s teacher union leader Nathan elley said every student deserves a safe classroom learning environment, and every teacher deserves appropriate tools and support when behavior disrupts their classroom. “One of the important pieces of SF 2428 is that it recognizes that a disruption does not have to be violent to have a significant impact on a classroom,” elley said.

He emphasi ed t hat t he way the law is implemented w ill be important to its eﬀectiveness. “We need to make sure educators understand the new processes, that students are treated fairly, and that teachers have the support they need when di cult situations occur,” he said. For students with individual education plans and 504 plans, schools must still comply with federal laws, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which requires students’ classroom environments to meet their needs. If a student is removed from school for more than 10 days, either consecutively or cumulatively during the school year, schools are required to hold a manifestation determination meeting to decide whether the behavior was due to the student’s disability or the student’s educational plan was not implemented correctly. “I think we should really look at what students need instead of pulling

them out of classrooms because they are behaving in a way that most likely conforms with their disability,” Johnson said. Senate File 2201, which also took effect on July 1, changes Iowa’s school funding formula and sets the state’s percent of growth at 2 percent for the 2026-27 school year. This is the same percent increase as the previous 2025-26 budget year, bringing in an additional $160 per pupil in state aid. Iowa State Education Association President Joshua Brown said his organization called for a 5 percent increase in supplemental state aid. He added districts are working to keep up with the rate of inflation, which is currently at 3.5 percent as of July 2026. Brown said he feels the percent increase is not adequately helping to fund districts. “We’ve been clear about what happens when districts are inadequately funded. Class si es grow, staff positions disappear, programs get reduced, materials age, and buildings become less safe,” Brown said.

During an Iowa floor debate on Feb. 23, Sen. Molly Donahue, D-Marion, who serves on the Senate’s education committee, said the percent increase does not reflect the rising cost of transportation, utilities, health insurance, and special education funding. “It does not meet the reality that our districts are living every single day,” Donahue said. “A 2 percent increase is not maintenance. It is a cut in real dollars.” During the same Feb. 23 f loor debate, Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, the bill’s floor manager, acknowledged the increase of $111 million for school districts in fiscal year 202 . He also highlighted the redistribution of t r a n sp or t at ion f u nd i ng for school districts. “There were a few school districts in the state who were collecting transportation equity dollars,” Evans said. “By capping all school districts at a million dollars, there will be a redistribution of approximately four million to other qualifying districts.”

Iowa colleges move toward common courses The new Iowa law will standardize course numbering across public community colleges.

During the 2026 legislative session, ov. im Reynolds signed House File 2610 into law, creating uniform course numbering and prerequisite classes between community college and state universities in Iowa. The law requires the Iowa Department of Education and the Board of Regents to collaborate to develop a statewide general education framework, which the department will implement to support transfer students and promote academic transparency. Beg i n n i ng i n Ju ly 202 , t h i s framework w ill be applied to all community college general education coursework and will be implemented within the Iowa transfer system used by public universities. Rachel Boon, chief academic officer for the Board of Regents, said the board w ill work w ith communit y colleges so the process will be seamless for students. She said any information changed will be shared with the regents so it can be input into public universities’ transfer and articulation software. By Dec. 31, the Depar tment of Education and the Iowa Board of Regents must submit a study on the implementation of the framework and common course numbering system. Boon said for this study, the board will focus largely on transferability. Boon said the absolute goal of this change is to mitigate any possible credit loss. “I think right now when we look at a lot of the data that we have through the universities on that issue, we don’t see a lot of credit loss happening today,” she said, “Certainly we don’t want there to be credit loss, but we also don’t

necessarily see that as a huge problem right now.” The law also includes expenditures and definitions for career and technical education services the Department of Education must ensure are aligned to a “national framework representative of all career pathways.” The law requires regional career and technical education partnerships to show its spending supports high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand jobs. Those include occupations with above-average demand or grow th, jobs requiring specialized education or training, and positions that generally pay more than the state or regional average. These programs fit into six content areas, like health sciences, human services, agriculture, food, and natural resources, as listed on the Department of Education website. Many community colleges in Iowa require students to take remedial prerequisite classes before taking college-level classes, if needed, which do not fill the same degree requirements. The new model cuts these classes out, and instead, enrolls the students in the college-level class while also providing them w ith developmental support alongside it. According to a 2020 report done by the Department of Education this will be done using preparatory courses and labs. All Iowa community colleges are mandated to replace prerequisite coursework in English and mathematics with corequisite models by the 202 -29 school year. Hannah rueger, a first-year student at the niversity of Iowa, took courses through Western Iowa Tech Community College before coming to the university and was able to complete 27 credits over two and a half years. K r ue ger s a id w hen she w a s

choosing classes at the community college she specifically tried to find courses that would count towards her university degree in exercise science and biology. She said a common course numbering system would have benef ited her experience by matching the courses she took to the course outlines for her majors at the university. “I feel like that would have helped me out more, just to know exactly what classes to take, so I wouldn’t have to take them twice,” Krueger said. She said taking community college courses before coming to the university was a beneficial experience but worries that the courses she took might not have been similar enough to the courses she would have taken at the university. “I kind of wish I would have saved one or two of them to take as an intro class to know what the niversity of Iowa classes do,” Krueger said. Many students take communit y college classes before or during their time at the I to save money and complete their degree faster.

