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UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA CEDAR FALLS, IA THURSDAY, APRIL 5 VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42

CEDAR FALLS, IA

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 54

MONDAY, MAY 2, 2022

OPINION

CAMPUS LIFE

SPORTS

OPINION PAGE 3

CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 4

SPORTS PAGE 6

Kathie Obradovich writes on coping amidst a climate of misinformation.

UNI takes first place in AAF competition MADDIE DAVIS Staff Writer

UNI students enrolled in advertising campaign development were thrilled to place first at the AAF District 8 National Student Advertising Competition.

The American Advertising Federation (AAF) puts on a national advertising competition with a different national client every year. This year students worked hard to create a campaign for Meta to promote the Quest 2 VR headset.

The marketing challenge of this campaign was to find a way to appeal to a younger audience of incoming college students aged 18 to 24.

Students had a figurative $10 million budget to find a way to solve this real-world problem. Local ad agencies often sponsor and provide immense support. This year’s sponsor was Spinutech.

Professor Matthew Wilson ran

Softball sets school record with 16th straight win.

Campus Activities Board hosted singer and songwriter Jesse McCartney Thursday.

Students raise money for food insecurity PRESS RELEASE

Over coffee at a local coffee shop with Dr. Holly Donohoe, Associate Professor and Director of the University of Northern Iowa’s (UNI) Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and Barb Prather, Executive Director of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, the idea was born for a collaborative service-learning project for students

in Donohoe’s Financial Resource Management class.

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank (NEIFB) distributes nutritious food and grocery products to 170 nonprofit organizations and programs that help families and individuals with food assistance.

For 40 years, the Food Bank has alleviated hunger and provided nutrition education through its programs.

See FOOD BANK, page 2

COURTESY/Matthew Wilson

Advertising campaign development students take home the championship at the AAF District 8 National Student Advertising Competition.

his class like an ad agency to help provide students with the most realistic experience.

Wilson said, “People who take

this class have to apply to be in one of the departments in the agency.

COURTESY/Heather Donohoe

Students volunteer hands-on as part of their service-learing project. As a group, they raised money to provide 10,000 meals for those in need.

UNI digital media students win big See AAF, page 2

Digital media students have received numerous prestigious awards from film competitions this year EBONI SPRINGFIELD Staff Writer

Several UNI Digital Media students were the award recipients from two competitive and prestigious film competitions this year. Between the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Upper Midwest Emmy foundation and the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival, more than 20 students received recognition for their outstanding work in recent projects.

The Upper Midwest Emmy Foundation is a National Academy of Television Arts and Science division. The Upper Midwest chapter aims to award scholarships to media production students within Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa and parts of Wisconsin. The foundation is dedicated to

COURTESY / NATIONAL ACADEMY

Numerous UNI digital edia students were award recipients from two competitive film competitions this year including the National Academy of Television, Arts & Sciences Upper Midwest Emmy foundation.

supporting students and fostering excellence in video and television “by honoring exceptional work,” according to their website.

To be nominated or a recipient of a Student Production award is a great honor. Luckily for UNI,

five students were recognized for the exemplary work produced in the Advanced Digital Media Production class taught by Dr. Francesca Soans. The recipients and nominees for Student Production awards and their corresponding

COURTESY/WCF Courier

Five students were recognized for their work produced in Dr. Francesca Soans’ class (pictured above).

films are as follows: With the production of “Training Iowa’s Future Farmers,” Estefania Ravasio and Taylor Palmer were award recipients.

Jacob Ruth and Megan Studer, with the production of “Finding Community

Through Art,” received an award.

Digital media student David Hindman was the College AV All-Star award recipient.

The productions “Our COVID-19 World,” a 30-minute magazine-style show, and “COVID-19 Comedy Show,” a 30-minute parody of a magazine-style show, were award nominees.

Although not awarded, these prestigious nominations are a great honor for the several UNI students that contributed to the two productions.

They are as follows: Jake Darling, Spencer Feinberg, Josh Michael, Cameron Wolff, Brock Guerrero, Kavieon Hughes, Brandon Haraldson, Megan Studer, Taylor Palmer, Jacob Ruth, Aaron True and Logan Tobler.

See DIGITAL MEDIA, page 4

CAROLINE CHRISTENSEN

PAGE 2

News Editor

MAY 2, 2022 |

NEWS

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

|

MALLORY SCHMITZ Associate News Editor

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 54

AFF

continued from page 1

There’s an accountant, strategy department, a research insights department, a media department, and a creative department.”

