2-5-18

Monday

/NorthernIowan

February 5, 2018

@NorthernIowan

Volume 114, Issue 34

northerniowan.com

Opinion 3 Campus Life 4 Sports 6 Games 7 Classifieds 8

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Race Card comes to UNI 2

Computers in classrooms 3

Sex trafficking doc 4

Winter Olympics preview 6

UNI celebrates Black History Month

BLACK STUDENT UNION/Courtesy Photo

Throughout February, the Black Student Union is holding events in honor of Black History Month.

ANNA FLANDERS Staff Writer

Those who were in the Maucker Union around noon on Thursday, Feb. 1, witnessed Black Student Union (BSU) member Nikia Watson reciting an original poem about black oppression in America. Over a megaphone, Watson cited police brutality, mass incarceration and cultural appropriation.

Meanwhile, other BSU members carried signs

around the Union with messages such as, “PSA: Talking proper is not a white thing” and “‘You’re pretty for a black girl’ is not a compliment.”

This was the Black History Month kickoff at UNI. “This whole month we can celebrate who we are, celebrate things that we have done,” said Yakira Sanders, a junior studying social work and current BSU president.

“We can celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks — the people that did what

they did many years ago, so that we can be where we are today.”

Black History Month will also be celebrated on campus by the African Union (AU), which is a student organization that celebrates and teaches African heritage.

“I know that, as an African, when the Civil Rights Movement was going on here in America, African leaders were rooting for African Americans,” said Tulia Mulibinge, who is the AU president.

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mulibinge is a senior studying elementary education and TESOL. “It’s very important for me, because I know PanAfricanists who crossed the border to come here and help,” Mulibinge said. “At first, I used to see it as an African-American celebration, but now I see it as a celebration for all black people around the world, because it was something that they all came together to fight for.”

There are events happening all month to celebrate,

starting with the Night at the Apollo, which was held this past Saturday, Feb. 2, in Lang Auditorium. The event was a talent show, inspired by Steve Harvey’s “Showtime at the Apollo.”

“The Center for Multicultural Education wanted to do something different this year where all black students on campus came together, and it would be a celebration of all blackness — not just American blackness, but Caribbean blackness and African blackness,” Mulibinge said.

On Saturday, the Afrobeat Dance Party was held at the Wesley Foundation.

According to Mulibinge, Afrobeat is a new and popular genre of music from Africa that combines West African music and hip-hop.

On Feb. 5 at 6 p.m., BSU and AU are coming together for the Same, Same Different panel, held in the Maucker Union Coffeehouse. This event brings representatives from both organizations to explain the differences between African and AfricanAmerican culture.

“We are very different, because we have been stripped of each other. We were once one, and we got pulled apart, and now there’s this rift between the two groups,” Mulibinge explained. “So, what the Same, Same, Different panel discussion is about to bring is a place where Africans can sit down and say what is the rift?

What is it about? How did it come about? [. . .] And how we can come to a solution and solve it?”

Black Jeopardy will be held on Feb. 7 in Schindler 220 at 6 p.m. The game will test participants’ knowledge on African-American history.

Topics will include notable African-American marches, protests and inventions.

On Feb. 20, BSU will be providing transportation and 30 free tickets to a viewing of “Black Panther” at the Marcus College Square Cinema.

According to Sanders, this event is important because it features a black protagonist — a novelty in modern American films.

JERRIUS CAMPBELL

on Jan. 31, the Panthers played the Evansville Aces in Indiana. Both teams would struggle on offense in the first half, while things were tied at 21 by half. The Panthers had a slightly higher shooting percentage than the Aces.

The Aces shot a low 29 percent, while the Panthers shot 31 percent. The Missouri Valley’s leading scorer, Ryan Taylor, ended the first half, with 12 points for the Aces.

The Aces would take off in the second half, shooting 68 percent from the field.

The Panthers would keep things even until the fifth minute of the second half.

Evansville used two offensive turnovers to break away from the Panthers at home.

At the end of contest, shooting guard Blake Simmons ended the game with a 15 point double-double, including 15 rebounds for the Aces.

The Panthers lost another tough road match, 57-49.

After two hard losses on the road, the Panthers looked to regain some confidence at

home versus Indiana State.

Indiana State would win the first meeting this season, 69-67. The Sycamores came out ready to play with a 13-2 run in the first five minutes of play. Both teams’ offenses would come strong in the first.

Spencer Haldeman led the way for the Panthers with three triples in the first half, followed by senior big man Bennett Koch with seven points. Starting point guard Brenton Scott would end the first half with 10 points. Both teams ended the half with 33 points, and the Panthers shot 52 percent as a team in the first half.

After the first half, the Panthers’ shooting percentage dipped below 50 percent, while the Sycamores increased their shooting percentage to 62 percent in the second half.

This would be just enough to keep the Panthers out of reach. Carlson, Koch and Brown scored in double digits on Saturday’s contest.