Ben Rivera, a first-year political science student at the UI, said he earned 6 credits at Des Moines Area Community College through both online and in-person classes. Rivera said he had no issues during t he proc e ss of t ra nsfer r i ng h is credits to the university. He was grateful for the opportunity to take courses through community college and said it benefited him in many ways. “ ne, it’s a lot cheaper, and especially I would say in-person classes at a community college, they’re a lot smaller, so you can build a relationship with your professor a lot easier versus if you’re in a big lecture hall,” he said. He sa id he wa s able to ga i n sk i l l s he’s not s u r e he wou ld have otherwise learned. “I had a couple of years where I was struggling in high school because of personal stuff, so I really did not have good grades that ref lected my intelligence,” he said, “So going to communit y college allowed me to actually get good grades and show that I can do that.”

SPORTS Different players, same blood

The van Aalsum sisters gear up for their final season playing together.

The van Aalsum sisters may not be the first sister duo on the Iowa field hockey team, but they might be the most unique. Fifth-year defender Mae van Aalsum and fourth-year forward Dionne van Aalsum are close by blood, but are entirely different players on the field. “Sometimes you don’t even realize they’re sisters on the field. They just operate how they have to as teammates,” field hockey head coach Lisa Cellucci said. “But you can tell when they need each other, and in really tough moments off the field, you’ll see them put arms

around each other and either talk each other oﬀ the ledge or pump each other up.” Hailing from Castricum, Netherlands, the van Aalsum sisters could have faced a challenging transition; however, that wasn’t the case. Given how international the squad is, the change was easier to make. “It’s never that you’re alone,” Mae van Aalsum said. “We live in this studentathlete bubble, and I don’t really know if we’re living the real American life.” “To me, at least when I got here, it was mostly getting used to the routine you’re in,” Dionne van Aalsum added. “You don’t have as much time as you might think to do your own thing or to call your family.”

The van Aalsum sisters are different, but their bond cannot be broken. The sisters see each other nearly every day and regularly get coffee, ask each other questions, and have check-ins throughout the day. The little things really help build and shape a bond like theirs. “Well, I’ll tell you they don’t fight,” Cellucci said. “Some of the other sisters we’ve had, they kinda get after each other with a little bit of sisterly love.” On the field, however, they know how to impact the team in their own way, which is helpful to the team’s overall morale. The moment Dionne van Aalsum stepped onto Grant Field, she instantly

became the leading scorer for the Hawkeyes and has led the nation in scoring twice. “She’s who we call on when we need a goal, or we need something to happen, and she has continually risen to the occasion,” Cellucci said. On the other hand, the older sister, Mae van Aalsum, who joined the team in 2025, has been finding her own presence on the pitch, which Cellucci was very impressed by. “We’ve asked her to be a role player, and she’s filled out that role very selflessly. Wherever we ask her to step in, she will, and that’s not common

Caitlin McWilliams joins GymHawks for final season

The University of Washington graduate transferred to Iowa in pursuit of a master’s degree.

The University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team announced on July 28 via Instagram that ﬁfth-year gymnast Caitlin McWilliams would be transferring to Iowa for the upcoming season. McWilliams graduated from the University of Washington in May 2026 with a major in speech and hearing sciences. Before college, she had a background at the Incline Gymnastics Training Center in Littleton, Colorado.

McWilliams will be pursuing a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Iowa during her ﬁfth year. At Washington, McWilliams earned academic honors while performing for the Huskies. In 2023 and 2024, she was named to the Dean’s List and was on the Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll in 2024. McWilliams then earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and was a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in both 2025 and 2026, while earning Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association Academic AllAmerica honors in 2026.

“Coming into a new team for my fifth year, I’m excited to learn from my teammates and be around new perspectives while also being able to contribute my own experiences,” McWilliams said. “I also think this year will challenge me to continue growing in my ability to adapt in a new environment.” In the Spring 2026 season, the Iowa gymnastics team graduated many exceptional floor exercise athletes, including Emily Erb, who ﬁnished seventh in the Big Ten on ﬂoor in 2025. “As a transfer, we see her role being mainly utilized on the floor. She’s an

exceptional floor performer and has the ability to score really high. We expect her to come in right away and bring that leadership and experience. We graduated some high floor scores, so we needed to fill that gap there,” head coach Jen Llewellyn said. Llewellyn became the head coach at Iowa in 2024 after spending three years at the University of Washington, where she coached McWilliams through her first two college years. During her time with the Huskies,

One mile at a time After a summer of increased mileage and development, Hillary Trainor enters her third year with Iowa cross country as a rising Big Ten runner.

Hillary Trainor was Iowa’s lone selection for the 2026 Big Ten Runners to Watch list, but running wasn’t always the plan. In fact, the Sumner, Iowa, native didn’t start cross country until her sophomore year of high school. As a freshman at Sumner-Fredricksburg High School, Trainor played volleyball and ran track and ﬁeld. After qualifying for state in the 800 meters, she began to see her potential as a runner. “Throughout my years of high school, I grew to love it, and I had a really good high school coach, whose name was Mark Seehase,” Trainor said. After winning the Class 2A State Championship in cross country as a senior, Trainor received an oﬀer from Iowa to run cross country and track. Now, Trainor enters her third season on the list for the Big Ten Women’s Cross Country Runners to Watch. The third-year

wants to become one of Iowa’s top scorers, break 21 minutes in the 6K, and etch her name into Iowa’s top ten list. The biggest shift in Trainor’s confidence came during last year’s track season, when one of her coaches challenged her to run the 10 for the first time in her career. The farthest she had ever run for a race was the 6K during cross country and the 5K for track. “It was definitely new, going from the 5 to doubling it, but that’s where I realized that I [wanted] to have a really good summer and build on that,” Trainor said. After taking a two-week break following the track and field season, Trainor began building toward the fall. Consistency, one of the runner’s greatest strengths, allowed Trainor to gradually increase her mileage, now running around 60 miles per week. The increased workload has helped build Trainor’s aerobic base and confidence, leading her to feel significantly fitter than this point last year. The