Students often complain about working on group projects, but Wilson says that complaint is uncommon in his classroom. “I know a lot of students hate group projects because there’s always that one person who doesn’t do anything but miss class.

It happens a lot less because everybody’s working together, so students work astronomically hard and make a number of big deliverables.”

Four students made up the pitch team representing the 30 student team. Their work was put to the test last week in Kansas City when they presented the final pitch in a room full of other competing teams in front of a panel of five judges. One of the judges was the Director of Global Social and Influencer Marketing at Meta.

FOOD BANK

continued from page 1

The Food Bank oversees eight programs that serve our communities: Member Agency Distribution, Cedar Valley Food Pantry, Backpack Program, Kids Cafe, Elderly Nutrition, Mobile Food Pantries, Summer Feeding, and a Community Garden. The Food Bank is a proud member of the Iowa Food Bank Association and Feeding America. Last year, the NEIFB distributed more than 9.4 mil-

COURTESY/Matthew Wilson

AAF students pose with their award above. They will participate in a Q&A with judges in a couple of week to determine if they will make it to nationals.

When UNI students found out they placed first for District 8, they were overjoyed. Wilson told his students, “You couldn’t have been better. It was absolutely perfect, flawless. The judge from Meta said, “They liked our idea so much; they want

to try to implement some of them to actually promote the product.”

Wilson told his students their career plans and life plans could radically change from what they expected to do after graduation. For one of his students, that is exact-

ly what happened. Marketing major and media strategist spokesperson of the campaign, Leah Little, said, “Being able to work in an agency setting prior to getting a full-time job is probably one of the reasons I got the job that I have now.”

She continued, “Being able

lion meals within a 16-county service area.

The Sack Lunch service-learning project was the product of the collaboration between Dr. Donohoe and NEIFB that was built upon a successful history of community engagement between UNI and NEIFB. The Sack Lunch campaign is a biannual fundraiser led by NEIFB to raise crucial funds to help those who are hungry in 16 counties in Northeast Iowa, including Black Hawk County. The

Sack Lunches are generously donated by community partners Tyson Fresh Meats, Blue Barn BBQ, Culvers, and Walmart, and then they are sold and delivered locally by NEIFB staff and volunteers. In years past, the involvement of the UNI community was very limited and on-campus orders accounted for less than 8% of the funding raised through the Sack Lunch fundraising campaign.

The purpose of the Sack Lunch service-learning project and partnership between UNI and NEIFB was to provide an experiential fundraising learning experience to Dr. Donohoe’s students, to increase awareness about NEIFB and food insecurity, and to directly increase the number of Sack Lunch sold on campus. The project was kicked-off on March 24th

by Dr. Donohoe and Jared Feigenbaum – the Community Events Manager at NEIFB. Students immediately began by volunteering to prepare and pack Sack Lunches at NEIFB, by selling Sack Lunches to the UNI community of staff, faculty and students, by overseeing on-campus lunch delivery and

distribution, and they concluded with the preparation of a final report for NEIFB. The outcomes of the student’s efforts are significant and a direct benefit to the community they served. Dr. Donohoe’s students sold 321 Sack Lunches on the UNI campus - surpassing their goal to sell 250 lunches. The students were responsible for more than 1/6 of the total lunches sold during the campaign and they were directly responsible for increasing sales on campus from – from 8% to 16%, a doubling of previous campaign sales.

The most significant outcome of the service-learning class project was that it generated the funding required to provide 10,240 meals to those in need in Northeast Iowa – for every 1 Sack Lunch sold, NEIFB is able to provide up to 32 meals.

This project enabled UNI students to learn first-hand about the art of fundraising which enhanced their learning in Dr. Donohoe’s class. Lindsay Hubbell, a senior in environmental resource management reported that “It [the project] offered a lot of insight into the

EDITORIAL STAFF

PRODUCTION STAFF

CAROLINE CHRISTENSEN News Editor chriscbi@uni.edu

KARLA DE BRUIN

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.

Advertising errors that are the fault of the Northern Iowan will be corrected at no cost to the advertiser only if the Northern Iowan office is notified within seven days of the original publication. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement at any time.

The Northern Iowan is funded in part with student activity fees.

COURTESY/Heather Donohoe

UNI students pose for a group photo. Professor Donohoe’s students sold 321 Sack Lunches, surpassing their original goal to sell 250 lunches.

