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The Daily Iowan THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

INSIDE 80 Hours The Arts and Crafts of the Corridor The weekend in arts & entertainment

Thursday, October 25, 2018

The truth and history behind witchcraft and Wicca

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UI has extended the review ordered following its settlement with an employee who sued over discrimination. marissa-payne@uiowa.edu Around four months after amending a contract with the Des Moines law firm conducting the University of Iowa’s employment-practices review, the university signed a second amendment to extend the review.

BY PHILIP RUNIA | philip-runia@uiowa.edu Bagnall’s Book of Shadows provides grounding for her to pay tribute to the Earth, document it, and reflect upon her trial and error. It holds her spells, former and future, and everything she’s learned about the principles of Wicca, crystals, colors, and Wiccan holidays. The upcoming harvest holiday, Samhain (Halloween), is arguably the most important holiday for Wiccans and witches alike, as Wiccans believe the veil between the spirit world and our world dissipates, allowing for communication with the dead, beloved or not. The 20-year-old plans on celebrating by using earthly ingredients in making bread, combining her Wiccan honoring of the Earth and witchcraft in casting spells on the bread for prosperity and wellness for herself and those who eat it. “I’m kind of famous for bringing bread to ragers,” Bagnall said with a giggle. While similar, Wicca and the practice of witchcraft are different. While both include spell work and revolve around the elements, witchcraft is not necessarily a religious practice. UI sophomore Maggie Timboe is a practicing witch. The secular kitchen witch does not identify as Wiccan but said she believes things in nature have special properties that can be harnessed to influence one’s life. While she may not

follow Wiccan practices, she does participate in Wiccan holidays such as Samhain, as its traditions align with the natural world; most holidays fall on equinoxes or solstices and follow the traditional harvest cycles. Much like Bagnall, Timboe will cook using common ingredients that witches believe to have additional abilities, such as cinnamon or basil, to create foods blessed with spells in order to connect with others. Cooking provides an easy way of casting spells that is enjoyable for witch and guest alike. “Being a kitchen witch allows me to take certain ingredients associated with Pagan holidays or magical properties and turn them into a recipe — that’s my strength,” Timboe said. Aside from carrying apple seeds for luck, Timboe’s favorite and most convenient spell to cast is a moon-water spell. A witch who practices by the moon cycles, the 20-year-old said she believes astrology and the moon’s position and sign is powerful in spell casting. She will set a jar of water outside under the moon overnight with crystals inside, to harvest energy from the moon and the crystals. Timboe said she will then drink the water throughout the week to physically manifest her intent. She doesn’t have a specific name for this spell, but it is important to note that no two witch’s spells are exactly the same; the craft is dif-

Wiccan rituals practiced in Iowa City

SEE WITCH, 4B

In Iowa City, students and area residents practice the Wiccan religion with an appreciation for the connection it offers with the Earth and honoring the planet. DESIGN BY NAOMI HOFFERBER

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UI extends employment-practices review BY MARISSA PAYNE

Black cat in tow, UI junior Molly Bagnall walked into her bedroom, the scent of incense and myrrh thick in the air. Here, an ancient practice collides with the modern age, and, across from posters of Judy Garland and Bernie Sanders lies a small altar. The altar was essentially a coffee table upon which sat the most interesting collection of crystal, salt, twigs, incense, a Book of Shadows, and a glass containing rainwater. The items represented elements for a Wiccan’s practice – rainwater for water, salt for earth, and burning incense for fire. The twigs, gathered from College Green Park, and crystals were tied together to create a standing pentagram. Bagnall noted the five points stand for each element: air, fire, water, earth, and spirit. Bagnall is a practicing Wiccan, a religion based on a spiritual connection to the Earth and its cycles. It focuses on honoring the planet and giving back to the universe. The Earth and its seasons are very influential when it comes to Wiccan spells, in which Wicca will use resources and words to manifest their intents. Natural sources and supplies can be harnessed in Wiccan spells and in witchcraft. “It’s something I’d been interested in and feeling; I always felt connected to the Earth,” Bagnall said. “I grew up Christian, but felt like I should be honoring the Earth more. After looking into Wicca, I was like, ‘Yes.’ ”

DAILYIOWAN.COM

The second amendment, obtained by The Daily Iowan, which was signed in September, extends the agreement with Fredrikson & Byron P.A. to conduct the employment-practices review until Jan. 21, 2019, unless otherwise amended. It does not change the projected cost to review documentation and data assessing

the UI Athletics Department’s compliance with employment laws and policies regarding equitable treatment of employees. The original contract with the firm, signed on Nov. 6, 2017, was for $95,000 and was not to extend past Nov. 2, 2018, unless otherwise amended.

The first amendment, signed in May, provided for a third step to review the Athletics Department’s employment policies and practices to find any potential discrepancies between the department’s written policies and the application of them SEE EMPLOYMENT, 2A

A hands-free drive A DI reporter rode with researchers from the National Advanced Driving Simulator in two autonomous vehicles. This is his account.

2020 political vision in Iowa

National politicians are lining up in Iowa to stump for 2018 state candidates up and down the ballot. Many are objects of speculation about their Oval Office ambitions in 2020. Here’s what you need to know about who has visited so far.

UI to conduct listening sessions on campus climate

The UI is following up on its Student Experience at the Research University Survey with 90-minute listening sessions. These sessions, held over the next few weeks, will serve to provide more detail students’ experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion. Go to dailyiowan.com to see the full story.

Katina Zentz/The Daily Iowan Engineer Greg Wagner drives the autonomous Lincoln MKZ on I-80 on Wednesday. Researchers are creating new software to enhance autonomous features in Tesla and Lincoln MKZ.

BY CHARLES PECKMAN

charles-peckman@uiowa.edu On Wednesday afternoon, I rode in two automated vehicles at the National Advanced Driving Simulator in Coralville (and lived to tell the story.) There might as well have been smoke pouring out of the trunk of the Lincoln MKZ, because I felt as

though I was on the set of an unreleased Star Wars movie. With my heart racing, Greg Wagner, an engineer at the simulator, opened the Lincoln’s trunk to reveal a complex array of sensors, computers, and wires. Wagner told me these sensors enable the car to operate in three different “modes:” manual driving, “drive by wire” (using a game console controller), and autonomously.

“Using high-definition mapping, the car can adjust to variables such as lane markings while driving autonomously — this mapping can allow the car to adjust its position to a 3-cm level of accuracy,” he said. As I buckled my seat belt, Wagner engaged the SEE SIMULATOR, 2A

IOWA POLITICS

Defensive line bonds on and off the field

Iowa’s defensive line is arguably the strongest part of the entire team, and the bonds that the group has created come from both on-field action and off-field time together.

Wahls hopes to change health care, workers’ rights State Senate candidate Zach Wahls visited with The Daily Iowan to talk health care and his vision to update the Democratic Party.