See BLACK HISTORY, page 4

Men’s basketball loses last three games GABRIELLE LEITNER/Northern Iowan

Sports Writer

The UNI Panthers hit the road to play Loyola (Chicago) on Jan. 28. They came off a win at home against Illinois State on Jan. 24, where they scored 19 points in the first half, while also shooting 36 percent from the field in the first half alone.

Offensively, the Panthers could not keep up with the LU Wolfs. Clayton Custer led the way for Loyola with 21 points, and Loyola had three starters in double digit scoring. They scored 17 points off of turnovers in Sunday’s match up.

The Panthers had two starters in double figures scoring: Tywon Pickford and Klint Carlson. Each would end up with 14 points at the end of contest. Loyola finished the contest on top by a large 70-47 margin. UNI has yet to win on the road, with a 0-5 record on the road so far, while Loyola is the MVC’s leader in wins with 19.

In their next showing

See MBB, page 6

PAGE 2

NEWS

JACOB MADDEN News Editor

Race and identity in six words FEBRUARY 5, 2018 |

BLAIR HINES

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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VOLUME 114, ISSUE 34

logue. People from all over the world have sent the sixword notes about their experience with race to Norris, including Chile, South Korea, Belgium and others.

Norris is the founder and director of The Bridge, a program at the Aspen Institute, which focuses on engaging communities through peoples’ stories and experiences with race and identity, according to the Aspen Institute website.

At the beginning of her presentation, Norris expressed her gratitude to UNI for discussing the issues of diversity and inclusion. Norris also noted the difficulty of talking about race and identity and applauded the audience for discussing an uncomfortable topic.

Norris explained that she wasn’t afraid to talk about race, but that she did not want to be the reporter that was always on the race beat.

Because she was sometimes the only person of color in her work, she was afraid that race reporting would be too narrow a path to follow — but she said that she was wrong.

She said her idea for her book “The Grace of Silence”

was an accident while writing a book on her family. The full concept developed when her interest was piqued by the way Americans talk and think about race.

The presentation was interactive, and audience engagement was a crucial aspect of the event. Norris used the 2008 election as a point of discussion on the idea of a post-racial America.

Norris shared a few family stories during her presentation, including the shooting of her father and her grandmother’s travels teaching people how to make pancakes while dressed as Aunt Jemima.

Norris explained that these experiences and others led to a feeling of shame in her family — a shame that she wanted to explore and discuss with others.

She explained that her work in journalism taught her how to be concise, thus producing the idea of six words, with the project moving from postcards to social media, opening the project to more than 250,000 peoples’ stories.

One of the stories Norris told was that of her father’s love of the United States, a

love so great that he bought her a pair of American flag print slacks. To her, it showed that her father loved a country that had brought him so much pain.

“What she said about her dad being so proud of the USA that didn’t love him back — this is so real for [people of color], including myself,” said junior public administration major Natalia Estrada.

“It is a sad truth that we often are so positive but are struck down with racist stereotypes.”

After sharing a story about someone who was asked to

leave someone else’s home because of their race, Norris beseeched the audience to build bridges to others who may have different identities or experiences.

“It made me feel like we have a lot to learn but hopeful that we are able to do it,” said senior study of religion major Katie Thomas. “The vulnerability — not only in sharing part of her family’s story but encouraging us to dig deeper and listen, while calling us out a little bit for not wanting to listen to people that don’t look like us or have different opinions than ours.”

These past few weeks, the Copy Editor Iowa Legislature has hit the

ground running, taking on Republican legislation that has carried over from the 2017 session agenda and more.

These upcoming bills are hitting the legislative floor as political tension continues to rise in the state.

A bill which would remove $3.7 million of state appropriations to UNI remains in consideration. Any potential cuts to UNI’s budget will not be finalized until March revenue estimates are released. The deappropriation comes alongside a recommendedation from Governor Reynolds to not fund the bookstore acquisition and renovation of the Industrial Technology Center.

The legislature is also considering a bill signaling the state of Iowa’s desire for a constitutional convention. If the bill passes, Iowa would be the 28th state of the required 34 for a convention to take place. The right to holding a convention is given to the states by Article V of the Constitution.

A bill which would loosen the legal definition of an “official document,” designed to make the voting documentation process easier, is also up for consideration in the legislature. The bill, recommended by the office of the Iowa Secretary of State, would change the definition of

“official document” to include electronic forms of documentation, like iPads, phones and others.

Governor Reynolds visited Cedar Falls this past Friday, coming to College Square HyVee at 4 p.m.

Reynolds’ visit was met with stern opposition from UNI United Faculty, the Iowa State Education Association and others who turned out to protest the visit. Reynolds and Acting Lt. Governor Adam Gregg were visiting as a part of their “Unleashing Opportunity” tour, aimed at getting feedback from across the state on job opportunities and other topics.

EDITORIAL STAFF

CIRCULATION

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CLINTON OLSASKY

LEZIGA BARIKOR Campus Life Editor barikorn@uni.edu

PRODUCTION STAFF

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DYLAN PADY Sports Editor padyd@uni.edu

The Northern Iowan is published semi-weekly on Monday and Thursday during the academic year, except for holidays and examination periods, by the University of Northern Iowa, L011 Maucker Union, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0166 under the auspices of the Board of Student Publications.