Forward Berit Parten emerges as leader after facing adversity in her young career Iowa

libero talks superpowers and movies

From All-Big Ten freshman team to injury the next season, Parten has learned from it all and shares the wisdom with her teammates.

The Alabama transfer recorded 90 digs with the Hawkeyes last season.

After winning a soccer game 11-0 at age seven, Berit Parten knew soccer was the sport for her. Even though she only scored one of the 11 goals, it was the feeling of winning that ignited the fire to become a forward for the rest of her life. Hailing from St. Paul, Parten made a name for herself at the high school level, finishing with 151 goals and 79 assists in her career, both school records at Minnehaha Academy. Alongside three first-team allstate appearances and a state championship, her abilities drew the attention of Big Ten schools recruiting the forward to their programs. Despite receiving attention from other schools in the recruitment process, Parten’s visit to the University of Iowa had her hooked. “A big thing for me was the people on the team and the environment, and I felt that Iowa was a different place than all the others,” Parten said. “It immediately felt like it was home and comforting to be here and still stands true today.” Coming in as a freshman, Parten leaned on veterans like Millie Greer and former goalkeeper Macy Enneking to integrate into the team. It didn’t take long for Parten to become noticeable on the pitch. Parten appeared in all 22 games of her first year and started 13 of them, co-leading the team with seven goals on the season. A two-goal perfor-

mance against No. 18 Wake Forest warranted her as the Big Ten freshman of the week, and she appeared on the All-Big Ten freshman team at the end of the season. “I honestly didn’t expect much coming in, but I just fell into a rhythm and had a really good team behind me who helped me achieve all of the accolades,” Parten said. If she had to pick a favorite goal from her inaugural season, a half volley off a corner kick against Washington was a “pretty sweet goal.” “I don’t think I could do that again if I tried,” Parten said. Parten had the chance to play against her hometown school of Minnesota in her first year and loved the experience, despitesuffering a 2-1 defeat. “When I subbed on, I heard all my family and friends cheering for me, and I was so happy to perform and show my work to all the people who care for me,” Parten said. “It sucked to lose that one. If I could have that one back, I would.” When everything seemed to be going right for the Minnesota native, an injury kept Parten off the pitch for the first 13 games of her sophomore season, something she had never experienced before. “I struggled at first just watching and not being able to play,” Parten said. “But that year was a super big growth point for me, and I learned so many things from being hurt. It changed me as both a player and a person.” Of all the lessons that came from being sidelined for an extended time,

the biggest one for Parten was how to be a more supportive teammate. “I used to come off the pitch and be in my own world, but last year I was completely focused on everyone else,” Parten said. “I learned that’s how I want to be off the field. I don’t want to circulate on what I can do better. I want to cheer for the people who are on the field doing their work.” It’s now Parten’s third season, but only the first for new head coach Dean Ward, who has set a positive tone early for the Hawkeyes. “Right from the jump in the spring, there was a whole new feel and honestly a breath of fresh air,” Parten said. “The coaches let us be us on the field and don’t try to put us in a box. They’re just here to help us and tune up the little things.” Now an upperclassman, Parten has taken her leadership role to the next level both on and off the pitch. Drawing from her experience of being injured, the forward has built on the skills she learned while sidelined. “I want the team to look at me and think ‘That’s the standard of how we all need to be,’” Parten said. “I’m fairly vocal and try to be a constant communicator on the field for both the lower and upperclassmen as well.” With three goals on the season already, Parten has already done what she does best: putting the ball in the back of the net. Having another season under her belt, No. 2 has already made her name as one of the top leaders of Iowa women’s soccer.

Who is MLB’s National League MVP this season?

Sports reporter Austin Schornhorst argues for Pete Crow-Armstrong, while sports reporter Logan Miller argues for Shohei Ohtani.

It’s a fact that over the past three years, there hasn’t been a single baseball player in the National League better than Shohei Ohtani. That has changed this season. The level at which Pete Crow-Armstrong plays defense, runs the bases, and drives in runs gives him the edge over the four-time winner. Something Crow-Armstrong has is a clutch factor. When deﬁning a clutch player, you would probably say they are good in high-leverage situations, drive runners in, and impact the team in every possible aspect of their game. This season, without a shadow of a doubt, Crow-Armstrong has been the more clutch player day in and day out. He’s batting a ridiculous .356 with runners in scoring position while Ohtani is only batting .247

The clutch stat provided on Fangraphs shows the drastic difference between Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani. Crow-Armstrong holds a 1.45, while Ohtani sits with only a .33. For reference, 0.00 is neutral, neither good nor bad in clutch situations. This shows just how much more valuable Crow-Armstrong is to his team compared to Ohtani. However, that’s just one side of the ball. Obviously, when Ohtani is pitching and hitting all season at his level, he’s the most valuable player in the league, but this year, since he’s stepped off the mound, his batting has added up to nothing more than just a good season, which for fans is a letdown. At this point in time, Ohtani has only pitched in 14 games this season, which has nothing on the show that Crow-Armstrong puts on in center field night after night. Granted, Ohtani’s 8-2 record and 1.79 ERA do look good, but this small of a sample size is incomparable to Crow-Armstrong’s seven five-star catches, 1 defensive runs saved, and .9 3 fielding percentage. If the Cubs didn’t have Crow-Armstrong, they wouldn’t be holding the first wild card spot. But if the Dodgers didn’t have Ohtani, they’d still be the juggernauts they are.