Grassley received death threats for Kavanaugh support Sen. Chuck Grassley revealed on Wednesday that he was one of two senators who received threats for supporting Brett Kavanaugh. BY JULIA DIGIACOMO

julia-digiacomo@uiowa.edu

commonly, he said, conversations revolved around insurance costs, Medicaid privatization, and/or mental-health treatment. He also criticized the new Farm Bureau health plan unveiled Oct. 3, which offers lower premiums for members but allows the company to turn away patients with pre-existing conditions. “I support full state control of our Medicaid program,” Wahls said. A solution to insurance costs that Wahls

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, announced to an Iowa crowd Wednesday that he was the target of death threats because of the Supreme Court confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. He confirmed that he was one of two previously unidentified senators, known as “Senator-1” and “Senator-2,” who received numerous voicemails threatening to kill and assault them. “My staff told me, ‘You are not supposed to ever say that you had your life threatened. You are just Senator No. 1 as far as the court documents are concerned,’ ” Grassley said in his announcement Wednesday, according to the Des Moines Register. On Oct. 19, the Justice Department revealed it had charged 74-year-old Ronald DeRisi of New York for the threats. The senators were targeted with the Grassley threats of murder for supporting Kavanaugh, according to a statement released Oct. 19 by the Justice Department. The second threatened senator has not been publicly identified at this time.

SEE WAHLS, 2A

SEE GRASSLEY, 2A

Swimmers gain strength, lose time from intense workouts

Head coach Marc Long has worked with pool athletes for 15 years. Now, with the NCAA Championships from last season in the back of his mind, the teams get back into action. SPORTS, 6A

Shivansh Ahuja/The Daily Iowan LGBTQ advocate and Democratic state Senate candidate Zach Wahls speaks to an audience in Shambaugh Auditorium on April 17.

BY ANDY MITCHELL

andrew-mitchell@uiowa.edu

Tune in for LIVE updates Watch for campus and city news, weather, and Hawkeye sports coverage every day at 8:30 a.m. at dailyiowan.com.

Iowa City’s Zach Wahls, UI alum, activist, and Democratic hopeful for the Iowa Senate, seeks to help return Medicaid under state control, increase education funding, and prioritize workers’ rights. When on the campaign trail in District 37, which covers all of Cedar County and the northeastern part of Johnson County and Coralville, Wahls said the subject people talk to him about the most is health care. Most

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Thomas A. Stewart/The Daily Iowan Zach Ring, a freshman majoring in vocal music education, plays Spikeball in Hubbard Park on Wednesday. “I like it because you can play it whenever and wherever,” Ring said. extension in part was to allow for Lukas to transition into the role. Additionally, Beck said, the time allowed for the university to determine how to go about the work, review survey results, and implement the policy recommendations outlined in the first report of the review. The initial report on the review, released in April, recommended changes to parts of the UI policies on anti-harassment and sexual harassment. In a statement, the university said that since receiving those recommendations, it has brought the anti-harassment policy “into legal compliance and [has] made the policy clearer and more

effective.” The UI changed the sexual-harassment policy to clarify “the use of interim measures to maintain a safe campus environment while an investigation is ongoing.” “The review is intended to be forward-looking to help the university be the best workplace possible for current and future employees,” said Associated Vice President Cheryl Reardon, the UI chief human resources officer, in the statement. “We are working with Fredrikson to examine the entire employee life-cycle to identify any shortcomings or areas for improvement.” It is unclear whether ad-

“drive by wire” function — the car roared to life, and he began operating it, braking and all — with what appeared to be an Xbox controller. Wagner reversed, steered the car, and parked using this driving method. After this demonstration, we arrived on I-80 to test the car’s full autonomy. My eyes darted back and forth between the road and Wagner as he engaged autopilot. “Punch it, Chewie,” I thought to myself, as if the car would begin to travel at light speed. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel much of a difference between when the autonomous features were engaged and when they were not; I chuckled nervously as Wagner explained

the car’s features with an air of nonchalance I found quite admirable. With apparent ease, the Lincoln maintained following distance, changed lanes, and adjusted its speed as necessary. Steve Cable, one of the simulator’s engineers who was sitting in the back seat, said the car is continually communicating with the simulator’s “control center.” “We’re really trying to use all of the sensors while testing the autonomous functions,” Cable said. “Sometimes the lane markings, for example, aren’t clear — this is when GPS sensors and high-definition mapping work in tandem to keep the car in its lane.” Once the Lincoln pulled back into the driveway, Cher Carney, a senior research associate at the simulator, took me for a test drive in the Tes-

la Model S. As we drove down I-80 using the Tesla’s automated cruise control and lane changing, Carney said drivers need to be aware of the limitations of current autonomous vehicles. “We’re going to start looking into drivers engaging in secondary tasks, such as holding a drink or using the touchscreen, while using the Tesla’s autopilot function,” she said. “I think one thing that’s going to change in the next few years is how we teach driver’s ed. What we found in one of our studies with [the American Automobile Association] was people were overly reliant on automated systems.” At times, it is easy to feel uneasy about the future of autonomous vehicles. Despite the level of safety involved with the National Advanced Driving Simulator’s vehicles, somehow I felt more com-

GRASSLEY CONTINUED FROM FRONT

WAHLS CONTINUED FROM FRONT

Separately, the Secret Service has intercepted packages with homemade pipe bombs from the offices of former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, CNN, and others Wednesday. Although Iowa leaders were not affected, many released statements condemning the actions. In a tweet Wednesday morning regarding the bombs, Grassley said he hopes “this terrorist is caught & punished to full extent of the law.” He condemned political violence as never acceptable, especially in a free and democratic country. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, also deemed the threats unacceptable. “I strongly condemn acts of violence. There is no place in our society for attacks against elected officials, news organizations, or citizens,” Ernst said in a prepared statement released Wednesday. “I am thankful for the swift action of the Secret Service, Postal Service, and first responders across the country, and stand ready to support law enforcement as we learn more about these acts of violence.”

suggested is called reinsurance, a form of insurance for insurance companies as seen in states such as Alaska, Minnesota, and Oklahoma. Wahls believes higher education’s cost has prevented people from taking advantage of it and gaining higher-paying, higher-skill employment. “Nationally, the cost of a four-year degree at a public institution like the University of Iowa for the baby-boomer generation was 300 mini-

mum-wage hours — that’s like a summer,” Wahls said. “For our generation, it’s 4,500 minimum-wage hours — that is not a summer.” Experience in the political landscape first came to Wahls through his work as an activist for the LGBT community. In 2011, a video of a Wahls speech went viral. He spoke before Iowa House Judiciary Committee hearing on a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Iowa, describing his experience being raised by two women. Like other Democratic newcomers, Wahls was spurred to action by the 2016