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All material is © 2018 by the Northern Iowan and may not be used without permission.

Staff Writer

On Tuesday, Jan. 30, National Public Radio (NPR) journalist Michele Norris, host of NPR’s “All Things Considered,” presented the “Race Card Project” at UNI’s Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center (GBPAC).

“The Race Card Project gives us an opportunity to look at ourselves, examine the messages we have received about race, check out our own thoughts about race and start to have those courageous — or what we call difficult — conversations,” said Chief Diversity Officer and Assistant to the President Gwenne Berry.

“This is a very appropriate way to get people thinking about an issue that we need to think about,” Berry said.

According to The Race Card Project website, the concept of a race card was first conceived in order to start a conversation about race, but Norris discovered that many were willing to talk about such issues, so the race cards quickly morphed from a conversation starter into an epi-

GABRIELLE LEITNER/Northern Iowan

Michele Norris, an NPR journalist and author, gave a presentation called the “Race Card Project” at the GBPAC.

Iowa politics: Reynolds, unions and education JACOB MADDEN JOSHUA DAUSENER News Editor

JOHN DUNLOP/Northern Iowan

Protestors from various organizations, including UNI United Faculty and the Iowa State Education Association, picketed Gov. Reynolds’ visit on Friday.

NORTHERN IOWAN L011 Maucker Union Cedar Falls, IA 50614 www.northerniowan.com northern-iowan@uni.edu 319.273.2157 Executive Editor olsaskyc@uni.edu 515.344.7949 Managing Editor steens@uni.edu 319.939.8190

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CLINTON OLSASKY Executive Editor

FEBRUARY 5, 2018 |

OPINION

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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VOLUME 114, ISSUE 34

Allowing computers in classrooms Computers and other electronic devices should be allowed in college classrooms.

Why? Well, first: laptops save paper. When students type notes, they save paper and trees. Let’s go greener!

Secondly, in 2011, the Bureau of Labor Statistics published that more than 50 percent of current jobs require some degree of technology skills, and they predicted that it would increase to 77 percent in the next decade.

That means that most UNI graduates will be using laptops and electronics in their career.

Isn’t college about preparing us for the “real world?”

Well, at most jobs, our bosses won’t be banning

laptops in order to keep us from distractions.

They will expect us to know how to use electronics in a professional setting.

Therefore, classroom laptop bans are not preparing us for the workforce.

The biggest reason I get upset when I hear “no laptops” on syllabus day is because my notes are so better when they are typed.

It’s easier for me to take notes on a laptop. I can copy and paste if we revisit a topic. I can look back at older notes without distracting others. I can search through my documents for keywords to study better.

Typed notes are neater and more legible than my sloppy handwritten notes.

It is also quicker to type notes. I miss information when I have to write because professors go through their lectures so quickly that my hands cannot keep up. I spend a lot of days writing papers, so naturally my hands are faster at typing.

Another reason to allow laptops in the classroom is that the internet is a great source for students.

I have been in classes where I did not understand a concept, and a quick Google search gives me a greater comprehension of the context and lecture.

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE In addition, Opinion columnist Brenna Wolfe discusses the benefits of allowing computers and other the internet electronic devices in the classroom to improve student learning. can clear up confusion. If I misheard the their laptop for Facebook The laptop ban furthers professor, I can look up a during class, that’s on them. a pattern of infantilizing date or the correct spelling Students need to take college students, most of of a name in less than 20 charge of their education whom are between the ages seconds. and make mistakes like that of 18 and 22.

The last reason that lap- in order to be ready for the We can vote, drive and tops should be allowed in workforce. And guess what? go to war. We are adults; we classrooms is that students If a student doesn’t want to can make decisions for ourare responsible for their own pay attention, they won’t — selves, and we are in charge learning. If someone uses with or without a laptop. of our learning.

UNI now offers wellness coaching to students Editor’s note: the following guest column was submitted by UNI Student Wellness Services.

We are very excited to announce that Student

Wellness Services is now offering Wellness Coaching here at UNI. Wellness Coaching is a way for students to create the life they want by exploring their strengths and focusing

STUDENT WELLNESS SERVICES/Courtesy Photo

Brooke Hottle of Student Wellness Services pens a guest column detailing the benefits of Wellness Coaching, which is now being offered at UNI.

on their health and well-being. Through the process of coaching, students may increase self-awareness and self-efficacy, achieve goals and have an increased sense of life satisfaction, purpose and meaning.

Students being coached may see personal growth in areas such as stress management, eating well, physical activity, sleep, financial management, relationships and other wellness areas.

Coaches will partner with students in a thought-provoking and creative process, inspiring them to maximize their potential.

Coaches view the student as the expert in their own life, providing support and guidance through the process.

The eight dimensions

of a wellness model are utilized (intellectual, emotional, spiritual, environmental, financial, occupational, social and physical) to assess which wellness dimension(s) the student’s goal will address.

Wellness coaches utilize a strengths assessment developed through the VIA Institute on Character. The student is asked to complete the assessment prior to the first appointment with the coach.

