The Daily Iowan WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2024
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THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COMMUNITY SINCE 1868
The final days of UI’s RVAP After 51 years, the victim-centered program enters its final days at Iowa.
Photo: Farm Cycle Bikers traveled across Johnson County to various farms Sunday, trying local food and beverages.
Jack Moore Managing News Editor
jack.moore@dailyiowan.com
Editor’s note: This article contains mentions of sexual violence.
NEWS | 8A
From the ice rink to the Masters How Iowa second-year golfer Noah Kent went from a hockey player at heart to earning U.S. Open and Masters exemptions. SPORTS | 1B
Photo: Starting off on the right foot Iowa soccer starts the season strong, sporting a five-game winning streak as of Sept. 15. SPORTS | 4B
DAILYIOWAN.COM
Alex Snyder and Ava Neumaier | The Daily Iowan
(Top) A demonstrator listens to a speaker on the Pentacrest in Iowa City on April 13 during a protest against the University of Iowa’s decision to transition resources from the Rape Victim Advocacy Program, or RVAP. (Bottom) The RVAP building is seen in Iowa City on Nov. 9, 2022. RVAP will officially be closed on Sept. 30.
Starting as a hotline for women in crisis over 50 years ago and evolving into a leading program for sexual assault victims in Iowa, the Rape Victim Advocacy Program — also known as RVAP — at the University of Iowa is now facing its final days of operation. Five months ago, the UI announced it would transition all RVAP’s services by Sept. 30 to the Iowa City community nonprofit Domestic Violence Intervention Program, also known as DVIP, and layoffs would follow. The news stunned students, resulting in protests across campus over the following weeks. Those who were most surprised, though, were RVAP’s own employees. Staff told The Daily Iowan in April that many of them learned of their impending dismissals through news outlets and a campuswide email informing the public of the changes. In its announcement, the university cited RVAP’s low rate of helping survivors on the UI’s campus. The vast majority of their clientele, according to the UI, came from outside the university community, in the eight counties — including Johnson — that RVAP serves. The university argued that for RVAP to expand and thrive, it would be best for the organization to leave the university. The decision left a glaring question: How, in five months, was DVIP supposed to take on the multitude of services offered by RVAP? Ultimately, a combination of ensuring funding and establishing DVIP as a resource for sexual assault survivors would become their biggest hurdles. DVIP is now taking those head on.
RVAP | 2A
Johnson County Jail under review A recent assessment opens the door for an $80 million project.
Gen Z’s love for the past With retro and throwback memorabilia and fashion becoming an ever present feature in today’s society, stores like Ragstock and Bartertown Toys & Collectibles have hopped on the trend. 80 HOURS | 1C
ONLINE • The Iowa Board of Regents are meeting this week to discuss major changes to the state’s three public universities. The University of Iowa is requesting a restructure to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Check out our latest coverage of the meeting at dailyiowan.com. • The Iowa City City
Council meets this week to discuss improvements to city parks, reducing parking rates, and new city projects. Check out our latest coverage on the Iowa City City Council at dailyiowan.com.
• Caitlin Clark is breaking records left and right during her debut WNBA season. Check out our latest coverage following Hawks in the WNBA at dailyiowan.com.
• Listen to the latest
episodes of The Daily Iowan’s two podcasts, Above the Fold and Press Box Banter, where reporters cover the latest news and talk sports at dailyiowan.com.
Grace Olson Assistant News Editor
A recent needs assessment evaluating the Johnson County Jail and Sheriff’s Office has led to progress in the discussion for an entirely new building.
The poor condition of the current facility, located at 511 S. Capitol St., was discussed in a grace.olson@dailyiowan.com Johnson County Board of Supervisors meeting in August 2023. During the meeting, the project management company Faithful + Gould reported the current facility should be demolished. “Everybody can agree the existing building is at the end of its life,” Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel said. Johnson County Facilities Director David Curtis addressed the Johnson County Board of Supervisors in a work session Wednesday morning to review proposals for the building. “We’re all aware that the building’s lived its life, and that’s putting it gently,” he said before beginning his summary. In his report, Curtis mentioned the roof leaking every time it rains, the air conditioning units being well past life expectancy, and exterior brickwork appearing to be failing. The county received requests for proposals from three architecture and engineering firms: Axiom Consultants, Shive-Hattery, and Vantage Architects, Curtis said. Curtis recommended the county continue to work with Axiom, an engineering consulting firm that completed a structural property condition assessment in 2023 and did ongoing monitoring of the structure in May 2024. The report states Axiom’s proposal is the most realistic for the county to follow. Emma Gutzemen | The Daily Iowan According to Curtis’ report, there is $300,000 The Johnson County Jail is seen in Iowa City on April 21. The facility has been in use since 1981.
JAIL | 3A
Swisher mayor selected as county auditor nominee Julie Persons will be the first woman to tackle the role in 48 years. Emma Jane News Reporter
news@dailyiowan.com
Julie Persons is set to become the new Johnson County auditor after she was selected on Aug. 24 as the Democratic Party’s nominee. She will be the first woman to tackle the role in 48 years. Persons is the current mayor of Swisher, a tiny town with a popuPersons lation just cresting 900. She took office as mayor in January and less than a year later was nominated to become the county’s auditor during a four-candidate convention. She became mayor after Swisher’s previous mayor retired and no other candidates stepped forward. “I had already been working for the city and knew the council and the previous mayor, so we went through the appointment process,” Persons said. “Rather than being elected because nobody
ran, I was appointed.” Persons said she finds fulfillment in her work in local government, and her new position has broadened her understanding of the role officials play in small communities. “I didn’t realize that you do a lot more than just running the council meetings and signing
“It runs the entire gamut, but things that happen in a small town, probably the mayor is going to have to be directly involved.” Julie Persons
Mayor of Swisher the checks and ordinances,” Persons said. “It runs the entire gamut, but things that happen in a small town, probably the mayor is going to have
to be directly involved.” The Johnson County auditor’s position became vacant after long-time auditor Travis Weipert resigned on July 26, citing personal health concerns. Weipert had served as the county auditor for over a decade. His resignation prompted the convention, which later led to Persons’ nomination. In the meantime, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors appointed Erin Shane, the county’s deputy auditor, to serve for the remainder of Weipert’s term. The August convention drew four candidates: Alex Stanton, Shannon Patrick, Newman Abuissa, and Persons, The Cedar Rapids Gazette reported. John Deeth, caucus convention chair for the Johnson County Democratic Party, told The Daily Iowan that this is an unusually high number of candidates for such a position. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a convention with
PERSONS | 3A