EMPLOYMENT CONTINUED FROM FRONT in practice. It specified the cost of that work would not exceed $92,000 and that work would not extend beyond 90 days. Between the signing of the first and second amendments, former UI Deputy Counsel James Jorgensen, the original project manager for the review, left the UI. Maria Lukas stepped into his role, both as deputy counsel and project manager. UI Assistant VP for External Affairs Jeneane Beck said the

SIMULATOR CONTINUED FROM FRONT

Ben Allan Smith/The Daily Iowan Zach Wahls speaks to Iowa City residents during the off season gubernatorial Democratic caucuses at Iowa City-West High School on Feb. 5.

ditional amendments will be needed to complete the review, but Beck said there is not a limit on the number of amendments the UI can make to the original contract. A date was not provided for when a report may be expected on the findings of the firm’s Athletics Department review. “Our desire is to make sure that the review is thorough and done well,” Beck said, rather than to place a timeline on the review process. “There was a change on our end that necessitated more time. We’ve given them that time.” In May 2017, UI President Bruce Harreld announced that a committee comprising ad-

Call: Juli Krause at 335-5783 Email: daily-iowan@uiowa.edu Subscription rates: Iowa City and Coralville: $30 for one semester, $60 for two semesters, $5 for summer session, $60 for full year. Out of town: $50 for one semester, $100 for two semesters, $10 for summer session, $100 all year. Send address changes to: The Daily Iowan, 100 Adler Journalism Building, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-2004

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ministration and shared-governance representatives would select an independent firm to conduct the review of the university’s employment practices, starting with the Athletics Department. The commitee selected Fredrikson & Byron P.A. as the firm in November 2017. That directive came after a jury ruled in favor of Jane Meyer, a former senior associate athletics director who had filed a wrongful-termination lawsuit against the university. Settling discrimination law-

Volume 150 Issue 48

STAFF Publisher. . . . . . . . . . 335-5788 Jason Brummond Editor in Chief. . . . . . 335-6030 Gage Miskimen Managing Editors. . . . 335-5855 Katelyn Weisbrod Marissa Payne Visual Arts Director Lily Smith News Editors Kayli Reese Brooklyn Draisey Sports Editor Pete Ruden Asst. Sports Editor Anna Kayser Opinions Editor Lucee Laursen Politics Editor Sarah Watson Arts Editor Naomi Hofferber Asst. Arts Editor Joshua Balicki Pregame Editor Adam Hensley Photo Editors Nick Rohlman Katina Zentz Copy Chief Beau Elliot Production Manager Heidi Owen. . . . . . . . . . . 335-5789 Advertising Manager Renee Manders. . . . . . . . 335-5193 Advertising Sales Bev Mrstilk. . . . . . . . . . . 335-5792

suits with Meyer and Tracey Griesbaum, a former coach, the UI agreed to pay the women $6.5 million to cover their lost wages, legal expenses, and emotional distress. The self-sustaining Athletics Department funded the settlements, while the review is being paid for with general-fund money because it encompasses the entire university. After the law firm reviews the Athletics Department, up next for review are the UI’s academic and operational units and UI Health Care.

Katina Zentz/The Daily Iowan The Lincoln MKZ is seen at The National Advanced Driving Simulator on Wednesday. The researchers are creating new software to enhance autonomous features in Tesla and the Lincoln. fortable behind the wheel of a manually driven car. Regardless, I’m fascinated

with the future of autonomous travel, and as someone who is somewhat driving-challenged,

election and the aftermath. He said that while he was completing a master’s degree in Public Affairs from Princeton, he kept watch on politics in his home state. “I was watching from afar as the Republican-controlled Legislature brick by brick went after health care, education, and workers’ rights and punted natural resources and water quality,” Wahls said. “It was pretty tough to watch.” He launched his campaign as he finished his course work there and completed his degree earlier this year. When coming up with policy-based solutions to issues such as health care, Wahls said, he talked to the experts such as researchers and professors at the University of Iowa. He said one of his goals as a Democrat would be to bring in voters disenfranchised by his own party. During a visit to Clarence, Iowa, he said, with a population of 977, he spoke with some in the town who believed the Democratic Party has not been around for them. “I feel very fortunate the Democratic Party was willing to stick up for me; I think there are a lot of folks who feel the Democratic Party has left them behind,” Wahls said. One of the problems the party has faced in recent his-

tory is lagging support from the working-class component of its tent, he said. “The Democratic Party has to get back to talking about issues in a way that is not pitting people against each other by talking about the shared experience of being a marginalized individual whether you’re a person of color or just trying to make ends meet, or both,” Wahls said.

I certainly wouldn’t mind an autonomous lane change or two.

NEWS 3A

THE DAILY IOWAN | DAILYIOWAN.COM | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

IOWA POLITICS

2020 watch: Which national politicians are visiting Iowa? With Iowa’s 2020 caucuses slightly more than 15 months away, national Democrats and Republicans are visiting the Hawkeye State to support Iowa candidates. BY JULIA SHANAHAN

julia-shanahan@uiowa.edu Iowa holds the first-in-thenation presidential caucuses, and with November midterm elections approaching, national politicians from across the U.S. have been making stops in Iowa to rally support for Iowa candidates. Michael Englehardt, a political-science professor at Luther College, said that while national politicians have always traditionally made a lot stops in Iowa, he noticed that visits this year are more intense than usual. “They all say they are campaigning for local Democrats, but they’re also putting their names out there,” Englehardt said. He said that this year, he’s seeing donations and energy in the midterms on a scale similar to a presidential election. Though only a select few politicians have declared their candidacy for the Oval Office in 2020, many below have been rumored to house presidential intentions.

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif. Harris spoke at the University of Iowa on Tuesday, where she rallied for early voting and campaigned with Democratic Iowa secretary of state candidate Deidre DeJear and DemocratHarris ic Iowa Senate candidate Zach Wahls. She was a vocal critic of Senate Republicans in the confirmation process of now-Justice Brett Kavanaugh. “This is a moment where we are all individually and collec-

tively being required to look in a mirror and ask, ‘Who are we?’ ” Harris said in Iowa City. “I believe part of the answer to that question is we are better than this.” Harris headlined a Democrat rally in Polk County the day before her stop in Iowa City.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Sanders has made four trips to Iowa since 2017, the most recent being in central Iowa Oct. 20 -21 in which he endorsed and campaigned with Democratic candidate J.D. Scholten in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District. Sanders spoke at Iowa State University, where he called to dethrone Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, and criticized much of President Donald Trump’s poliSanders cies, according to a report in the Des Moines Register. Sanders was the runner-up for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 presidential race, and he has been rumored to be campaigning again in 2020.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. Booker made a three-day stop in Iowa Oct. 6 through Oct. 9. He headlined a major fundraising event for the Iowa Democratic Party at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines, hours after he Booker voted no on Kavanaugh’s confirmation. In Iowa, he emphasized to party members the importance of keeping a moral high

Thomas A. Stewart/The Daily Iowan Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., speaks to Democratic supporters on Oct. 6 in Des Moines. He was the keynote speaker at this year’s Democratic Fall Gala.

ground before the upcoming midterms.