The coach reviews the assessment before meeting with them and refers to the strengths throughout the coaching process.

The following video provides an overview of these character strengths: https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=kq-rOelLciE. Wellness Coaching is free for all enrolled UNI students.

On average, sessions last about 45 minutes, and the number of sessions depends on the individual needs of each student.

Wellness Coaching sessions take place in the Student Health Center, where graduate students and professional staff have been trained to provide coaching.

Students can make an appointment by visiting: https://studentwellness. uni.edu/wellness-coaching.

Come check it out!

— Brooke Hottle, Graduate Assistant, Student Wellness Services

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LEZIGA BARIKOR Campus Life Editor

VOLUME 114, ISSUE 34

Filmmaker to speak on sex trafficking SOFIA LEGASPI

thing about it,” McNeal said. “Once I learned more, Staff Writer I was so compelled to share this information because I This week, UNI alum was just shocked to know Vanessa McNeal is returnthat most people don’t know ing to campus to discuss her about this.” film, “Gridshock.”

McNeal has produced McNeal, who received three documentaries, all a master’s degree in social focused on the issue of sexwork from UNI, will be ual violence. Her first film, speaking in the Old Central “I AM,” told her own story Ballroom in the Maucker of defeating abuse and Union at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, adversity.

Feb. 6.

After the positive A play on the word “gridresponse to “I AM,” McNeal lock,” the feature-length created two more documendocumentary investigating taries during her time at Iowa’s sex trafficking indusUNI, with one focusing on try, will be co-directed by student survivors — four McNeal and Alex Schuman, of whom were from UNI with cinematography by — and the other telling the Taylor Bluemel. story of male survivors.

“I think once you learn Through the years, the more about what sex trafSigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp) ficking is, it’s really hard fraternity has partnered not to want to do somewith McNeal to screen her films and host Q&A panels on campus.

“The way she does her documentaries really opens up truth about how often this happens and the fear that these people have,” said Hunter Flesch, senior elementary and middle level education major and member of SigEp. “She’s really good at educating people on how to support people who’ve been assaulted, how VANESSA MCNEAL/Courtesy Photo to go about McNeal will be discussing her upcoming film filing reports.

“Gridshock,” which deals with the issue of sex She’s just realtrafficiking in Iowa. ly education-

BLACK HISTORY

continued from page 1

The Tunnel of Oppression is a staple event at UNI during Black History Month. It will be held on Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. in Lang Hall.

Attendees will be led by a tour guide through the basement classrooms, explaining the various types of oppression African Americans have dealt with throughout history.

“It’s a perspective type of thing,” Sanders said about the Tunnel of Oppression event. “You can go and walk a mile in our shoes basically.”

Rooms will feature a variety of categories from micro-aggressions to black hair to colorism.

The Poetry Slam will also be held in Lang on Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. Poets Words and Chillin will kick off the evening with their own poetry before ushering in the open mic portion of the night.

On Feb. 25, the public is welcomed to the Soul Food Dinner at the Wesley Foundation.

“Soul food is a big part of black community and black culture, as well,” Sanders said. “We love to eat food that makes us happy. We call it soul food because it feeds our souls.”

“You Good?” will be held on Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. in the Georgian Lounge in the Commons. This will be an interactive discussion on sexual assault in the black community, in collaboration with Amani Community

al in her documentaries as well, and the stories are so vivid.”

SigEp advocates for sexual assault awareness in an attempt to counter the negative stereotypes surrounding fraternities and abuse of women, according to Flesch. After learning Vanessa’s story, SigEp brought her work to UNI students for the first time in 2015.

“We decided, wow, this would be a really good opportunity to show her story off and really bring it home for students because she’s connected to our campus,” Flesch said.

These people have to live in fear constantly.

People who have been sex trafficked are under an immense amount of fear.

Vanessa McNeal

Documentary filmmaker

This time, however, McNeal is visiting UNI without a finished film to screen.

“Gridshock” is in the midst of an all-or-nothing fundraising campaign, with 60 days to meet a goal of $35,000. If that figure is not reached by Feb. 9, all donors will be refunded and the documentary will not be produced.

“Films cost a lot of money to make,” McNeal said. “In the grand scheme of film, we have a very small budget, but we still need the adequate resources in order to make this film the best that it can be.”

Flesch urged students Services, of Waterloo.

Jason Sole will be coming to Rod Library on Feb. 28 to talk about the challenges of being a black male in America and his journey from prison to a career as an assistant professor and national speaker.

Some of the month’s other events include a 70’s-themed Skate Party, a Sip and Paint and a Lip Sync Battle.

Lastly, the Toast for Change: Black Gala will occur in the Commons Ballroom at 7 p.m. on March 3. This event is a way for BSU to thank their supporters and sponsors through a dinner.

Mulibinge encourages all UNI students to attend all these events.

“These events aren’t

VANESSA MCNEAL/Courtesy Photo

UNI alum and documentary fillmmaker Vanessa McNeal will be visiting UNI this Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Maucker Union Ballroom.

to support “Gridshock” by hearing McNeal speak on Tuesday.