NORTHERN IOWAN L011 Maucker Union Cedar Falls, IA 50614 www.northerniowan.com northern-iowan@uni.edu 319.273.2157

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to take classes with Matthew Wilson was probably one of my favorite things about going to school at UNI.”` Although UNI students won first place, their work is not over. The UNI team recently submitted a recording of their pitch for the semi-finals and will participate in a Q&A with judges in a couple of weeks. That will determine if they make it to Nationals.

If they do, the team will head to Nashville, Tenn., to present alongside the final eight at the National Conference.

This has been an unforgettable experience for Wilson and his students, no matter the outcome. Wilson told his students, “In the next 60 days, your career plans or life plans could radically change. What you thought you were going to do after you graduate may change. You might have an opportunity that presents itself that you never expected as a result of this success.”

He concluded, “It’s just so rewarding and fulfilling, and it reminds me why I do this.” different levels of management that go into a fundraiser”. Zachary Zippe a political science student shared that “I learned a lot about the operations of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and what it takes to put on such an incredible drive”.

Nonprofit management student Haley Cummings shared that “knowing that each lunch we sold fed 32 people is a great feeling”.

For UNI student James Howard, the class project provided a way to “truly get an understanding of how much helping a good cause means” to donors, volunteers, and those in need.

Barb Prather - Executive Director of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank highlighted the value of this service-learning project: We appreciate the partnership with the UNI class this semester, partnerships throughout the community are what help the Food Bank continue to grow and end food insecurity all throughout northeast Iowa.

The students played an important role in the fight against hunger.

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Do you want to have an event listed here? Email us at northern-iowan@uni.edu with information about the event to have it featured.

PAGE 3

OPINION

NIXSON BENITEZ Executive Editor

MAY 2, 2022 |

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

|

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 54

Disclaimer: The following opinion articles featured do not reflect the opinion of the Northern Iowan newspaper or staff as a whole.

Misinformation is deadly.

What are we going to do?

Tribune News Service

Ever since the insurrection of Jan. 6, there has been a continuous lack of confidence with U.S. elections due to the influence of social media platforms.

KATHIE OBRADOVICH

Iowa Capitol Dispatch

Editor’s note: This article is from Iowa Capital Dispatch from April. 25, 2022 Misinformation is deadly. It kills humans and democracy.

All of us have some responsibility for this serious threat to society. All of us are affected by it, regardless of whether we use social media. And all of us need to do something about it.

The examples are hard to ignore: An insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, fueled by a former president and a lie that the election was stolen.

The Russian bots unleashed on social media – with the aid of gullible Americans — to drive dissent and influence American voters. A state-bystate effort to make voting harder, driven by that same lie and unfounded fear of fraud. The rampant distrust of lifesaving vaccines and public health advice aimed at quelling a pandemic that has killed more than 989,000 in the United States and more than 9,500 in Iowa.

“The biggest lie of all, which this crisis thrives on, and which the beneficiaries of mis- and disinformation feed on, is that the crisis itself is uncontainable.” – The Commission on Information Disorder The list of examples is much longer but you’ve heard most of them. We’ve also heard about the causes. Primary

among them is the rise of internet platforms and social media that can spread lies much faster than the truth while weakening and supplanting newspapers and other traditionally reliable information sources.

These platforms can deliver an audience to almost anyone, which is often a good thing.

But it also amplifies those who use their corrosive voice in service of long-standing divisions in our country, including various brands of hatred toward groups of people.

Former President Barack Obama was the most recent, and one of the most prominent, U.S. leaders to raise a call to action last week. During a speech at Stanford University, Obama said it was no surprise to his administration that Russia was attempting to meddle in U.S. elections, yet he underestimated the threat posed by misinformation and disinformation on social media.

“What does still nag at me though, was my failure to fully appreciate at the time just how susceptible we had become to lies and conspiracy theories — despite having spent years being a target of disinformation myself,” he said. “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin didn’t do that. He didn’t have to. We did it to ourselves.”

Pate: Misinformation helps America’s enemies If you don’t want to hear what Obama has to say, here’s a similar viewpoint from Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, a Republican who was recent-

ly president of the National Association of Secretaries of State. He spoke on Iowa PBS over the weekend about the need to build confidence in the election process by making sure the public is informed of how the voting and counting processes work and what has been done to secure the vote.

Pate said if misinformation goes unchallenged, people who want to undermine elections may win the dialogue. “And when they win that, basically the Russians or the Chinese or whoever you want to identify here win without firing a single bullet, they won, democracy will be something of the wayside and we can’t let that happen,” Pate said.

