Issuu

A culture all its own By Tisa.Tollenaar @iowastatedaily.com Millennials in college have it pretty easy — at least when it comes to movies and TV shows. It might be hard for some to imagine having to wait for a new episode each week. In the past, to see a particular movie, you’d have to go to the

theater, buy or rent it on DVD — or VHS, from our earliest, blurriest memories — or catch it airing on a TV network by a stroke of luck. Now we have shows and movies on demand, ready to play at the click of a mouse or tap of the screen. One, however, has made an arguably permanent impact on not only how we access

NETFLIX p8

Photo illustration by Chris Jorgensen/Iowa State Daily

In 2016, 81 percent of adults between 18 and 35 had a Netflix account, according to BGR, a mobile and technology news source.

ISU settles suit, changes 3 bills advancing in Iowa Legislature discrimination policies By Jessica.Enwesi @iowastatedaily.com

By Danielle.Gehr @iowastatedaily.com Iowa State will change its policies on discrimination and harassment after settling a lawsuit filed by Robert Dunn, senior in accounting, according to The Gazette. The complaint, filed in the Southern District of Iowa Courts on Oct. 17, 2016, asked for declaratory and injunctive relief stating that the university violated the First and 14th amendments. Iowa State’s policies will now state that it “won’t penalize students who fail to pledge compliance,” The Gazette reported. The university agreed to cover Dunn’s legal fees, which amount to $12,000, after signing a settlement last month. After Dunn filed the lawsuit five months ago, Iowa State reviewed the policies in question ultimately revising them in December 2016. Dunn expressed that clearer policies for something like harassment were his goal from the start, stating that he found the original policies to be “vague.” He feels that this outcome will be beneficial to both the administration and Iowa State students. “Once we graduate, you can’t get arrested for saying that the definition of marriage should be between one man and one woman,” Dunn said. As a member of “ISU Young Americans for Freedom,” Dunn was involved in organizing events that Reginald Stewart, senior vice president for diversity and inclusion, told Dunn were offensive to other students and could be punished under university policies. Dunn faced a hold on his graduation and was placed on a list of students to be reviewed by Interim Dean of Students Keith Robinder, according to the complaint. John McCarroll, executive director of university relations, stated in an email that Dunn was neither disciplined nor threatened with disciplinary action for his

Iowa legislators have been busy introducing and voting on new bills. Here are some notable ones making their rounds through the General Assembly. Abortion House Human Resources Committee legislators introduced a new bill, commonly known as the “Heart Beat” bill, that would restrict women from the seeking an abortion six weeks after conception. The bill’s quick introduction

Sarah Muller/Iowa State Daily

Robert Dunn, senior in accounting, filed a complaint on Oct. 17, 2016, asking for declaratory and injuctive relief, stating that Iowa State violated the First and 14th amendments.

speech or policies in question. He also wrote that “Iowa State is committed to freedom of expression and our policies comply with the U.S. Constitution and state and federal laws. We take seriously our responsibility to prevent and address illegal discrimination and sexual harassment and sexual misconduct.” The complaint argues that public universities serve as a marketplace of ideas “where the young adults who are tomorrow’s leaders are exposed to differing opinions.” Dunn served the complaint against Iowa State President Steven Leath, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Martino Harmon, Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity Margo Foreman, Assistant Dean and Director of the Office of Student Conduct Sara Kellogg, members of the Student Conduct Hearing Board, Robinder and Stewart. Two instances led Dunn to file the suit: the requirement by law to take part in Title IX training and Iowa State faculty and staff telling him his conservative view points violate university policies. “A student could reasonably conclude from this online manda-

tory training problem that any discussion of gender identity could be sexual harassment under ISU policies if any listener — even if not the intended listener — took offense, without any consideration of the First Amendment rights of other students,” the complaint reads. Casey Mattox, Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel, said in a press release that no university policy can trump the First Amendment and that “Iowa State thinks it knows better than the First Amendment, making other student’s opinions about the value of a student’s speech, instead of the Constitution, the test for whether speech is protected. The settlement does not prevent Iowa State from requiring students to take online courses like the Title IX course. Rather, the university will change its policy to avoid penalizing students who fail to pledge compliance to its discrimination and harassment policies. Under the revised policies students will still be required to certify their understanding of the policies during the training process.

BILLS p4

Former U.S. diplomat explains global relations By Tristan.Wade @iowastatedaily.com The relationship between the United States and the Middle East is a constantly changing and often complex issue, but Deborah Jones has firsthand experience. The former diplomat spoke to an audience in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union on Monday about the ever-changing relations between the two countries. She touched on topics ranging from the history of many current issues, what she thought pushed American policy in the past and the Arab Spring. “I like to think that everything [the United States] tries to do around the world, and with ourselves, should boil down to making sure people can work and love with dignity,” Jones said. Jones is the former U.S. ambassador to Libya, stepping down after more than two years at the position in November 2015. She has 34 years of foreign diplomacy experience. The majority of that

$2 4518 Mortensen Rd d mes | 515.292.4555 Ames

came right before House committee members were preparing to vote on newly added amendments to Senate File 471, which would allow women to seek abortions until they were 20 weeks past conception. Rep. Shannon Lundgren, RPeosta, said that under the committee’s bill, physicians who perform abortions on women past 20 weeks can only do so if the “the pregnant woman has a condition which the physician deems a medical emergency” or if “the

TUESDAY $2

Kinky Drinks

9PM-1AM

Spiced Rum

9PM-1AM

Ryan Bretoi/Iowa State Daily

Deborah Jones, former U.S. ambassador to Libya, gives a lecture Monday at Iowa State.

time was spent in the Middle East. Pulling from her vast store of knowledge and experience, Jones was able to share her views on many historical events, and current conflicts, relating to the United States and its involvement with the Middle East. One of Jones’ focus was that America has always used its

DIPLOMAT p4

Fireball Shots

9PM-1AM

$6 8

Boneless

Wings