“She’s an incredible speaker, just to hear her story and how passionate she is,” Flesch said. “Learn more about the stories that are happening literally in Cedar Falls, in Des Moines, in Iowa. It really hits home for people because these could be your neighbors; these could be people you could have known.

“And there’s food!” Flesch added.

If its fundraising goal is met, production for “Gridshock” will begin in the spring, with its anticipated release in October of 2018. “[Sex trafficking] is a criminal organization, so it’s dangerous to investigate and to look into,” McNeal said. “So, that’s a huge challenge, and everyone that’s working on this filming has a level of risk involved.”

Despite the danger, McNeal is determined to expose the underground industry. As of press time, “Gridshock” had raised 78 percent of its goal, with five days remaining.

“I think this documentary needs to happen A), to educate people on the signs of potential sex trafficking, but also B), to share the stories of people because they’re not being told,” Flesch said. “These people have to live in fear constantly. People who have been sex trafficked are under an immense amount of fear, an immense amount of pressure, [and] receive threats.”

“I think where we’ve really screwed up in the world of sex trafficking is that we’ve criminalized the victim survivors, and we’ve labeled them as prostitutes,” McNeal said. “So, I’m excited about giving them a voice because they’re victims and they’re survivors; they’re not criminals. I am excited to let them shed light on this and just to raise awareness and hopefully be able to prevent sex trafficking in the future.

“I mean, I’m not naive to think that this film will completely eradicate it,” McNeal added, “but I’m hoping that this film will play a part in making Iowa the hardest place to let this continue.”

BLACK STUDENT UNION/Courtesy Photo

The Black Student Union (BSU) will be organizing events in honor of Black History Month, including the Tunnel of Oppression, a staple event at UNI.

for the black community.

They’re for the white community, so that we can learn together,” Mulibinge said.

“We feel that college is the

place of knowledge, and you don’t only get that from the classroom. You learn that through the events you go to.”

LEZIGA BARIKOR Campus Life Editor

FEBRUARY 5, 2018

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VOLUME 114, ISSUE 34

Panther Portrait: KIRBY DAVIS Staff Writer

The Black Student Union (BSU) kicked off Black History Month with “Night at The Apollo” this past Friday, Feb. 2. The event was inspired by the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, which brings in a variety of live entertainment experiences.

Yakira Sanders, a junior social work major and current BSU president, discussed the inspiration for the event.

“We’ve always had talent shows, but we wanted to do something different where we could allow people from the community to come and participate,” Sanders said.

The show included solo artists, as well as a dancing group, an up-and-coming rapper and poetry.

The MC for the night was Wes B, a local artist from Waterloo, who instructed the audience on the proper way to applaud poetry and introduced the night’s various performers.

Anthony Cortez, also known as “King Tez,” is a junior business marketing major and aspiring rapper who performed on Friday.

“Tonight was very nerve-racking,” Cortez said.

“Then, when I get on stage, it feels like I’m at home, hon-

estly.”

Cortex said that he has rarely performed live, but that he has plans to release his first EP in May. In addition to the performances themselves, the participants also had the opportunity to address a variety of struggles faced in today’s society, from being a pansexual African American mother to growing up in a house marked by domestic abuse.

“There’s a lot of negativity in the world, and I just feel like spreading the message of loving each other and knowing that, regardless of our skin color, that we are all humans at the end of the day,” Cortez said.

BSU is hosting 12 events throughout the month of February to celebrate Black History Month, according to Sanders.

“This month is really important to us, just to celebrate all the things that we’ve been through, our success, all the things that our ancestors did for us to lead the path,” Sanders said.

The BSU’s next event, “Same, Same, Different,” will be co-hosted by BSU, the Center for Multicultural Education and the African Union. The panel discussion will be held today, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. in the Maucker Union Coffeehouse.

KIRBY DAVIS/Northern Iowan

PAGE 5

Night at the apollo black history month KIRBY DAVIS/Northern Iowan

KIRBY DAVIS/Northern Iowan

KIRBY DAVIS/Northern Iowan

Activist, philosopher talks solitary confinement KOREE DEERING Staff Writer

On Thursday, Feb. 1, Lisa Guenther, American philosopher and activist, came to UNI to discuss solitary confinement as part of the Hearst Lecture Series in Sabin Hall. Guenther is currently an associate professor of philosophy at Vanderbilt University and a Queen’s University National Scholar in political philosophy and critical prison studies.

Guenther was at UNI to

discuss topics relevant to her book, “Solitary Confinement: Social Death and its Afterlives.”

She began her lecture by revisiting a past event involving a young black man, Kalief Browder, who was placed in solitary confinement for stealing a backpack. His family could not afford the $3000 bond, so he remained in confinement for three years where he was harassed by guards and inmates.

While in confinement, Browder attempted to take

KIRBY DAVIS/Northern Iowan

Philosopher and activist Lisa Guenther came to UNI this past week to discuss issues related to solitary confinement and the U.S. prison system.

his own life several times, and after being released and struggling with mental health issues, he finally committed suicide in 2015.