Fans have become numb to the average year of Shohei Ohtani, who is pacing the back-to-back World Series champions with a .935 OPS and 30 home runs. The Ohtani story can’t be told on one side of the ball, as he’s been elite on the mound this year with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 14 starts. Additionally, his year at the plate has become drastically underrated. Ohtani leads the NL in OPS while being elite on the mound. Ohtani already has four MVPs in his short nine-year career and has won three in a row. He’s now on the cusp of joining Barry Bonds as the only player in MLB history to win four MVPs in a row. Even though Ohtani has had a slightly

below-average year for his standards, he is still the easy choice for NL MVP. Ohtani has made the impossible seem normal, and that shouldn’t detract from the season he is having this year. Year in and year out, Ohtani faces immense pressure from the fans and media, and keeps producing. He won his first MVP in 2021 with the Angels with a worse batting average, on-base percentage, and ER A than he has this year. The respect for Ohtani’s ability to play on both sides of the ball has been shown before, and I believe that it should continue for the 2026 National League MVP race. Power bats in baseball are at a premium, and elite starting pitching is the same. No other player in the league both hits and pitches, let alone at an elite level like Ohtani. Ohtani has spent most of his career rewriting the history books, and this year is no different. I believe that even though Crow-Armstrong has had a remarkable season, it doesn’t stack up to the greatness of Ohtani.

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with this age group,” Cellucci said. “Everybody wants what they want right away. She’s shown great patience. She’s really developed, and she’ll do whatever’s best for the team.” While one sister is quite literally leading the team, the other is fulfilling her role at the highest level possible. Yet, there isn’t that fierce competition that you usually see when two siblings share the field together. Instead, they build on each other and support one another, which is not only helpful to their chemistry but also to those around them. Mae van Aalsum, the oldest, watches her sister continue to dominate, while she remains the perfect role player and waits for her number to be called. Seeing a younger sibling succeed might be painful for some other close siblings, but not for her. Describing her sister in one word, Mae van Aalsum chose “inspiring.” “To me it always felt like her life has always gone so well and so flowy, and everything just happens, and her grades are A’s, and they just happen,” Mae van Aalsum said. “I’m probably biased, but she’s the best on the team, and it just happened.” Mae van Aalsum might be a role-playing defenseman on the field, but off the field, she might as well be a forward the way she attacks life. The fifth-year grad student has many aspirations following her graduation this fall. “I have some dreams back home. I’m for sure going back to the Netherlands and traveling around Europe and probably working for the EU is my biggest inspiration now,” Mae van Aalsum said. “So we’ll see how it goes, but just pursuing the educational line.” Dionne van Aalsum also hopes to continue her education and plans to pursue a master’s degree in England — even seeking a doctorate down the road. “With that, I just want to keep playing

field hockey for a little bit,” Dionne van Aalsum said. “So finding a place where I can do that. I think I’ll build my life around that for now.” The van Aalsum sisters have always had a good relationship and memories to share with one another, which they can only hope to grow and improve on as they wrap up their field hockey journeys together and begin a new chapter in their lives. “What I love most or cherish most about our relationship is that from all the people around me, I probably have to use the least amount of words to Dionne to make known what’s in my head or what I want to do, and I think it’s always been that way,” Mae van

Aalsum said. As far as memories go, the sisters couldn’t decide on a favorite because they simply had too many to choose from. However, it’s been the little things in their lives that have improved their relationship. From Dionne van Aalsum following her older sister everywhere she went when they were younger, to Mae van Aalsum teaching her younger sister how to wakeboard, it can conﬁdently be said that these sisters truly have had a huge impact on one another’s lives. “I think our bond is unique, like every sister bond would be,” Dionne van Aalsum said. “I think with our little sister too, with

the three of us, we’re pretty close. So I think it’s really nice to have each other around, and to know we always have each other’s backs.” As the sisters head into their ﬁnal season playing together, Cellucci looks forward to being part of it and hopes to see them grow as much as possible before the season ends. “I just want Dionne to be able to play free and play with a lot of joy because we have much more of a surrounding cast for her so she doesn’t have to carry as much of the responsibility,” Cellucci said. “I really hope for Mae that she continues to develop and continues to be just the wonderful leader that she is.”