This is not a Republican or Democratic problem. Both parties have raised concerns about the spread of misinformation (false information) and disinformation (deliberate lies), especially on social media. In Iowa and in other states, for example, Republicans have proposed legislation aimed at “censorship” by internet and social media platforms. While I think some of their examples of suppression have more to do with false and inflammatory content than political philosophy, the fact is that social media companies are not transparent about how their content moderation policies and algorithms work.

What we can do We are not helpless victims of this societal trend.

The co-chairs of the Aspen Institute’s Commission on

Information Disorder, which published a report on the topic late last year, put it this way: “The biggest lie of all, which this crisis thrives on, and which the beneficiaries of mis- and disinformation feed on, is that the crisis itself is uncontainable.”

The commission’s recommendations are detailed, and I’d encourage you to read the entire report. Most of the proposals are aimed at making internet and social media platforms more transparent and accountable while maintaining a strong commitment to freedom of speech. That’s a tall order and it will almost certainly take congressional action, because it’s unlikely these multibillion-dollar corporations will be willing to do enough on their own. As voters, it’s our responsibility to learn about those proposals, including the bipartisan Platform Accountability and Transparency Act, and push our elected officials to move forward.

One encouraging bit of news that some in Congress are taking this threat seriously: Last week, the chairs of two U.S. House committees asked election officials from four states to detail what they are doing to “counter lies and conspiracy theories and protect the integrity of federal elections.”

Beyond what can be done on Capitol Hill to address the supply of toxic information, as Obama put it, there is much we can do to reduce our demand for it. Some ideas, like the ones I suggested after the Jan.

6 insurrection, come down to taking responsibility as citizens for being better media consumers, informed voters, and critical thinkers.

Obama and the Aspen Institute commission both also focused on the importance of strengthening community journalism. Obama gave a shoutout to nonprofit newsrooms like Iowa Capital Dispatch, “aimed at providing essential coverage of what’s happening locally and in statehouses. That’s an example of how new models of journalism are possible, along with smart ways for communities to reinvigorate local news.”

The Commission on Information Disorder’s report includes other ideas for building up community journalism, particularly outlets that support underserved communities. Among them is encouraging philanthropic investment in community media organizations that “focus on reliable information and trust-building.”

Amen to that.

I’ve only scratched the surface of these proposals, but I’d encourage you to read more.

Obama posted some articles to whet your appetite.

I’ll leave you with some of Obama’s words of encouragement: “Now’s the time to pick a side. We have a choice right now. Do we allow our democracy to wither, or do we make it better? That’s the choice we face. And it is a choice worth embracing.”

CATHERINE CROW

PAGE 4

CAMPUS LIFE MAY 2, 2022 |

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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Campus Life Editor

DIAMOND ROUNDTREE

Associate Campus Life Editor

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 54

View the night sky with UNI’s Observatory Show EMMA KOEHLER Staff Writer

A group of roughly 20 individuals gathered around the polar bear artifact showcased within McCollum Science Hall at promptly 9 p.m. on April 28, unsure of what to exactly expect as they anticipated the start of UNI’s Observatory Show. Led by Professor of Astronomy and Department Head, Professor Siobahn M. Morgan and student assistant Billy Lange, participants trekked up several flights of stairs onto the rooftop of McCollum where they could view constellations in the night sky as well as UNI’s own telescope.

On this night, conditions for star gazing were not ideal, as it was chilly, windy and the sky was hazy. But many stars

and constellations could still be seen every so often, as the clouds would drift apart, and the sky would open for a few short minutes at a time.

“Even though it was cloudy, I still had an amazing time learning about different stars and constellations!” said junior English education major, Kennedy Halsrud.

Guided by a wooden platform decorated with red lights, the group carefully made their way across the expanse of the roof and gathered around to listen to Lange’s vast knowledge of the night sky. Pointing with a red light saber, Lange explained the stories of Greek mythology relating to constellations, such as Cassiopeia.

He also highlighted the zodiac signs that could be viewed during this time of the year, such as one bright star the group could see within the

Emma Koehler / Northern Iowan

Every Thursday during the last few weeks of the semester, McCollum Science Hall hosts an observatory show from 9-10 p.m.

constellation of Taurus.

Morgan guided the group into and around UNI’s telescope, housed in what resembles a bullet-shaped hatch of a building. The building itself rotates and opens a portion to the night sky, allowing the telescope direct view to any

object of viewing interest.

Morgan also explained how telescopes work: gathering an image through collection of light with curved mirrors.

UNI’s telescope has the capability to stay trained upon an object in the sky for long periods of time by following its

movement.