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. Merkley has made seven trips to Iowa since 2017. His most recent stop was on Oct. 15 in Iowa City, where he spoke at a fundraiser for the Johnson County Democrats. Merkley said that he wanted to rally support for Democrats across the U.S. before the upcoming midterms, like others did for him when he was campaigning Merkley for the Senate in Oregon. He headlined the Progress Iowa Corn Feed in September, in addition to his five other stops.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii Gabbard has made three trips to Iowa City, the first one in October 2017, and the most recent on Oct. 14 of this year. Gabbard has helped campaign for Jodi Clemens, a Democratic Iowa House candidate. She also spoke at a fundraiser for Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, who repGabbard resents Iowa’s 2nd District, which includes Iowa City. “There are a lot of important races in Iowa that could make the difference on specific policies,” she said at the Oct. 14 Johnson County Democrats fundraiser, pointing to the secretary of state and Statehouse campaigns.

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., addresses a rally at Old Brick on Tuesday.

Rep. John Delaney, D-Md., has campaigned in all 99 counties in Iowa in a run for the Democratic nomination for president, according to Politico. Andrew Yang, a Democratic businessman, is campaigning for the Oval Office; he says he would give every American $1,000 a month. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., spoke at the Iowa Democratic Party Wing Ding fund-

raiser during the summer. Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for adult-film actor Stormy Daniels, made an appearance at the Iowa State Fair in August, at which he said he was strongly Avenatti considering a run for the Democratic presidential nomination. Republicans have seen big

David Harmantas/The Daily Iowan

names rallying GOP voters in the past few months. President Trump has visited Iowa twice. In July, he visited Peosta. In early October, the president called on voters to turn out for embattled Rep. David Young, R-Iowa, at a rally in Council Bluffs. Vice President Mike Pence, too, visited Des Moines once this summer to promote the GOP tax-writing agenda and made another stop in October.

Opinions THE DAILY IOWAN | DAILYIOWAN.COM | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

COLUMN

EDITORIAL

Might Iowa remain ruby red?

Students must vote Student leaders around campus urge UI students to get to the polls on Nov. 6 and vote.

There has been much talk of a ‘blue wave’ of Democratic support in the November midterm elections. However, there are signs that Iowa could remain under ruby-red Republican control.

ZACH WEIGEL

zachweigel75@gmail.com As colleague Collen Mahoney wrote a couple months ago, local elections do not always align with national sentiments. Thus, while many polls and campaign-finance reports indicate November’s midterm election may be a blue wave, if we look on a more local level, this may not necessarily be the case. In the nomenclature of election forecasting, a scenario such as the above mentioned possibility is called an ecological fallacy. That simply means that what is true at one level of analysis is not true at another level of analysis. In this case, it would mean that even if there is a blue wave at the aggregate (national) level, at the more local (state) level, there could quite possibly not be a blue wave. Why might there not be a blue wave in Iowa? Well, for starters, Iowa is ruby red. That is to say, the state is dominated by Republicans. Gov. Kim Reynolds is a Republican, both U.S. senators are Republican, and three of the four U.S. House districts are led by Republicans. Not

to mention, both the Iowa House and Iowa Senate are controlled by Republicans, and four of the five state-level executive offices (secretaries of state and of agriculture, treasurer, and auditor) are held by Republicans. This all goes to say that Iowa is largely run by Republicans. And given the incumbency advantage, the Republicans in office will be tough to beat. Nonetheless, if we look at polling, it would seem that Democrats could win the day in Iowa. According to a meta-analysis by 538.com, Democrats are heavily favored to retain Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District and capture the 1st District while narrowly claiming the 3rd District. But in 2016, Democrats were also favored to win Iowa’s 1st and 3rd Districts, only to see both incumbent Republicans retain both. And despite Democrats’ overall nationwide money advantage, in Iowa, the Democrats and Republicans are remarkably comparable in regards to money. Additionally, 538’s meta-analysis of the governor’s race gives Fred Hubbell (D) an 85 percent chance to beat Reynolds (R). This is a bit surprising considering that 1) the most recent polling data gave Hubbell just a 2-point lead with a polling margin of error of 4 points, 2) Reynolds is an incumbent, 3) the state has a $127 million budget surplus, and 4) Iowa’s unemployment rate is the second lowest in the nation. More-

over, the most recent campaign finance reports reveal that both candidates have nearly the same amount of cash on hand heading down the homestretch. Last, when we look at the Iowa Legislature, the prospects of Democrats taking control of either the House or Senate are bleak. With just 25 of the 50 seats up this election cycle, Republican currently hold a 29-20 advantage (1 seat held by an independent) in the Senate. And in the House, Republicans currently hold 58-41 advantage (1 vacant seat). It would take a massive blue wave for Democrats to flip enough seats to gain control of the Senate, but claiming the House is possible with all 100 seats up for election. Therefore, putting this all together, it appears that talk of a blue wave through Iowa may need to be tempered for a few reasons. First, Iowa is dominated by Republicans right now and incumbents are tough to beat. Second, although national funding and polling indicators point toward Democratic success, the metrics in Iowa aren’t as blue-tinged. And third, Iowa’s economy is booming with amazingly low unemployment numbers and a budget surplus. Perhaps Iowa will lose some of its red luster come the morning of Nov. 7. It might become a bit more blue, but chances are red will still run deep through Iowa post-midterm elections.

FAMILY PORTRAIT

Katina Zentz/The Daily Iowan A student registers to vote on the Pentacrest on Sept. 20. The organization works to engage students and to help them register to vote in November. Voting is not just our right as American citizens, it is our duty. According to several data sources, only around 45 percent of people ages 18 through 29 turned out to vote in the 2016 presidential election. In a midterm election, voter turnout is almost cut in half. This abysmal statistic is not new to our generation; voter turnout among young people has long been notoriously low. This does not have to be the narrative this year. University of Iowa students at the have an opportunity to change the “norm.” On Nov. 6, all students should take the time to vote. One of the most popular reasons people do not vote is the

belief that their vote does not really matter in the grand scheme of things. This is understandable — how could one vote really influence an entire election. The truth is, one vote seldom actually becomes the deciding factor between which candidate wins an election. But each and every vote cast for a candidate absolutely makes an impact in who is chosen to represent us in local, state, and federal governments. Iowa’s 43rd District, which is up for grabs this election cycle, comprises Iowa City. This means that most UI students who are registered to vote at their current residence will be eligible to vote in this race. The UI has around 24,500 undergraduate students currently

enrolled; if every student votes Nov. 6 in the 43rd District state Senate race, the student vote will determine who represents the district. Voting is important. State and local officials make important decisions that affect our everyday life. This includes: higher-education funding, environmental policies, affordable housing policies, health care, and countless other items. Our elected officials make decisions on our behalf that affect almost every aspect of our lives. To become more educated on candidates and what they believe in, BallotReady, Vote 411, and Ballotpedia are all nonpartisan organizations that provide information about candidates’ stances on the issues.