Guenther continued her lecture, recounting past stories of people living in solitary confinement and how the isolation affected their mental health.

“Over 1,100 prisoners at Pelican Bay are currently isolated for 22 to 24 hours a day in an eight-foot by 10-foot cell with concrete walls and no windows,” Guenter stated in her research. “Fluorescent lights illuminate the cell 24 hours a day. The door is made of perforated steel, looking out onto another concrete wall.”

In the midst of one example, Guenther read a short fragment of a story written by one of the prisoners where he describes life behind cement walls. In the story, he explains the feeling of losing his senses and all contact to the outside world, leaving him nothing to do but count the bricks on the walls and measure his room.

After telling stories of past

prisoners, Guenther went on to describe a large event that took place on July 8, 2013.

The largest hunger strike in state history took place in California during this time, consisting of over 30,000 prisoners, in an attempt to enact change in the prison system.

According to Guenther’s research, it is unclear whether or not these protests will make a significant change in the prison system and the treatment of isolated prisoners.

Guenther’s research on the topic described this protest in depth, stating: “On September 5th, 2013, after a core group of 40 prisoners had refused meals continuously for 60 days, and hundreds more had participated for days or weeks on end, the hunger strike was suspended in response to a commitment by two California lawmakers to hold hearings on solitary confinement and other prison issues before a joint Public Safety Committee.”

Guenther then began showing pictures of the solitary confinement units, called

“supermax” prisons, in which many of these prisoners are forced to live, with no contact to the outside world.

According to Guenther’s research, supermax prisons are made specifically to isolate prisoners from the outside world for long periods of time.

Prisoners living in supermax units are given two meals per day, usually 10 to 12 hours apart from one another.

They are forced to sit in their windowless cells for hours at a time, and the few minutes when they are not in their cells, they are placed in a windowless exercise yard by themselves.

In addition, prisoners are to be handcuffed while traveling the short distance from their cells to the exercise yard.

“Such is the world of the supermax: a world-destroying world,” Guenther explained in her research.

“Some people call it ‘the box’; it is a world without windows, without darkness and without the bodily presence of other human beings. In effect, it’s a storage unit for people.”

PAGE 6

FEBRUARY 5, 2018

OLYMPICS

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SPORTS

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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DYLAN PADY Sports Editor

VOLUME 114, ISSUE 34

2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics JOEL WAUTERS

Sports Writer

This Friday, the eyes of the world will focus in on the city of PyeongChang, South Korea, for the 23rd Olympic Winter Games opening ceremony.

Nearly 3,000 athletes from 92 countries will march into the Olympic stadium behind their nation’s flag, representing the best of the best of the world’s winter sport athletes.

The Winter Games, while not as large of an event as the Summer Games, were first held in Chamonix, France in 1924 and were expected to be a grand display of passion, culture and competitive sporting action.

PyeongChang, located about 110 miles from the capital of Seoul (and 15 hours ahead of Central Standard Time), was awarded the right to host the 2018 games in 2011, and was officially designated as the host city at the closing ceremony of the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia.

After 17 days of action,

PyeongChang will hand the hosting rights off to the 2022 host city, Beijing. Additionally, as the host of the Olympic Winter Games, the city will also host the Paralympic Winter Games next month.

These games, like many in the past, have not come without controversy. Coming into 2018, there were two. First off, the most obvious one: North Korea.

60 miles from the Olympic city lies the Demilitarized Zone, the buffer that has divided the Korean Peninsula since the Korean War in the early 1950’s.

Since North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s rise to power in 2011, tensions between the two nations have been picking up at an alarming rate.

Kim has been determined for years to develop a nuclear weapon capable of striking the United States. With the largest sporting event in the world now near his doorstep, the world fears his regime may launch an attack during the games and threaten global peace that has

been traditionally respected during the Olympics. Though the North Korean threat is real, there is a sign of peace shining through it all.

Recent talks between leaders from the North and South have resulted in an agreement to have both teams march together during the opening ceremony under the Korean unification flag. They even agreed to form a joint women’s hockey team for the games. While the threat of destruction still looms, this agreement shows that, politically, both sides are working diligently despite their disagreements.

The other major controversy is Russia. Last December, the International Olympic Committee announced that the Russian Olympic Committee and, therefore, the Russian Olympic Team were banned from the 2018 winter games as a punishment due to a state-sponsored doping program that resulted in the stripping of 42 medals from Russian Olympians

dating back to 2008. Russian athletes who have been cleared by drug testing groups have been invited to participate in PyeongChang; however, they will be competing under the Olympic flag as “Olympic Athletes from Russia,” disassociating any of their success they have with the Russian Olympic Committee.

These games are anticipated to be of monumental proportions. Olympic hockey will, for example, be of a totally different dynamic, as NHL players will not be participating. The NHL decided last April that to keep the season flowing after their annual all-star game, they would eliminate their Winter Olympic break every four years and not participate. In their place, many countries, including the United States, will send amateur athletes to compete. On the slopes, American Lindsey Vonn, who missed the 2014 games due to a severe knee injury, will return to the mountains seeking her third Olympic medal. Figure skater

Adam Rippon looks to break through onto the stage as the first openly gay American to compete at the Winter Olympics and claim glory on the ice. And of course, the snowboarding legend, Shaun White, will be back. Coming into his fourth Olympics, White, an 18-time Winter X-Games medalist, will attempt to win his third gold medal in the halfpipe.

