TODAY IN SPORTS: NATE LOENSER FEATURE
A DIFFERENT SET OF TOOLS ISU graduate assistant finds ways to adapt, succeed p5 >>
Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 | Volume 209 | Number 106 | 40 cents | iowastatedaily.com | An independent student newspaper serving Iowa State since 1890.
Bibles get the boot Memorial Union to remove Bibles from hotel rooms March 1
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By Stephen.Snyder @iowastatedaily.com
omplaints from a hotel guest have resulted in the Memorial Union moving all Bibles from its hotel rooms to the Memorial Union’s Browsing Library. The guest logged a complaint with the Freedom From Religions Foundation. The Bibles will be moved starting March 1. In a press release issued by the foundation, a letter was written to Richard Reynolds, director of the Memorial Union, with Freedom From Religions Foundation Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott making a statement as to the legality of having Bibles present in a government-owned hotel. “It is a fundamental principle of Establishment Clause jurisprudence that a
government entity cannot in any way promote, advance or otherwise endorse religion,” Elliot said. The Memorial Union acknowledged the foundation’s concerns and Reynolds replied to the request of the removal of the Bibles via email. “The concern raised about the availability of Bibles in the guest rooms of the Memorial Union has been taken under advisement and effective March 1, 2014, the Bibles will be removed from the hotel rooms,” Reynolds said. However, John McCarroll, executive director for the office of university relations, made it clear that accommodations will be made for guests who would like a Bible or any number of other publications in their rooms. “The Bibles will be moved to the Browsing Library, which is located downstairs in the same building. When a guest checks into the hotel they will be given the opportunity to request that any publica-
BIBLES p3 >>
Miranda Cantrell/Iowa State Daily
Starting March 1, Bibles will be removed from hotel rooms in the Memorial Union. The removal stems from a complaint by a guest to the Freedom From Religions Foundation.
GSB sends out Ukraine students raise awareness rental housing quality survey By Makayla.Tendall @iowastatedaily.com
By Emelie.Knobloch @iowastatedaily.com The Government of Student Body will be sending a survey via email to students today to assess the level of problem areas that student renters are facing in Ames. “It is really important that we get as many responses as possible,” said Alexandria Harvey, student representative for the City Council. “I would really like to create awareness.” Addressing the housing needs of the citizens of Ames is one of City Council’s goals for the 2014-2015 year. “The survey is meant to collect data to allow us to then develop an action plan,” said Spencer Hughes, GSB president. An objective in this goal is to work with Iowa State, GSB and the Ames Rental Association to explore a way to educate and help mediate conflict and resolution issues. “The survey measures the different aspects of the quality of landlord servic-
es,” Hughes said. The survey is about 15 questions and consists of several different types of questions. “This will help us determine which areas need the most focus in the realm of tenants protections,” Hughes said. The survey includes a chart of where students can rate statements on a scale of one to five about their current living condition. “Our city council liaison, Harvey, told the council that we, GSB, would meet with all the stakeholders and come back with an action plan for council,” Hughes said. This chart includes statements about the condition of student’s windows, doors, working locks, rodents, pests, smoke detectors, appliances, heat, lighting and plumbing. “We need feedback from student tenants if any progress is to be made in this area,” Hughes said. A few questions on the survey relate to the relationship between the stu-
SURVEY p3 >>
International students from Ukraine gathered outside of Parks Library Monday afternoon to spread awareness about the turmoil in their country. Shalika Khindurangala, whose parents were activists in the Ukrainian protests against their president, said she waited for months for the situation in her home country to be solved. The senior in chemistry decided to take action on Wednesday after 26 people died and hundreds were injured after President Yanukovych gave police authority to respond to protests in the capital square with deadly force. Khindurangala and Nataliia Sukhinina, president of the RussianSpeaking Students Association and junior in psychology, handed out yellow and blue ribbons—colors of the Ukrainian flag—and papers detailing what students need to know about the protests in Ukraine. “The flag of the country is something that brings pride to all of us,” Khindurangala said. “Please go
Jeremy Andrews/Iowa State Daily
Ukrainian students stand outside of Parks Library handing out ribbons bringing awareness on the current situation in their hometown of Ukraine. From left to right: Nataliia Sukhinina, Volodymyr Sukhinin and Shalika Khindurangala.
and YouTube it, or read something on the news, go to any website. We are not promoting any side, we are just saying find more information about it so you are aware because awareness is the key to success.” Protests began in November 2013, when Ukrainian citizens expected Yanukovych to sign trade
agreements with the European Union. Instead, Yanukovych announced stronger ties to Russia by accepting a stimulus package. Roughly 350,000 Ukrainian protesters seized the president’s office and the Kiev City Hall in December when
UKRAINE p3>>
GSB candidates present platforms to GPSS By Kyle.Schlichting @iowastatedaily.com The Government of the Student Body presidential candidates Khayree Fitten and Hillary Kletscher presented their
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platforms to the Graduate and Professional Student Senate at their meeting Monday night. They expressed how their platforms will translate to graduate students. Fitten started off his
platform by reminding graduate students that GSB is for graduate students as well as undergraduate students. He said that services like CyRide and the child care program not only help
undergraduate students, but graduate students as well. Fitten also mentioned his proposal to have GSB fund free e-books for 100 to 200 level classes.
GPSS p3 >>
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