McWilliams participated in three events: uneven bars, floor exercise, and the vault. While she competed consistently on the bars with a career high of 9.825 and vault with a season high of 9.750, the floor exercise was her best event. During her senior season, she earned a career-high 9.925 on the floor exercise against Illinois, winning the event title. “She really is the whole package when it comes to the floor. She’s got everything you could want and need,” Llewelyn said. “She’s very powerful and very clean in her lines and her gymnastics. She’s just a performer. As soon as the music starts, she brings so much to her performance, and she connects with the judges and the audience.” Llewelyn noted that while McWilliams’ focus would be on the floor, there might be room to train her on vault and bars if the schedule allows. “I’m really thankful to the Iowa coaching staff for giving me this opportunity and to the team for welcoming me with open arms,” McWilliams said. “I’m also looking forward to becoming part of the Iowa athletics community and getting to experience Iowa City as a whole. There’s so much I’m excited to learn and experience this year, both as a gymnast and a student.” The Iowa gymnastics team’s season begins Friday, Dec. 12, with the Black and Gold Exhibition.

third-year has also noticed the difference during workouts. “Right now I’m at about 60 miles a week, which has been a huge confidence builder for me,” Trainor said. Trainor also feels mentally stronger heading into the upcoming season. Upon arriving in Iowa City as a freshman, Trainor knew that the transition to college would be a major change. With two years of experience behind her now, the third-year is more confident in her abilities and less nervous before workouts and races. “I know I belong here,” Trainor said. That confidence has come with a better understanding of her body. Although there are days when she isn’t fully motivated, Trainor has learned to stay

races. Not wanting to start too fast and risk hitting a wall, she instead aims to build throughout the race, conserving energy early before pushing during the second half. “I think my strong suit that some people might not know is that I can kind of get stronger throughout the race as it goes on,” Trainor said. Teammates Elena Torres and Miriam Sandeen have also helped develop that mentality, with Trainor describing how she would use them as targets during races to stay connected to the pack. “Miriam is our sixth-year, so she has a lot of experience,” Trainor said. “She was someone I looked up to and still do. Elena is also in my grade, and we have raced together a lot.” Now an upperclassman, the thirdyear also has an opportunity to become a leader for the Hawkeyes. Trainor doesn’t

disciplined while recognizing when her body needs a break. Cross country’s associate head coach Randy Hasenbank often tells the team “train, don’t strain,” and Trainor carried this philosophy into her preparation for the season. Rather than trying to do too much, too soon, she has focused on gradually building herself into a stronger runner. Trainor takes that same patience into

necessarily view leadership as being the most vocal person on the team, instead opting to show younger athletes what consistency and commitment look like. “I definitely like to lead by example, which I think is really important,” Trainor said. Trainor’s teammates have also played a major role in her development. The team supports one another through difficult workouts and races, pushing

each other and recognizing when someone needs encouragement. As Trainor begins her season on Sept. 4 at the Hawkeye Invitational, she isn’t shying away from the expectations that come with being named to the Big Ten’s list. Instead, she sees the recognition as validation of the work she has put in over the summer. “This shows that the work I have been putting in this summer is being recognized,” Trainor said. “Knowing that

Classifieds

people notice I put in the work is really special.” The path to Trainor’s goals has never been about one race or one breakthrough. It has been built mile by mile, workout by workout. Now, with her sights set on breaking 21 minutes, becoming one of Iowa’s top scorers, and having her friends and family in the crowd at regionals, Trainor has the chance to see just how far those miles can take her.

The love of the game

As the school year kicks off, students are finding their own ways to stay active in Iowa City. Across campus, students are turning to pickup games, climbing, and other recreational activities to get moving, compete, and have fun with their friends.

Gambling and sports betting on UI campus

In the modern-day gambling and sports betting craze, University of Iowa students engrain the vice into their lives and social scenes.

H O U R S

“The Last House” is over-marketed and under-performing This Netflix Original film, featuring a family forced into isolation, was released on Aug. 7. n a typical Thursday morning, crowds of people gathered to stare in awe and confusion at a billboard with an advertisement unlike any other. Located 30 feet above the iconic Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles a man took up residence inside a billboard, cheerily waving down to the people gazing at him. The billboard was constructed to look like the front of a house, with a giant protruding window for citi ens below to stare into. Inside the billboard was a typical living room setup — chairs, lamps, bookshelves, etc. — complete with a disheveled-looking man dressed in pajamas and a robe. The strange man even sported a pair of binoculars to look down below, and dry-erase boards to communicate to them with. The man inside the advertisement was actor, comedian, and producer Nathan Shoop, who lived inside the enclosure from Aug. 6 through 8. The reason behind Shoop’s stunt was to promote Netflix’s upcoming original film, “The Last House,” posing the question of how long a person could survive without leaving their house, a nod to the film’s theme. After catching wind of this absurd advertisement strategy on social media, where it had promptly gone viral, I had high expectations going into watching “The Last House.” For a film with such a thought-out marketing strategy, it seemed almost obvious that the film would be good. nfortunately, my expectations were let down. “The Last House” follows a family of four that is stuck inside their house due to a mysterious rain that prevents people from leaving. The family must make sacrifices to survive with their dwindling

supplies and learn to adapt to their circumstances by conserving water and growing their own food. As time moves on, the family can do nothing but watch through their windows as more and more houses on their block slowly fall into ruin, consumed by lifelessness. For me, watching the family overcome

the obstacles of isolation and the emotions surrounding their predicament was the most intriguing concept of the film. The mom takes up gardening and learns how to grow the family their own food, and the dad learns how to use his engineering capabilities to hunt animals. However, the mystery behind the root of this trapping rain still loomed over the narrative, plaguing each achievement the family earned by reminding them of what they’ve had to endure. Eventually, it is revealed there are indeed creatures outside of the house: hulking figures of shadows that remain just far enough from the audience’s perception to get a solid grasp on their appearance. These ominous creatures were some of the most compelling aspects of the film and kept me hooked to see where