The Daily Iowan asked student leaders on campus why they believe it is important to vote.

sistently fight for the needs of students at the University of Iowa.” —Connor Gronski, UISG speaker of the Senate

course of future. My question is: How much time would YOU give to the future?” —Tristan Schmidt, Homecoming royalty

“Voting is important for a multitude of reasons. Particularly, votingm is an inherent right afforded to every citizen of age in our Constitution. As an American it is our duty to vote and to be engaged with our political system because that is how we drive our future forward. Not every person on this planet is given the same right to vote as given to U.S. citizens. No matter your party affiliation, it is important to vote on your beliefs and views that will help better society.” — Jason Pierce-Vazquez, InterFraternity Council president

BY BRAEDYN DOCHTERMAN

STAFF GAGE MISKIMEN Editor-in-Chief LUCEE LAURSEN Opinions Editor Isabella Rosario, Marina Jaimes, Elijah Helton, Taylor Newby, Michelle Kumar, Nichole Shaw, Austin Yerington, Zach Weigel, Anna Banerjee, Zohar Nadler Columnists A.J. Boulund, Braedyn Dochterman Cartoonists EDITORIALS reflect the majority opinion of the DI Editorial Board and not the opinion of the Publisher, Student Publications Inc., or the University of Iowa. OPINIONS, COMMENTARIES, COLUMNS, and EDITORIAL CARTOONS reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board, The Daily Iowan, or other organizations in which the author may be involved.

“I am voting because my voice will affect the future of our local, state, and federal politics. I want to see tangible change made by our elected officials who will con-

“Everyone cares about something. Find what that thing is for you, and run with it. Learn what your legislators think about that issue or project you just can’t stop thinking about, and vote accordingly. Vote on your values, and vote in local, state, and federal elections. And vote in student-government elections. It takes all of us staying engaged to make a difference … and if we can do that, nothing will stop us.” — Jocelyn Roof, UISG Government Relations chair “It is important to vote because we have the opportunity to make change, to make something bigger of ourselves. Some may see it as 10 minutes of writing on a ballot, but it is 10 minutes of changing the

“Politics affects nearly every aspect of our current and future lives, and as students, we need to take an active role in shaping what we want those policies to be. Whether you vote in Iowa City or your hometown, make sure you do your civil duty and cast your ballot this November.” — Kyle Apple, president of College Republicans “Voting affects every part of a college student’s life — from deciding our national policies to policing abusive landlords to the cost of parking tickets. Voting is a privilege, and everyone should take advantage of it.” — Jenna Pokorny, executive vice president of Tippie Senate

EDITORIAL POLICY THE DAILY IOWAN is a multifaceted news-media organization that provides fair and accurate coverage of events and issues pertaining to the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Johnson County, and the state of Iowa. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR may be sent via email to daily. iowan.letters@gmail.com (as text, not attachments). Each letter must be signed and include an address and phone number for verification. Letters should not exceed 300 words and may be edited for clarity, length, style, and space limitations, including headlines. The DI will only publish one letter per author per month. Letters will be chosen for publication by the editors according to space considerations. No advertisements or mass mailings, please.

GUEST OPINIONS that exceed 300 words in length must be arranged with the Opinions editor at least three days prior to the desired date of publication. Guest opinions are selected in accordance with length, subject relevance, and space considerations. Guest opinions may be edited for length, clarity, style, and space limitations READER COMMENTS that may appear were originally posted on daily-iowan.com or on the DI’s social media platforms in response to published material. They will be chosen for print publication when they are deemed to be well-written and to forward public discussion. They may be edited for length and style.

THE DAILY IOWAN | DAILYIOWAN.COM | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

FOOTBALL CONTINUED FROM 6A ond-best team, Wisconsin, which has allowed 11. According to Football Outsiders, Iowa ranks ninth in the country in sack rate on passing downs, allowing a sack just 2.6 percent of the time. Given that, it’s no wonder Stanley has had such a great year for the Hawkeyes. For an underappreciated unit that has been excellent this season, one might think if given the chance, the linemen would hype themselves up a bit. However, that is not the case, and that is probably

SWIMMING CONTINUED FROM 6A coming off of NCAA meet performances. Now, with that in the back of his mind, head coach Marc Long is ready for his athletes to get back into the competitive pool after almost a month of strict training. “Well, we just want to see some great racing,” he said. “It’s so early right now. This was a very intense week … It’s going to help develop their talents.”

TENNIS CONTINUED FROM 6A forced to make is gaining time-management skills. The time commitment to the sport is much greater here than it was for him in the United Kingdom, making it difficult to balance

SPORTS 5A

another reason this group has enjoyed so much success. “There’s plenty of room that we can improve on,” Reynolds said. “Those fourth downs — we should be converting on third down in most situations.” This upcoming week will be a tough one for the big men up front; they will face a Penn State team that is third in the country in sacks per game with 3.57 and have totaled 25 sacks this year. “Penn State’s defense starts up front,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “They’ve got a lot of guys that are challenging to block; it’s going to be a challenge for us, [but] I like the way we’re moving right now.”

Shivansh Ahuja/The Daily Iowan The Iowa offensive line stands during a timeout during a football game between Iowa and Maryland in Kinnick Stadium on Oct. 20.

Both the men’s and women’s teams look completely different after losing a combined 19 letter-winners from last season. The men’s team replaced eight letter-winners with seven freshmen, and the women replaced their 11 with only four freshmen. Dealing with adversity and talented athletes is nothing new for Long. This will be his 15th season as head coach for Iowa men’s team. He has an overall record of 174-105 in his 14 years of leading both programs.

This season, Long has led both Hawkeye teams to victories at Michigan State and led the women to fourth place at the SMU Classic. The fourth-place finish at the SMU Classic featured tough racing against some of the nation’s best. Iowa finished behind No. 8 Louisville, No. 10 Virginia, and No. 11 Southern California. Long’s reputation as a coach goes far beyond just wins and losses. Since he has been head coach, 144 records have been broken.