As it was such a hazy night, the telescope was not focused onto any specific stars or other astronomical objects.

However, a southeastern star made a brief appearance, and three lucky individuals had the opportunity to view it through the telescope before it was hidden again in the haze.

Despite the imperfect sky conditions, Morgan and Lange provided a great opportunity for students and the public to learn and gain a great view of the night sky. Keep in mind, some patience is required as the night sky operates all on its own.

“Although it was cloudy, it was still a beautiful experience and I’d love to go again!” said freshman biology major Samantha Dick.

Emma Koehler / Northern Iowan

Even with the not so ideal stargazing conditions, atendees were still able to see a few constellations at the observatory.

DIGITAL MEDIA

continued from page 1

Beyond the Upper Midwest Emmy Foundation, various Digital Media students received recognition for their work at the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival.

Founded in 2001, it is an outlet for the best Iowa filmmakers at Student, Pro-Am, and Professional levels to showcase their work to the public.

Two UNI students were award recipients of the festival’s Eddy Awards. Eddy Awards, as presented on the festival’s website, are: “(The term Eddy) is defined as ‘a current moving contrary to the direction of the

main current,’ which is a suitable description for independent filmmakers, who often go against the current trends in mainstream cinema.”

Held Easter weekend, class of 2019 graduate Tarrell Christie was the recipient of the Student Long Form Gold Eddy for his direction in the film “Flava.”

Jenna Wilson was the recipient of the Student Freestyle Silver Eddy for her music video titled “Ticks.”

Some nominees and finalists have waited years for recognition as past festivals were postponed due to COVID-19.

Wilson, a senior digital production major and Silver Eddy recipient explains the timeline

between submitting her work and being awarded.

“This project was originally my final project for Digital Media Production 1 with Professor Soans back in the fall of 2019. I submitted it to this festival early 2020. I was then selected as a finalist, but with the pandemic, things were pushed back, and the festival wasn’t held until this year,” she said.

Five other UNI current students and recent graduates were selected as finalists. Jacob Ruth and Kaylee Daniels for their direction, production and editing of “Finding a Forever Home,” writer and director Kazek Israni-Winger created “The Idea List (of how to

get my purse back),” Jasmine Aquino for the direction of “This Is For Her” and lastly, Director Quinn Rauchenecker for “Weeds in the Garden.”

Many of these projects and films are available on Youtube for public viewing. Or at the request of the students.

These students have put in an immense amount of work to be recognized statewide and regionally. All are encouraged to watch these award-worthy pieces. Wilson explains why it is essential to support and appreciate student work.

“It definitely feels good when something you spent time and effort creating is shared and awarded. I feel a sense of validation in what I am doing.

This recognition will drive me to keep working hard and achieve new goals,” Wilson said.

CATHERINE CROW

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Campus Life Editor

CAMPUS LIFE

DIAMOND ROUNDTREE

Associate Campus Life Editor

MAY 2, 2022 |

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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VOLUME 118, ISSUE 54

Panther Portrait: CAB Concert

Campus Activities Board / Courtesy

On Thursday, April 28, CAB hosted singer-songwriter Jesse McCartney at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. McCartney performed hit songs “Leavin’,” “Beautiful Soul” and even some new songs.

PAGE 6

COLIN HORNING Sports Editor

SPORTS MAY 2, 2022 |

SOFTBALL

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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DAVID WARRINGTON Associate Sports Editor

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 54

Panthers win 16th straight, break program winning streak record DAVID WARRINGTON

Associate Sports Editor

A special season became a record-breaking season on Sunday when the UNI softball team swept the Indiana State Sycamores in a doubleheader at the Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex. This gave the Panthers, who hold a 20-1 record in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play, their 16th consecutive victory, breaking the program record for most consecutive wins of 15 set in 2012.

In game one of what was supposed to be a three-game series before weather caused the cancellation of Saturday’s game, UNI got on the board first. Kylee Sanders reached base on a Sycamore error, allowing Kamryn Shaffer to score. Emmy Wells followed this up by lining a single into the outfield to score another run, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

Mya Dodge put a very unique run on the board in the third. After successfully stealing second base, Dodge advanced to third after the catcher’s throw was mishandled by the second baseman.

However, the ISU center fielder also misplayed the ball in the outfield, allowing Dodge to easily score and extend the lead to 3-0.

After a run from each team in the middle innings, UNI led 4-1 when the Sycamores

turned the momentum around with back-to-back solo home runs from Bella Peterson and Annie Tokarek, cutting the lead to 4-3.

