Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015 | Volume 211 | Number 70 | 40 cents | iowastatedaily.com | An independent student newspaper serving Iowa State since 1890.
Ames to ban use of e-cigs
Council also talks Ames residential developments By Christie.Smith @iowastatedaily.com
Sarah Muller/Iowa State Daily
Robert Dunn, senior in accounting, left, holds a Young Americans for Freedom banner along with Nick Riegeo, junior in agricultural business, and Ryan McCarthy, freshman in supply chain management. Young Americans for Freedom is a new group on campus that works to reach young people and educate them about conservative values.
Conservatives create a voice Student organization provides space for right-leaning views on campus By Zach.Clemens @iowastatedaily.com A new student organization on campus works toward its primary goal to educate the student body on conservative ideas and principles by hosting events and inviting conservative speakers to speak through its lectures program. Young Americans for Freedom was born from its parent organization, Young America’s Foundation, over 40 years ago. The foundation is a national, non-profit organization with the goal of reaching young Americans and educating them about conservative ideas. Young Americans for Freedom, which has 200 chapters across the county, is a new student organization on Iowa State’s campus that was founded by current club president Robert Dunn, senior in accounting, who is also a former Student Government senator. He is a self-professed “conservative convert” after having grown up in a liberal household in Illinois. He is working on his second bachelor’s degree at Iowa State. He previously earned a degree in political science from California State University in San Bernardino, Calif. It was in California that he became a conservative activist, and he immediately joined the College Republicans when he arrived at Iowa State. He realized, however, that the College Republicans were restricted in their activism and group by having to stay
Lani Tons/Iowa State Daily Young Americans for Freedom hosted a Conservative Coming Out Rally at the free-speech zone on Oct. 9. The group, new to campus this year, aims to educate young people about conservative values and viewpoints.
in line with the political party. Dunn wanted to do more and not be tied to one particular party or candidate. He attended a Midwest regional conference held by the Young America’s Foundation, and people there suggested to him that start a Young Americans for Freedom chapter at Iowa State.
“We’re here to educate the student body about conservative ideas,” Dunn said. The group’s goal is to promote the pillars of conservatism, Dunn said. Those pillars are constitutionally limited government, support for free market capitalism,
YOUNG AMERICANS p8
Several ISU students attended a meeting of the Ames City Council on Tuesday night to discuss regulations regarding electronic cigarettes and nicotine delivery systems. Council members voted 5-1 to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes in all public places and in some private areas, including all enclosed areas within places of employment. The council voted to mimic the Smokefree Air Act that is already in place statewide for other forms of tobacco use. Iowa lawmakers passed the Smokefree Air Act in 2008. Darien Woods and Spencer Cain, seniors in kinesiology and health and members of the ISU Health Promotion Club, addressed the council on behalf of ISU students. Woods and Cain said that a survey conducted by the club determined that Ames residents were largely against the use of e-cigarettes in public spaces, with a majority of respondents reporting they would be less likely to patronize a business where ecigarette use was allowed. The survey helped motivate Iowa State and student government to take action on the issue, Woods said. Iowa State has proposed to add “personal vaporizers” to their Smoke-Free Campus policy. The university’s proposal will ban the use of these vaporizers anywhere on campus and in any buildings or vehicles owned by the university. The ban would also include areas outside of entertainment and sports arenas, such as Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum. The university’s proposal is expected to take effect in January 2016. City Council considered Iowa State’s proposed policy as one of the options for the city to mirror. Jordan Vanscoy, junior in kinesiology and health, told the council that the turnout of ISU students said something about their relationship with the community. “[The students] here are not here just to prove a point that
CITY COUNCIL p4
Diversity officer reflects on first week By Adam.Sodders @iowastatedaily.com A recently selected administrator began his new job as vice president of diversity and inclusion at Iowa State on Dec. 1, and he said he is still getting used to the new campus. “My calendar is like the Dow Jones right now. Every day it’s something completely different,” said Reginald Stewart, vice president for diversity and inclusion. The search for a diversity and inclusion administrator officially started in May 2015, when President Steven Leath set up the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Search committee. In October, Stewart was selected as the new vice president and was approved by the Board of Regents. “We started immediately. There was really no warm up process,” Stewart said. “I’m happy I was allowed to get started im-
Courtesy of Iowa State
Reginald Stewart began his new job as vice president of diversity and inclusion on Dec. 1 after a months-long search. He said he is happy he is starting immediately and is familiarizing himself with campus.
mediately.” The new campus and the various groups and organizations
were among the things Stewart said he wants to familiarize himself with. “I will probably be getting used to the new environment for a while,” he said. “Ames is different than Reno.” Previously, Stewart worked at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he served as chief diversity officer. “I think students here are happy here in Ames,” he said. “I think they’re excited for the new vice president position.” Stewart said he is excited to start getting involved on campus. “I’ve noticed what many students want and what administrators want is often the same thing,” he said. “I would like to act as a translator between those groups.” Student action is something Stewart said he enjoys seeing. For instance, he said he saw the Students Against Bigotry protest during the Cy-Hawk football game in a positive light. “What do millennials get cri-
tiqued for?” he asked. “They are criticized for being disengaged.” He said the protest shows that some students at Iowa State are willing to have their voices heard and want to see change. “I went to San Francisco State University, which has a history of students demonstrating,” Stewart said. “I have a very social justicebased approach to the job.” When it comes to action plans, Stewart said he is getting to know people and groups on campus, figuring out what problems need to be solved. “Most good university vice presidents know they must first understand the campus,” he said. “They don’t just come in and start implementing policy without understanding the students.” A flexible approach for the first months in the new position is what Stewart has planned. “It doesn’t make sense to be too rigid with the job right now,” he said. “That would be counter
TRIVIA
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intuitive to the work.” Stewart said that he is concerned about the future of the university as well as current issues, adding that some changes made in the present may only be seen by future students, faculty and staff. “When students protest and make change or a vice president implements policy, that goes into helping future students and faculty,” he said. With different students, faculty, staff, organizations and colleges within Iowa State, Stewart said giving some time to everyone is a big part of the plan for the first few months. Additionally, he said the critical thinking that goes in to being vice president for diversity and inclusion is an attractive part of the job. “I enjoy thinking deeply about issues faced by people on campus,” Stewart said. “This job isn’t just about problem solving, it’s also about creating.”
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