There are only two current women record holders on the swimming side, and Hannah Burvill owns five individual records. The men’s team features five swimming record holders and one in the diving well. Those records push the athletes toward the NCAAs, and experience sets up high expectations even though the Hawkeyes are not deep into the season yet. “We know it’s early in the season, but for someone like Hannah [Burvill], who is doing world-class-type times

and coming back from making NCAAs last year, it’s a great opportunity for her but also everyone else,” Long said. Long’s coaching style has helped the Hawkeyes become faster and stronger throughout training. Making the jump from high-school swimming to college racing is a big jump and can at time create gaps, but Long helps his athletes transition effectively. “I think [Long] has made a big impact on me,” senior Matt Kamin said. “He was

my main coach freshman year, and a lot of things he taught me specifically helped me really to bridge that gap from the speed I was in high school to how fast I am now. He helped me set that baseline.” Tough and diligent preparation is the standard Long holds for his entire team. This type of building skills and improvement is seen throughout the whole team and is critical for the team’s mentality, especially as it prepares for a tough season ahead.

student life and athletics life. “I find it hard to balance school and tennis, especially these first couple of weeks of the semester,” he said. It’s hard to keep up with academics when a person has practice Monday through Friday, early morning weightlifting Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Not to mention

12-hour days when playing in tournaments over the weekends. “The level of play is really tough here; there are no guarantees or easy matches,” Okonkwo said. “College tennis is a lot more physically demanding, as I found out this last weekend.” Although he doesn’t have much experience to draw on

for college matches, he has made a smooth transition on the tennis court. Through two tournaments, he has been one of Iowa’s most consistent players, making deep runs. Last weekend, he joined sophomore Will Davies and junior Kareem Allaf in the Round of 16 in the Central Regional. Okonkwo is still getting

used to playing tennis as a member of a team. When he played in the UK, he typically played by himself. For this reason, he has really enjoyed the team supporting him when he has competed. “My favorite part of Hawkeye tennis is definitely the boys supporting me,” Okonkwo said. “In the UK, we really didn’t play team tennis, so

when the boys are behind me, it makes my tennis really enjoyable.” Okonkwo will try to keep up his early success as he gets ready to compete in his third fall tournament of the season. The Hawkeyes will be back in action Friday at the Big Ten Indoor Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

80 Hours The Arts and Crafts of the Corridor The weekend in arts & entertainment

Thursday, October 25, 2018

The truth and history behind witchcraft and Wicca

BY PHILIP RUNIA | philip-runia@uiowa.edu Black cat in tow, UI junior Molly Bagnall walked into her bedroom, the scent of incense and myrrh thick in the air. Here, an ancient practice collides with the modern age, and, across from posters of Judy Garland and Bernie Sanders lies a small altar. The altar was essentially a coffee table upon which sat the most interesting collection of crystal, salt, twigs, incense, a Book of Shadows, and a glass containing rainwater. The items represented elements for a Wiccan’s practice – rainwater for water, salt for earth, and burning incense for fire. The twigs, gathered from College Green Park, and crystals were tied together to create a standing pentagram. Bagnall noted the five points stand for each element: air, fire, water, earth, and spirit. Bagnall is a practicing Wiccan, a religion based on a spiritual connection to the Earth and its cycles. It focuses on honoring the planet and giving back to the universe. The Earth and its seasons are very influential when it comes to Wiccan spells, in which Wicca will use resources and words to manifest their intents. Natural sources and supplies can be harnessed in Wiccan spells and in witchcraft. “It’s something I’d been interested in and feeling; I always felt connected to the Earth,” Bagnall said. “I grew up Christian, but felt like I should be honoring the Earth more. After looking into Wicca, I was like, ‘Yes.’ ”

Bagnall’s Book of Shadows provides grounding for her to pay tribute to the Earth, document it, and reflect upon her trial and error. It holds her spells, former and future, and everything she’s learned about the principles of Wicca, crystals, colors, and Wiccan holidays. The upcoming harvest holiday, Samhain (Halloween), is arguably the most important holiday for Wiccans and witches alike, as Wiccans believe the veil between the spirit world and our world dissipates, allowing for communication with the dead, beloved or not. The 20-year-old plans on celebrating by using earthly ingredients in making bread, combining her Wiccan honoring of the Earth and witchcraft in casting spells on the bread for prosperity and wellness for herself and those who eat it. “I’m kind of famous for bringing bread to ragers,” Bagnall said with a giggle. While similar, Wicca and the practice of witchcraft are different. While both include spell work and revolve around the elements, witchcraft is not necessarily a religious practice. UI sophomore Maggie Timboe is a practicing witch. The secular kitchen witch does not identify as Wiccan but said she believes things in nature have special properties that can be harnessed to influence one’s life. While she may not

SEE WITCH, 4B

DESIGN BY NAOMI HOFFERBER

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2B 80 HOURS

THE DAILY IOWAN | DAILYIOWAN.COM | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

OPENING MOVIE

WEEKEND EVENTS

SUSPIRIA

F ZOMB IES SUR

TODAY 10.25 MUSIC • LORELEI ENSEMBLE CONCERT , 7:30 P.M. ,VOXMAN CONCERT HALL • MELODIME, 8 P.M., MILL, 120 E. BURLINGTON • MISS CHRISTINE, ERIC PAUL, TREESREACH, AND NALANI PROCTOR, 9 P.M., GABE’S, 330 E. WASHINGTON • SURF ZOMBIES ALBUM RELEASE, 9 P.M., YACHT CLUB, 13 S. LINN

FILM • PAYWALL: BUSINESS OF SCHOLARSHIP, NOON, FILMSCENE, 118 E. COLLEGE • THE OLD MAN & THE GUN, 12:30, 3:30, 6, & 8, P.M., FILMSCENE • THE BOOKSHOP, 3 P.M., FILMSCENE • MONSTERS AND MEN, 5:30 & 8:30 P.M., FILMSCENE

LITERATURE

AN & TH LD M E

• VALERIA LUISELLI, 7 P.M. PRAIRIE LIGHTS, 15 S. DUBUQUE

EO TH

Directed by acclaimed director Luca Guadagnino, Suspiria (2018) reimagines the 1977 film. The film follows Patricia Hingle (Chloë Grace Moretz), a student at a prestigious dance academy located in Berlin. After telling her physician that the academy is being haunted by witches, Patricia disappears. Her absence marks the beginning of a series of harrowing of disappearances. At the Venice International Film Festival, Suspiria was nominated for the Golden Lion, the highest prize awarded. Suspiria was also nominated for the Queer Lion — an award given to the best film depicting LGBTQ themes and queer culture. — Joshua Balicki

THIS WEEK IN MUSIC HISTORY

FRIDAY 10.26 MUSIC

Oct. 28, 1957: Stephen Morris (drummer of Joy Division and New Order) is born.