it would lead, as their presence slowly morphed from one of paranoid delusion to actual threats. The psychological suspense surrounding the family’s isolation and their tormentors drew me in as a viewer, and I craved to understand where these mysterious creatures with unique powers came from. et, once the figures had come close enough for the audience to see their true appearance, I felt let down. ne of the most suspenseful parts of “The Last House” was the fear of not knowing the true horrors outside of the house, and this suspense was instantly lost once the monsters went from being ominous figures to glorified octopi. At this point, the film shifted from a psychological thriller to a typical creature-feature film, losing the spark that originally drew me in.

Plus, the action scenes from this point forward had the potential to up the fear factor of this film, but ultimately kept losing my interest there just wasn’t anything to be truly scared of. While the overall theme of the film was attempting to promote environmental awareness for the oceans, playing with the fear of the unknown that may lurk at the bottom of the ocean floor, the execution could have been a lot better. Additionally, my biggest complaint with this film was how forgettable it was. “The Last House” had all of the ingredients for a truly great film, but lost steam as the film dragged on and left no desire to rewatch. After the heavy marketing campaign, I was disappointed to find that “The Last House” was nothing more than another lackluster Netflix riginal.

‘Outer Banks’ Season five is chaotic but satisfying UI students and other young adults are swept up in the craze. The Pogues are back for one final adventure. But this time, the stakes are the highest they’ve ever been, the treasure is even more valuable, and — as the character iara declared during the final scene of the previous season — they are out for “revenge.” The fifth and final season of the popular Netflix series “ uter Banks” was released on Aug. 20. The season consists of ten episodes and stars Chase Stokes as John B. Routledge, Madelyn Cline as Sarah Cameron, Jonathan Daviss as Pope Heyward, Madison Bailey as iara Carrera, Carlacia Grant as Cleo Anderson, and J. Anthony Crane as Chandler roff. This is the only season that does not include JJ Maybank, played by Rudy Pankow, after the beloved character was murdered by his biological father, roff, in the final episode of Season . This leads the Pogues to search for roff and an ancient relic known as the Blue Crown. The Pogues are compelled to retrieve the crown, as it’s said to “bring people back from the dead,” making their journey to stop roff and find the ancient treasure more personal and emotional, adequately driving the story’s stakes. In previous seasons, JJ was the heart of the Pogues dynamic. Although he had a reputation for making risky, impulsive decisions with major consequences, his lively personality, sense of

humor, and ability to handle di cult situations made him a deeper and more compelling character. The new season thoroughly honors JJ through the Pogues’ memories and conversations about their friend, allowing them to process the emotions of losing him. In one of the season’s best scenes, iara reconnects with JJ through the Blue Crown, as a montage of memories honors the fan-favorite character and allows her to appreciate the time she had with him. While there are the conventional chases, fights, and failed missions throughout the season that are integral to the series, the new season never loses sight of its characters. Losing JJ definitely drove each of their story arcs as they processed the grief differently. Kiara takes a more determined leadership role when the crew is tracking down roff. John B. makes a risky mistake that requires him to protect Sarah and their unborn child from more antagonists, and Pope tries to accept who he is and have a better relationship with Cleo. Even Rafe Cameron had a major role in the new season, as he becomes less motivated by his family’s wealth and more about protecting his girlfriend Sofia improving his relationship with the Pogues. As this is the last time audiences may see these characters, each character is given story arcs that allow viewers to feel satisfied with how their arcs are fulfilled

by the ﬁnal episode. Since this is the final season of the popular Netflix show, many of the storylines come full circle with the first season. Rafe’s past murder of Sheriff Peterkin is back under investigation, Groff becomes a similar villain to Ward Cameron — the main antagonist during seasons 1-3 — the Pogues and Kooks conflict is given a certain amount of closure, and the first-season’s royal merchant gold returns. The writers may complicate the storylines in the season, but they allow the series to have more effective closure, as fans and casual viewers will understand all of the loose ends being tied up in the finale. While the final season ends the show on a satisfying note, with many characters getting happy endings, there are a few issues with the plot

development. While the series has always had unrealistic plot threads when the Pogues look for treasure, the series has progressively stretched far beyond the grounded setting of uter Banks. The Blue Crown is a prime example of the series striving away from its North Carolina setting, as it steers more toward an unusual mystical direction. John B and Sarah also have to run away from a smaller group of antagonists, who are less interesting and detract from the main plotline of finding Groff. Season five of uter Banks is able to live up to the expectations of ending the series on a high note. Although the new season is layered with too many competing storylines and features a few underwhelming antagonists, the show can reach an emotional conclusion and present a bright future for the Pogues.

Which side of campus is superior? Arts reporters Lily Kopp and Allyson McGowan argue for the west and east sides, respectively.