Olympic fans will be able to catch much more action during the two-and-a half week global sporting celebration.

Prepare to watch the bobsledders race down the track at record speed, as cross country skiers track for miles through the snow and people sweep ice with a broom while pushing around stones in curling.

Athletes will sprint faster, jump higher and become stronger during this 17 day festival of worldwide sports.

Fans can catch the opening ceremony and all the action from South Korea on the networks of NBC. TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

OPINION

NBA: Cavs, Blake Griffin and All-Star Weekend DYLAN PADY

Sports Editor

LeBron James expressed his frustration after the Cleveland Cavaliers fell to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.

“They should take us off every nationally televised game for the rest of the season,” James said. “We haven’t played good ball, and we get our butts kicked every time we play on national television, so I’m at a loss for words.”

The final score, a whopping 120-88, is noted as James’ fifth-worst loss of his career. Other big losses of his include game two of the 2016 finals, when the Cavaliers lost to Golden State (11077), game three of the 2008 Eastern Conference game against the Wizards (108-72), as well as a regular season game this year against the Timberwolves (127-99).

But in their struggle against Houston, J.R. Smith and Isaiah Thomas led the

MBB

continued from page 1

Koch led with 16 points.

Indiana would get the sweep with a final score of 77-66.

The Sycamores would also win the rebounding battle 3124. The UNI men’s basketball team has lost three in a row and look to bounce back at home against Bradley on Feb. 7 at home.

scoring for Cleveland with 12 points, and James followed closely behind with 11. James did almost record a triple double, as he also led his squad with nine rebounds and nine assists.

The Rockets, on the other hand, put on a clinic. Ryan Anderson and Chris Paul both had over 20 points, Paul also led with 11 assists. James Harden recorded 16 points, nine assists and six rebounds, while Clint Capela had nine rebounds and 14 points.

The Cavaliers have lost six of their last 10 games.

Of the 10, however, there are only three games where James did not lead Cleveland in scoring. It is surprising, to say the least, that such an offensive powerhouse in the east is just 30-21 on the season and is one of the more stacked rosters throughout the NBA. Blake Griffin, the new forward for the Detroit Pistons, was shocked to discover he was being traded by the Clippers on Twitter. Griffin, who signed a five year, $171.2 million contract with the Clippers in 2017, was traded to the Pistons along with Brice Johnson and Willie Reed in exchange for Avery Bradley, Tobias Harris and Boban Marjanovic, as well as a first and second round pick.

It seems like the Clippers got the better end of this trade, but Griffin seems to be doing alright in finding

his role with the Pistons.

Alongside Andre Drummond, the two stars of Detroit are off to a great 2-0 start, including a two-point victory over the Grizzlies and their most recent victory over the Heat.

Against Memphis, Griffin debuted with 24 points, five assists and 10 rebounds, while Drummond had 14 points, three assists and 15 rebounds.

The biggest advantage I see in Detroit is in their size.

Griffin and Drummond are two big bodies who know how to get rebounds and aren’t terrible shooters either.

Against Miami, Griffin had a harder time finding his shot, but still finished the game with 16 points, seven assists and nine rebounds.

Drummond and Ish Smith helped out the new guy and, together, put up 48 points, eight assists and 24 rebounds.

Tonight, the Pistons play the Trail Blazers, the Nets on Wednesday and will then host a big game against the Clippers on Friday. The team will play in Detroit all week before heading to Atlanta on Sunday to play the Hawks.

The NBA All-Star weekend is just around the corner as we near the halfway point of the season. On Feb. 16, things will get started with Ruffles’ Celebrity game, followed by the Mtn. Dew Kickstart Rising Stars game. Last year, Brandon Armstrong (retired

NBA player) was the MVP of the Celebrity Game, while the Rising Stars game features young players of different nationalities to represent the World Team against rookies from America who play for the U.S. Team.

The following Saturday, they will make Hall of Fame announcements during the day. Then at night, we get to witness the Skills Challenge, the Three-Point contest and the Slam Dunk contest.

Sunday is the most exciting with the 67th NBA AllStar game. This year’s contest is a little different. Two captains were selected to represent the East and the West (James and Steph Curry are this year’s captains), and they get to select which players in the NBA they want to play on their team.

The game is essentially a pickup game with the rawest talent there is. We are going to witness at least 200 points being scored when you consider how stacked both teams are.

In the East, James’ starting five (consisting of himself, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and DeMarcus Cousins) was included in this list before injuring himself a couple weeks ago.

In the West, Curry’s team consists of Giannis Antetokounmpo, DeMar DeRozan, Joel Embiid and The Beard (Harden). Dwane

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Casey in Toronto is coaching the East while Rocket’s head coach, Mike D’Antoni, is commanding the West.