• CHRIS WEBBY , 6 P.M., GABE’S • A HALLOWEEN CABARET PRESENTED BY NOLTE ACADEMY, 7:30 P.M., MILL • HALLOWEEN SPECIAL WITH 6 ODD RATS, 9 P.M., YACHT CLUB

Oct. 25, 1962: Chad Smith (drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers) is born. Oct. 29, 1965: The Who releases its single “My Generation” in the U.K. The song went on to be named Rolling Stone’s 11th greatest song on its list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Oct. 30, 1970: Jim Morrison (lead singer of The Doors) is found guilty after being arrested for exposing himself at a concert in March of the same year.

FILM

Oct. 27, 1988: U2’s “rockumentary” Rattle and Hum premiers worldwide in its hometown of Dublin.

• FREE SOLO, 12:30, 3, 5:30, & 8 P.M., FILMSCENE

Oct. 26, 1991: Spice Girls land its second UK single when “Say You’ll Be There” begins its two-week long streak in the UK charts.

THEATER • PASTORAL PLAY, 8 P.M., THEATER BUILDING,THEATER B

CORALINE

— Maleaha Brings Plenty

LITERATURE • MICHELLE KUO, 7 P.M., PRAIRIE LIGHTS

STUDENT FASHION Name: Ben Stoffer

SATURDAY 10.27

Year: Junior What's your fashion style?: I like dressing up no matter where I’m going. Even if I’m just going to class, I’ll look like I’m going out for a night on the town.

MUSIC • CASHMORE MARIONETTES, 1 & 3 P.M. HANCHER • ROBERT SORTON, GUEST ARTIST MASTERCLASS, 10:30 A.M., VOXMAN RECITAL HALL • JOHNSON COUNTY LANDMARK , 7:30 P.M., VOXMAN CONCERT HALL • GOOSETOWN PRESENTS: HALLOWOMEN , 9 P.M., GABE’S

FILM • THE PICTURE SHOW: CORALINE, 10 A.M., FILMSCENE

How would your friends describe your personal style?: I guess if they had to describe it, it would be somewhere close to high fashion. I’ll have random people come up to me downtown and say, “I love your jacket” or “I love your shirt.”

MIC BLON ATO DE

If you could only shop at one store for the rest of your life, where would it be?: It would definitely be Zara, it’s my favorite store.

• FREE SOLO, 12:30, 3, 5:30, 8 P.M., FILMSCENE • ALLOY ORCHESTRA VARIETE, 7 P.M., FILMSCENE • BIJOU AFTER HOURS: ATOMIC BLONDE, 11 P.M., FILMSCENE

Where do you shop?: For summer clothes, I’ll usually go to Hollister. For winter, I’ll usually go to Zara. That’s where most of my jackets and winter clothes are from.

THEATER • PASTORAL PLAY , 8 P.M., THEATER B Thomas A. Stewart/The Daily Iowan

LITERATURE • WE THE INTERWOVEN: AN ANTHOLOGY OF BICULTURAL IOWA: READING, 4 P.M., PRAIRIE LIGHTS

ALBUM PICK

SUNDAY 10.28

MUSIC • CASHMORE MARIONETTES, 1 & 3 P.M. HANCHER

FILM • THE PICTURE SHOW: CORALINE , 10 A.M., FILMSCENE • PEOPLE PLACES THINGS: WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? , 5 P.M., FILMSCENE • THE LOST BOYS , 8 P.M., FILMSCENE ROOFTOP

LOST BO YS THE

Khalid’s Suncity Khalid released his first EP, Suncity, a year after his début album, American Teen, which placed Khalid at the top of the charts with songs such as “Young Dumb & Broke” and “8TEEN,” allowing Khalid to be distinguished from DJ Khaled. “Better” has more than 91 million streams on Spotify, and the EP was released on Oct. 19. Khalid has also collaborated with Lorde, Halsey, Post Malone, Marshmello, Billie Eilish, and Normani. His original hits were fun, but his first album also explored getting deeper with his lyrics and slowing down his melodies, which he perfects in Suncity. A major theme Khalid works with is the discussion of parents, and how well they know his friends and himself. In “Saturday Nights,” the soft acoustic guitar drives Khalid’s passionate belts as he explains that he cares more about his person of interest than their parents care about them. “Vertigo” is another beautiful ballad where he lays his feelings out in the open as he begins to decipher the disconnect between his mind and his symptoms of vertigo. Song pick: “Vertigo”

— Natalie Betz

THE DAILY IOWAN | DAILYIOWAN.COM | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

4B 80 HOURS

WITCH CONTINUED FROM 1B different for everyone. Each witch will make what she will of her belief, craft, and practice. “I used to be worried I was going to do something wrong or that I needed to know everything before I started,” Timboe said. “That’s not true; it’s about you and how you choose to use your power and impact the world around you.” According to Lisa Lister’s book on the matter, Witch, a basic rule for Wiccans and witches alike is this: do no harm, or in more specific language, “An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will.” This essentially means that a Wiccan or witch may do what she pleases, as long as she is not manipulating her neighbors in a hurtful way. Wiccans believe the universe has ways of repaying bad deeds, as well as

THE DAILY IOWAN | DAILYIOWAN.COM | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018 good deeds; call it karma, the Threefold Law, or just plain old dumb luck, actions have consequences. Historically, witches, actual or perceived, have been targeted as a way to eradicate superstition and “magical activity” in the midst of churches of England in the 17th century. UI Lecturer Kathleen Kamerick speaks on the oppression of women perceived as witches in her article “Shaping Superstition in Late Medieval England.” Kamerick poses that many things were seen as superstitious “magical activity,” even perhaps Christian practices such as making charms. In conducting any “magical activity” such as charm-making or divination, one had to consider intent in late-medieval England, according to Kamerick’s research. Charms were to be made with Christian intent, without curiosity, and divination was only acceptable if the sight was of

Philip Runia/The Daily Iowan Illuminations metaphysical store owner Stephanie Ryan shows off her singing bowls for meditation.

natural occurrences of God’s creation, without sight into a self-path, or into human will. Any practice unaligned with the status-quo of Christianity was considered idolatrous, and deserving of a punishment that varied in severity. Kamerick found that most salvation from trials came in the form of compurgators, or character witnesses, that attested to the good, Christian quality of the person in court. Those targeted as practitioners of witchcraft, whether actual or perceived, were often individuals that were disabled, poor, or sick. More often, they were persons in opposition to popular political decisions of the church. In new-wave feminism, witches are more outspoken than ever, whether that be in politics or religion. Underground practices and religions such as witchcraft and Wicca have been thrust into the mainstream, but perhaps not for the best. Different types of witchcraft, and the idea of spiritually powerful women, have been present in cultures all over the world, according to Witch. Be it Brujas in Hispanic cultures, Shaman women, Romani Shuvihani witches, Hoodoo witchcraft in African-American and Native cultures, or Celtic witches, the idea of women possessing an inherent power and connection to the spiritual world for healing and other works is a global concept. In each Halloween season, there is an avalanche of all things supernatural into the mainstream. With it come witch-kits, crystal trends, and costumes galore that, to an actual witch, may seem inappropriate. Witchcraft is a serious, poignant practice that is open to interpretation and each person that approaches it, but it is also a subject that entails study and research. Not merely a salt lamp, sage, and black eyeliner is needed for connection to the Earth and to oneself. Both Wiccans and witches