The Panthers managed to put the game away in the bottom of the fifth when Wells stepped up to the plate with two runners on base and hit her 15th home run of the season, driving in three runs and giving UNI a 7-3 lead that they would hold until the end.

It was a solid pitching performance from Kailyn Packard, giving up four runs with just two walks as well as striking out 12. Packard was credited with the win, bringing her season record to 18-4.

In the second game of the doubleheader, UNI got on the board first when Madison Parks hit a towering home run several feet beyond the fence in right-center field, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

The Sycamores would respond in the top of the second, when Abi Chipps drove a base hit into center field, scoring two runners to give Indiana State a 2-1 advantage.

Daryn Lamprecht managed to tie the game in the bottom of the third, hitting her eighth home run of the season. The solo blast tied the game at 2-2.

UNI kept the offense going in the fourth. Taylor Hogan led the inning off with a base hit, and with two outs Dodge roped a line-drive double into

Courtesy Photo/UNI Athletics

The UNI softball team broke the program record for longest winning streak with their two wins over Indiana State on Sunday. The winning streak now sits at 16 games with four regular season games left to play.

centerfield, giving UNI a 3-2 lead.

It was in the fifth inning when UNI put the game away for good. With runners on second and third, Wells hit her second home run of the doubleheader, and her MVC-best 16th of the season, giving UNI a 6-2 lead.

The Sycamores would manage to get one more run across in the sixth, but the Panthers would hold on to win their

16th consecutive game, 6-3.

It was another impressive performance in the circle from Samantha Heyer. In seven innings, Heyer allowed three runs, only two of which were earned, while striking out 13 Sycamore batters.

With the wins, the Panthers improve to 29-11 on the season with a 20-1 record in MVC play. UNI will be back in action for their final

home game of the year on Wednesday, hosting in-state rival Iowa. They will conclude the regular season this weekend, hitting the road for a three-game series with Bradley. A doubleheader is scheduled for Saturday, with a single game on Sunday. After that, UNI will look ahead to the MVC Tournament beginning Wednesday, May 11 in Springfield, Mo.

GOLF

Men’s golf finishes season at MVC Championships HUNTER FRIESEN Sports Writer

The men’s golf team capped off their spring season this past weekend as they traveled down to Paducah, Ky for the Missouri Valley Conference Championships. The Panthers did not perform well as a team, finishing in last place behind the other eight conference teams. On the bright side, junior Griffin Parker received individual all-conference honors and placed 8th among all eligible players.

Parker’s honors came from his consistent play, as he improved in each round during the 54-hole tournament. He carded a 223 (76, 74, 73) across the three rounds.

He sat in 14th place going into the final day and was able to find himself within the Top 10 by the end. This year’s honors are his second in his career as he finished in 10th place just last year.

Senior Thomas Storbeck finished 25th, with a total score of 235 (82, 77, 76).

Jack Moody finished in 37th, along with Alex Pries in 40th, and Tommy Doyle in 42nd.

With a total team score of 933 (321, 304, 308), UNI finished in last place.

Winning the championship was Southern Illinois with a total score of 874 (295, 285, 294), which was a full 17 shots better than runner-up Valparaiso with 891. What helped the Salukis earn their third conference title in six

Courtesy Photo/UNI Athletics

The men’s golf team ended their season at the 2022 MIssouri Valley Conference Championships last week.

seasons was their balanced lineup. All five of their players placed within the Top 14.

Along with their team victory,

Southern Illinois also boasted two all-conference players in Tom Cleaton and Matthis Besard, who also won Golfer

of the Year. Danielle Kaufman won Coach of the Year.

Anthony Delisanti of Valparaiso finished in first place among individual players with a score of 213 (74, 72, 67). He earned all-conference honors along with being named Newcomer of the Year.

Looking back at the Panthers’ season, some notable highlights were their 3rd place team finish at the Valpo Invite in late February. Griffin finished in a tie for first place at the Jackrabbit Invite in March, which included him leading the field with 16 birdies across the three rounds.

Doyle, Pries and Storbeck will all be graduating. The rest of the team will take the summer off to train and be ready for the fall season.

PAGE 7

COLIN HORNING Sports Editor

SPORTS

DAVID WARRINGTON Associate Sports Editor

TRACK & FIELD

MAY 2, 2022 |

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VOLUME 118, ISSUE 54

UNI track and field shows out at the Drake Relays CADEN SHEA

Sports Writer

The UNI track and field team took place in the famous Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa this past week. The Panthers were showcased in various different events and attempted to make their mark in the biggest way possible.