The #WestSideBestSide movement is one of the truest sayings one will find at the University of Iowa. When I was a mere out-of-state freshman, it was all I had to go off of to choose my dorm, and it was the best decision of my life. Now, I must admit that I fell for the east side propaganda for a short stint, but my heart will always lie with the west side of campus. The west side claims superiority simply because it has Hillcrest Residence Hall. Many students will be the first to tell you that Hillcrest Dining Hall is far superior to its “Dirty Burge” or Catlett Dining Hall equivalents. Not only is Hillcrest the bestorganized dining hall, but Sunday brunch is peak, and many upperclassmen return for the

famous meal. If you aren’t interested in dining in a residence hall, downtown isn’t that far from the west side. In fact, many of the west side dorms are closer to downtown than some of the non-dorm housing on the east side. As an upperclassman who is unfortunately living on the east side, I yearn for the west side. Every time I get to journey across the bridge, my heart flutters. Kinnick Stadium in and of itself is amazing, drawing thousands of fans nearly every weekend of football season, and the environment lends itself to making memories with friends. I also trek over to the west side for the breathtaking Hancher Auditorium and the phenomenal shows it hosts. As a plus, City Park, which sits behind Hancher, is perfect for quick daily walks through nature. Additionally, short walks to the Health, Law, and Art buildings are rewarding for aesthetic study spots. Although the west side isn’t the most convenient for students whose classes are on the east side, the walk (or bus ride!) is well worth the joy of living there.

The #WestSideBestSide movement is pure University of Iowa campus propaganda and should not, under any circumstances, be listened to. Everyone knows the east side of campus is far superior to the west side, and the reasoning behind this bold statement is obvious. F i r st ly, for most st udent s — especially freshmen — the east side of campus is where the majority of classes will be held. This makes living on the east side far more convenient than the west side and, on most days, gives many students few reasons to venture to the west side at all. Additionally, the east side of campus is closer to downtown Iowa City. This makes both quick coffee-break runs between classes and late-night outings

easier and safer to reach. Plus, with numerous stores and restaurants, there’s always something new to explore or try downtown on the east side of campus. Now, while the west side may have Kinnick Stadium, the east side of campus claims the more iconic UI landmark: the Old Capitol building. This gorgeously guilded building is a staple in Iowa City and, for many students, a welcoming presence as they walk across campus. Another perk of the east side of campus is the number of dining locations. While the west side has only Hillcrest Dining Hall, the east side has both Catlett and Burge dining halls, increasing the number of food options each day. Plus, if either Catlett or Burge is closed, there is always another dining hall alternative nearby, unlike with Hillcrest. While the better side of campus ultimately comes down to personal preference and which side of campus you’ll find yourself living on in your first year, many UI students w ill have to agree with me when I say that the east side is far superior to the west side.

Across 1 Marx with a manifesto 5 ___ Romeo 9 Tracker in a speed trap 14 Offshore 15 Into oneself 16 Optics, so to speak 17 Part of a story line 19 Some golf shirts 20 I came uninvited 22 “Black Panther” actress Bassett 23 French city on the Rhone 24 Deg. for a writer

27 Pop in the Midwest? 29 Some postpartum exercises 31 Not yet decided, for short 34 I saw the future 37 ___ 51, highly classiﬁed Nevada facility 39 Wrath 40 Fishy Hawaiian dish 41 I conquered “Jeopardy!” for 74 days straight 46 Action between a bump and a spike 47 “We’re on!”

48 “Roll the ___!” 50 Abbr. before some hotel numbers 51 Feature of a slasher ﬁlm 54 Haphazard 58 Classic quotation that might be said by 20-, 34- and 41-Across? 60 Direction in a challah recipe 63 After 11:30 p.m., say 64 Longtime Stallone role 65 2025 Ron Howard survival thriller 66 Home of County Donegal 67 Colorado resort town 68 Blue side, informally 69 Platform for Street Fighter II and Mario Paint, informally Down 1 Head of Kronos? 2 Narnia lion 3 Corp. shake-up 4 Drinks that may be prepared with a steam wand 5 Green toast spread 6 Hideout 7 Championship game 8 Raring to go, say 9 Now blue, as a blueberry 10 Mi ___ (Spanish term of endearment) 11 Lentil dish 12 In the past 13 Lo-___ 18 Trafﬁc marker 21 Trendy sneaker brand

24 Workplace notes 25 It’s unlikely to happen again 26 It’s of use 28 “Like ...” 30 Word after age or befor year 31 Chips with a “Blue Heat” ﬂavor 32 Name inside of a libretto? 33 Packed in 35 Preﬁx with state or county 36 “Seasons of Love” musical 38 ___ Wilson, four-time W.N.B.A. M.V.P. 42 Encouraged, as a troublemaker 43 12, say 44 Sites of large beds 45 Source of Manchego cheese 49 Exhibits one of the seven deadly sins 52 Irritated 53 Dodge 55 “Soup’s on!” 56 Earthy tone 57 Some skin irritants 58 Get on (with) 59 Pair in the press 60 Supportive garment 61 Dorm V.I.P.s 62 Bit of gig gear

Iowa students are all in on sports betting Sports betting and gambling is becoming a cultural staple in the lives of many University of Iowa students.