PAGE 7 SIERRA STEEN Managing Editor

FUN & GAMES NORTHERNIOWAN.COM |

Crossword

FEBRUARY 5, 2018 |

32 Metal corrosion 33 Part of a biathlete’s gear 34 2017 award for Emma Stone 38 Yale email address ender 39 Finger painting?

42 “Deadwood” channel 43 A little lit 45 Hellenic “H”

Down 1 Morning co-host with Seacrest 2 Muscat’s country 3 “Cheers!”

4 Sculptor’s tool 5 Be under the weather 6 Grass in a J.D. Salinger title 7 R&B’s __ II Men 8 Part of a bedroom set 9 “What am __ do?”

10 Buffalo Bill and Charles Dickens wore them

11 “60 Minutes” part-time correspondent 12 Prom queen’s crown 13 Thai snack 18 Hit the ball hard 22 Defib expert 25 Bart’s brainy sibling 26 Munro pen name 28 Pretzel shape 29 Ridge on a neck 30 German wheels 31 Makes mad 35 Present time?

36 Eve’s second 37 Theater seating arrangements 39 Putin’s no 40 Perched on 41 Like a double eagle in golf 44 Sure victors 46 35-Down song 48 On the clock 49 “How stupid am I?!”

50 Title job for Shakespeare’s Petruchio 51 PEDs, in slang 52 “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” locale 53 Poker-faced 57 Off-rd. transports 59 Bandleader Puente 60 Team on a field 62 __ volente 64 Sleep phase 65 Mexican year

SUDOKU two

ship-winning coach 19 Find hilarious 20 No votes 21 Half an oz.?

23 Olympian Lipinski 24 German wheels 27 Seize the opportunity, sunshinewise 29 Same old story

SUDOKU ONE

Across 1 Heist 4 Pasta nutrient 8 Archie Bunker types 14 Statement softener, in emails 15 Command to Silver 16 Shangri-la 17 Five-time NBA champion-

VOLUME 114, ISSUE 34 46 All hands on deck 47 Captain’s choice at the Super Bowl 51 Italian rice dish 54 Transparent soap brand 55 “I’m __ you!”

56 “Hunh!?”

58 Harvard’s is “Veritas” 61 Excited reply to “Who wants dessert?”

63 Hiker’s snack that’s literally found in 17-, 29-, 39and 47-Across 66 Evening meal 67 John known for o verlapping diagrams 68 Loved, with “up” 69 Agrees 70 Air Quality Index factor 71 Owen, to Stephen King

That’s so punny!

Astronomers got tired of watching the moon rotate around the earth for 24 hours, so they just called it a day.

I lost my mood ring and i don’t know how to feel about it.

answers on page 8 LIVE ON CAMPUS REASON #5

I don’t trust stairs because they’re always up to something.

Laundry Alert!

2/5 #LIVELIKEAPANTHER

dor . u ni .e du

PAGE 8

FEBRUARY 5, 2018 |

FOR RENT 1 bdrm apartment, West Waterloo. Rent $575/ month, includes utilities except cable. One car garage. $500 deposit, month-month lease.

No pets. Call 319-230-7676

FOR RENT Nice selection of studio and 2 bedroom apts just 1-2 blocks from UNI campus. 12 month leases begin June 1. All units super clean, non-smoking, with parking. Cable TV and Internet included with rent. Reasonable rents, responsible landlord. Mature renters only, no pets or keg parties. If interested call Dennis (319) 232-6819.

HELP WANTED Now hiring servers, hosts, and line cooks. Must be available to work weekends. Apply in person at: Pepper’s, 620 E. 18th St., Cedar Falls.

FOR RENT Look for 4 friends For rent: 2 huge 2 bedroom apartments one block from UNI. Free laundry, offstreet parking. Available June 1. $660/mo.

319-266-5480, 319-290-0335, or wparrish@wparrishlaw.com.

CLASSIFIEDS

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

|

SIERRA STEEN Managing Editor

VOLUME 114, ISSUE 34

FOR SALE (3) BR (2) bath (16x70) (1056 sq. ft.). Stove, refrig, washer & dryer, eye-level microwave, dining set, (1) bed, central air, deck & shed, snowblower. (1) mi. west of UNI Dome.

Financing avail. $19,900Call Dennis 319-239-1920 Coachlight Homes, Inc.

FOR SALE YOU WON’T BELIEVE what you can get for $14,000!

Financing Available (2) Large bdrms, (2) baths, newer furnace & laminate flooring, stainless steel kitchen; wood-burning fireplace, chain link fence.

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Call Dennis: 319-239-1920 Coachlight Homes, Inc.

FOR RENT Look for 6 friends Side by side 3 bedroom duplex 8 block from UNI on bike trail. Free laundry, offstreet parking.

Available June 1. $885/mo.

319-266-5480, 319-290-0335, or wparrish@wparrishlaw.com.

Puzzle answers SUDOKU ONE

Have you downloaded the Northern Iowan App? simply search “the northern IOwan” on the app store! it has everything from local deals/coupons to the dining menus here on campus, and the news stories from the paper! download today!

SUDOKU TWO

Crossword