Many Panther athletes placed in these events amongst the many schools that participated in this meet.

The team’s first day showcased the athletes that participated in the multi events. The men’s team took places four, five and six in the decathlon with Carter Morton, Zack Butcher and Drew Bartels taking those places respectively. Morton took first in both the high jump and the long jump to help elevate him to fourth place while Bartels and Butcher took second and third in the long jump. Bartels and Butcher also took places one and two in the 100-meter dash, respectively. On the women’s side of the multis, Lydia Berns-Schweingruber

finished fifth in the heptathlon, while Kelly Proesch took ninth place and Amanda Lietz took eleventh for the Panthers.

On the second day of the meet, UNI’s Isaiah Trousil became the first athlete on the team to win an individual Drake Relays title since 2017 by winning the 200-meter dash with a time of 20.73 seconds. His teammate, Parker Kiewiet, was not too far behind him and took bronze in the event with a time of 20.94. Trousil also competed in the 100-meter dash the following day, finishing with a silver medal with a time of 10.66. The UNI women’s 4x100 team consisting of Rylan Santi, Jill Bennett, Libby Wedewer and Paishence Johnson took fourth place with a time of 46.32. The Panther’s 4x400 team of Erin Kerkhoff, Auriona Kimbrough, Emily Vos and Sophia Jungling raced their hardest to grab a hold of a fifth place finish.

UNI also excelled at the field events at this meet.

Thomas Yezek threw the dis-

Courtesy Photo/UNI Athletics

Several UNI track & field athletes had strong showings at the Drake Relays this past week. They will return to the same venue for the Missouri Valley Conference Championships in a few weeks.

cus for a length 54.44 meters or 178 feet, seven inches to obtain the silver medal in the event. Darius King of UNI withdrew from the collegiate division to enter

the elite division in shot put alongside world record holder Ryan Crouser among other standouts. King finished fifth with a 19.19 meter throw.

The track team will

head to Madison, Wisc. for the Badger Invitational on May 6 before making their way back to Drake for the Missouri Valley Conference Championships.

OPINION

LeBron or Jordan: who is the NBA’s G.O.A.T.?

DREW HILL

Sports Writer

Sports fans love debating who is the greatest player of all time (GOAT) of their sport.

These debates can lead to heated arguments, but perhaps none is as controversial as who the GOAT of NBA basketball is. That debate comes down to Michael Jordan versus Lebron James.

In terms of scoring, Jordan was the better player. James currently has 37,062 career regular season points, which is the second most of all time, to Jordan’s 32,292, good for fifth most all time. However, James has also played 1,366 regular season games in 19 seasons to Jordan’s 1,072 in 15 seasons. While James played at

Photo Courtesy of NBA.Com

Who is the greatest NBA player ever? Sports writer Drew Hill discusses his views on the Jordan vs. Lebron debate.

least 80 games in a season only three times, Jordan did it 11 times. In points per game, Jordan averaged 30.1 in regular season games, which is the most all time in the NBA, while James averaged 27.1, which puts him fifth all time.

In playoff points, James has a total of 7,631 and an average of 28.7, while Jordan had a total of 5,987 and an average of 33.4. Another telling factor in Jordan’s favor is that he led the NBA in scoring in ten different seasons, while James only did once.

The reason for the disparity in total points and games is because Jordan retired three different times, while James has not retired. Jordan played from 1984 to 1993 for the Chicago Bulls, but after winning three championships in a row, he retired for nearly two full seasons, coming back to the Bulls in March of 1995 for 17 games. After losing in the playoffs that year for the first time since 1990, Jordan went on to win three more championships in a row.

Then he retired again after the 1998 playoffs and took over as an executive for the Washington Wizards before unretiring again to play in two seasons with the Wizards from 2001-2003 before retiring for the last time. That means he

missed about 4.75 seasons, which skews total numbers in his career.

James is the better passer, leading the NBA in assists in a season once while averaging 7.4 assists per game in his regular season career to Jordan’s 5.3. In rebounding as a bigger player, James also had a higher career per game average, averaging 7.5 to Jordan’s 6.2. Jordan was the better defender. He was named to NBA All-Defensive teams nine times to James’ six while also winning Defensive Player of the Year once. Jordan led the NBA in steals in a season three times and averaged 2.3 steals per game in regular season games to James’ 1.6. Also, despite being shorter, Jordan averaged as many blocks per game as James in regular season games, with both at 0.8 per game.