We are living in a world where Costco oﬀers the strikingly low cost lunch option of a massive hotdog and soda combo for $1.50. But for how much longer The prediction market on alshi, a gambling app, claims there is an 11 percent to 1 percent chance this low fee will increase before 202 , and a 36 percent chance of a price hike before 2030. ur lives may change forever. Following the rationale of recent societal trends, the logical response to this entirely mundane event is to toss a couple of digits from your bank account at the prediction. Comically, a bet like this acts as a perfect introduction to modern gambling. Between sports betting, casinos, and the integration of gambling in everyday life, the vice curated around money and odds has skyrocketed. N P R found that betting and gambling trends have shifted dramatically, with digital and online platforms exploding in popularity and revenue. E S P N found that in 2025, sports betting broke a record, reaching $16.96 billion in revenue a step up from the $13. 1 billion in revenue from the sports betting industry in the previous year. alshi is a federally regulated prediction market and financial exchange in the nited States The nature of the company allows users to trade on yes-or-no outcomes of real-world events including things like elections, sports, weather, and even the price of a Costco hot dog. alshi is most popular among young adults, with C B S stating that 60 percent of users are aged 1 -3 . The younger end of the demographic, aged 1 -20, ﬁnds a

specific interest in the company because users can legally trade at 1 , contrasting with the usual 21-year-old minimum age gambling requirement set in many states. Since it’s regulated federally as a “financial exchange” by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission rather than a traditional state-run sportsbook, alshi operates legally in Iowa for those who are 1 and older. “I honestly wasn’t all that interested in betting or gambling or any of that stuff until I got ads to bet on Love Island through alshi. It’s kind of ridiculous, but that acted as somewhat of a gateway for me into this thing,” niversity of Iowa third-year student Emily Lane said. From the World Cup to reality dating shows to general elections, alshi establishes itself as a high-profile and rapidly growing platform. The normali ation of gambling in everyday life via alshi poses a threat to the mental health and financial responsibility of young adults. By introducing young minds to gambling in a watered-down manner, it’s hard to recogni e the start of a gambling addiction and the serious impacts that stem from it. An alternative yet extremely popular method of gambling among young adults and I students falls under the category of sports betting. I fourth-year student Josh Rich commented on how gambling, especially sports betting, has become completely immersed in the I’s culture. “It’s very popular, to the point where I would say it’s quite rare to find someone who doesn’t do it. Almost anyone I know that is some kind of sports fan has placed a bet at some point in their life even if they aren’t betting at the moment, for the

most part they’ve done it at some previous point in time,” Rich said. Alongside students at the I, the NCAA found that broader national trends show sports betting has surged to unprecedented levels of popularity among college students. Roughly 60 percent to 6 percent of on-campus students actively engage in wagering, leading the NCAA to say it is “one of the most pervasive modern pastime activities for young adults.” “It’s kind of a social thing,” I fourthyear student John Harker said. “I do like the opportunity for money gain and all that, but it’s just kinda fun to place down a bet with your boys. I will say though, it causes me to focus on hitting my bet more than most other things, which I guess takes away an aspect of the game.” Several I students take the vice in stride and continue to let the ﬁgurative holes in their pockets seep into their parlays and moneylines. In May 2026, R , a digital sports media and research platform, reported that Iowa sportsbooks had accepted a striking amount of $191,112, 3 in the year alone. Though Iowa bettors did put down less money than the year prior in the same month, gross gaming revenue reached $20, 5, 35 meaning, even as volume fell, results carried the month. It’s basic psychology from there, a purebred example of positive reinforcement. The high level of results encourages those to continue placing bets and feeds into any addictions. “ nce you win, you really don’t want to stop. I feel like everyone on campus is sports betting way more every year. It’s super common. A lot of my friends do it, and it’s just a normal part of any social gathering or game now,” I third-year student Daniel Stolt said. Sports betting doesn’t just stop at the fans, either. Back in May 2023, the I and its athletics department launched an investigation that looked into potential NCAA sports-wagering violations. f the 111 individuals who were involved, 26 of them were student-athletes from various I sports programs. After alerting the NCAA and hiring outside counsel, several studentathletes were temporarily banned from competition while the investigation was ongoing. The same I investigation said that most of the individuals identiﬁed

were former student athletes or current student-staff, and they would receive an education on NCAA rules prohibiting sports wagering. The sports betting cra e has affected all walks of life around campus. However, alongside the athletics world, casinos remain strong competitors for money. Located in Riverside, Iowa, Riverside Casino and olf Course acts as a big attraction for I students and other young adults. Riverside Casino front desk representative Isaac uillaume recogni ed that even though gambling and hitting the casino had been a popular activity in the past, there’s an influx of rising young adults in a gambling setting. “ ou do see a lot of people aged around 21 to 25 walking into the floor. There’s actually a lot of young people who participate,” uillaume said. Riverside Casino, in its nature, profits off of those who enjoy playing the odds and wagering their money for a good times sake and the hopes of winning big. Even so, they acknowledge the harm that comes with it and can continue to cause on those who become hooked. “Every once in a while, I’ll see a few booths set up with flyers for people with gambling issues who need help. We offer all sorts of information, and you can even have the option to blacklist yourself from the casino if you think you have a serious problem,” uillaume said. ambling can, and has been known to, result in serious real life issues even without a labeled “addiction.” The World Health rgani ation reported that negative impacts like deep sadness, heavy money loss, job loss, and broken family ties are common results of consistent gambling. When it becomes an addiction, however, it can alter your brain chemistry and lead to a major life crisis. Between gambling at casinos, placing bets on real world events, and the incredibly popular phenomenon that is sports betting, I students find themselves completely immersed in the experience. With the strong integration of sports betting and gambling into the everyday lives of young adults, the future of sporting events and responsible financial decisions seem to be constantly changing and whether that’s for the better is still up in the air.