In terms of awards, both won a lot. Both players only missed one All-Star game in their career. James has been named to 17 All-NBA teams, while Jordan was named to 11. However, Jordan won five MVP awards to James’ four.

While stats are important, what determining the GOAT comes down to is playoff success and championships. In terms of making the playoffs, Jordan made the playoffs with

the Bulls in all 13 of his seasons there, but missed the playoffs in his two seasons with the Wizards. James has missed the playoffs four times, including his first two seasons in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers and two with the Los Angeles Lakers. Jordan won six championships with the Bulls in six appearances, while James has won four championships in ten appearances. James won one out of five with the Cavaliers, two out of four with the Miami Heat and his only appearance with the Lakers. Jordan supporters point to the extra two championships, while James supporters point to the extra four appearances.

An important part of the debate centers around how each won their championships. While Jordan was loyal to the Bulls, which mostly built around him through the draft, James left the Cavaliers for the Heat to form a super team with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Then he went back to Cleveland, who traded for Kevin Love and already had Kyrie Irving. Then he went to the Lakers, who traded for Anthony Davis in his second season. So, while James formed super teams through trades and free agency, Chicago built a super

team around Jordan through the draft. Some have suggested that it is harder to win with different teams, but others have scoffed at James for building super teams.

One extremely important factor is Jordan’s two retirements in his prime. Although he came back from the first one and lost in the playoffs, if he had not retired either time, it is conceivable he could have easily won at least two more championships, considering both were between three-peats.

That would swing the championship debate in his favor, as well as the career points issue. If he had averaged just 28 points per game and played eighty games in those 4.75 seasons, which is less than where he was in 1998, he would have an extra 10,640 points, putting him ahead of James by far and in first all time in career points.

Even though using “what if” scenarios does not prove anything, I still think the argument goes to Jordan as the GOAT. As the better scorer and defender, as well as a more loyal player, I think he is ahead of James for now. Could James winning another championship change that? Maybe.

But in my opinion, the title of NBA GOAT goes to Michael Jordan until someone takes it from him.

PAGE 8

KARLA DE BRUIN

CLASSIFIEDS

Managing Editor

EMMA KOEHLER

Associate Managing Editor

MAY 2, 2022 | NORTHERNIOWAN.COM | VOLUME 118, ISSUE 54 28 Ticklish Muppet 11 Seek shelter 29 Boom's opposite 12 Flared skirt 32 ID card feature 13 Big name in hotels and 35 Point de __: opinion, in crackers Paris 18 Buffalo's lake Today’s Birthday (05/02/22).

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40 A pop easiest day, 0 the most chal63 Under the weather 41 Roulette color lenging.

64 Speck in the ocean 46 Verizon rival 65 Beethoven's "Für __" 47 Aid in a felony Aries (March 21-April 19) — 66 Lao-__: Taoism founder 48 Solidified, as plans, with Today is a 9 — Your luck in 67 Heart rate "up" love improves, with Venus in 68 Thin coins 49 H.G. who wrote "The War your sign for the next month. of the Worlds" Beautify your surroundings, Down 50 Internet forum troublemak- wardrobe and style. You’re 1 Ones who won't leave you er irresistible and charming. alone 51 Backpacking outings 2 Really bugged 52 Online social appointment Taurus (April 20-May 20) — 3 Biblical queen's land 53 Jeans material Today is an 8 — Your efforts 4 Little songbird 54 Admission of defeat get profitable. Over four 5 More sore 55 Cary of "Glory" weeks, with Venus in Aries, 6 Lion of Narnia 56 Cool one's heels fantasies abound. Enjoy quiet 7 Sherwin-Williams product 60 One of a kissing pair time. Keep confidences.

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10 Skin art, briefly Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 9 — You’re especially popular; take advantage. Get out in public this month, with Venus in Aries.

Social activities benefit your career. Group collaborations thrive.

Today's Horoscope May 2, 2022

Across 1 Spaghetti or ziti 6 In different places 11 What a steamroller steamrolls 14 Moral standard 15 Capital of Yemen 16 Thrilla in Manila winner 17 Understand, finally 19 Caboodle go-with 20 Bill at the bar 21 Tehran native 22 German auto engineer Karl 23 Zone out 27 Mined rock

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Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Consider plans. It’s easier to advance your professional agenda.

Take on greater leadership this month, with Venus in Aries.

Develop intriguing possibilities and opportunities.

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Make travel plans and venture

forth. Investigate a matter of personal passion.

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It’s all for love.

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Connect and share.

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Puzzle Answers

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