take issue with trends such as this. For Bagnall and Timboe, the aesthetics of witchcraft are capitalized on in the Halloween season. Being a witch is seen as temporarily cool, creating frowns for real witches. It seems to either connote a trendy, quirky style, or devil worship. Both are false, said Timboe. Witchcraft is different for each witch, yes, and anyone who would like to try it should be able to, she said, but in a serious, mature way that includes dedication and research. There are some things that Timboe would try that Bagnall wouldn’t and vice versa. As long as one is using the tools with intention, there is no real definition of a witch. At the same time, a witch must be careful not to take too much from other cultures so as not to appropriate other practices, Bagnall said. Materials in witchcraft have properties that transcend culture, but some practices are sacred to certain cultures. One practice, the practice of devil worship, has no part in witchcraft, contrary to popular belief. The devil does not exist in Wicca or witchcraft; no deity does. There are gods and goddesses, yes, but for the observing, modern, religious Wiccan, the connection is primarily with the Earth, not with any deity. Gods and goddesses are used to serve as figures to represent an idea or concept to focus on, rather than an actual celestial being. The god and goddess are used to invoke the elements, as is the same with other materials such as broomcorn, natural water (rainwater), natural materials from the seasons, and candles. All of these items can be found in or made from nature, but sometimes it is necessary to gain a bigger supply, especially for continuous casting of spells. Timboe generally gets her supply from nature, while Bagnall goes to local store, Om, in downtown Iowa City.

Philip Runia/The Daily Iowan Molly Bagnall sits with her cat near her altar. A witch’s altar typically contains items used in spells and rituals. Om Gifts for Body & Soul contains supplies for all spiritual practices, from Christianity to Buddhism to Wicca. Figures of Mother Mary are positioned right next to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of fine art, music, speech, and knowledge. Om stocks supplies for Wicca and witchcraft, such as candles, tarot, and books. The owner, Jeet Saini, has been in business for 25 years, and has gained a wide understanding about spirituality. “Not everyone follows one thought,” Saini said. “We have so many resources now, and everyone has a developed mind. Cultures overlap, and people find others interesting; people like to explore.” Just a quick drive away in Cedar Rapids, Illuminations serves as another option for a Wiccan or witch with an empty altar. The owner, Stephanie Ryan is much like Saini, a dabbler.

“Depending on how I feel, I might go meditate for Zen or cast a spell,” Ryan said. “I may even go sit in the Catholic Church for the sacredness.” Illuminations is filled with tarot, crystals, herbs, books— anything one could possibly need, for whichever practice. Illuminations was opened in 2012, but Ryan purchased the business on Halloween 2016. Off to the right of the bright, open room is a back hallway that provides as an escape for healing in these practices. Customers are encouraged to get massages, readings, holistic energy work, guidance, or even practice yoga in the various rooms provided. As the Samhain season comes to a head, Wiccans and witches alike will honor the Earth in practice and craft. Observers should feel free to join in, but with genuine interest and respect.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

UI student’s Etsy shop startup to be spooky UI senior Mackenzie Maurice finds herself using 6 instruments, paintbrush included, to create creepy themed art. BY PHILIP RUNIA

philip-runia@uiowa.edu Students all over the U.S. find their own way to get into the Halloween spirit, and Mackenzie Maurice does so as well, homeowner’s style. Her décor consists of paintings rendered by herthat she bases on cheeky Halloween iconography. From iris-less eyeballs to skeletons with flower crowns, the UI senior paints images that are, to her, “pretty weird.” The subject matter always varies, but her paintings typically revolve around bones, eyes, aliens, Ouija

boards, cacti, and natural scenes. “I am a very Halloween, creepy-centered person, and that shows a lot in my artwork,” said the 21-yearold. “I have this skeleton painting with it holding a coffee cup and it says, ‘Death Before Decaf.’ It’s in our kitchen; we love coffee.” This painter’s acrylic work is done on canvas, with inexpensive brushes. They work just fine, however, enough to get the right amount of detail. If the brush happens to be too large, she will use a paint-dipped pencil to create finer lines. Maurice’s paintings center on de-

Philip Runia/The Daily Iowan Mackenzie Maurice leans into her performance of “Cancer,” by My Chemical Romance.

tail, which is why she uses painting as a method to create art. As a busy student, she is able to accomplish more, quickly and with more accuracy. “It comes in short spurts,” Maurice said. “When I have time and feel creative enough to paint, I do. I usually knock out a few in that time frame because I don’t like to wait.” In between paintings and during the majority of her day, the music education major works on memorizing songs to perform in her seminars. Her focus is voice, which differs greatly from her expression in painting. While both are fine art, they occupy completely different spaces in her mind. On separate parts of the art spectrum, they differ in action and creation, despite her passion for both. The soprano also plays the piano, bassoon, cello, and percussion. An outstandingly versatile performer, Maurice took a liking to singing at age 7, and later sang in choir in middle school. The Halloween enthusiast demonstrated her talent by playing the score from Spirited Away, among other pieces. Her haunted house forearm tattoo peeked out from her Haunted Mansion sweater as her ghost socks pumped the pedals of the piano. Her physical artform ignited itself in practice, and with painting it has done the same. Her urge to paint returned recently upon prodding from her roommate. “I decided I wanted to make art tailored to me instead of buying it,” Maurice said. “I can be proud of my

work and have it hanging in my home.” The senior plans to continue working toward her degree while creating an Etsy shop to market her paintings for family, friends, and general customers. Already having sold six paintings in the past six months, Maurice is motivated to begin selling more, whether that be custom-made paintings or paintings she has lying around. “There’s always new stuff I want to paint,” Maurice said. “I could also modify things I’ve done to fit customer needs, whatever they want. The hope is to only get better.”

FAST FACTS Hometown: Mount Vernon Year in School: Senior Age: 21 Top artist she listens to: Incubus (‘90s alternative) Dream place to live: Melbourne, Australia, or Burlington, Vermont Dream place to work: Anywhere she can Favorite place for a late-night bite: Cactus, any of them Favorite movie: Spirited Away Last song stuck in his head: “Romance” (Debussy) Instagram: kenzzalexa

THE DAILY IOWAN | DAILYIOWAN.COM | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

6B 80 HOURS

THE DAILY IOWAN | DAILYIOWAN.COM | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

Dedication behind craft with Iva Pezuashvili IWP resident Iva Pezuashvili discussed his filmmaking expereinces following the screening of his short film Babazi last Sunday. BY MARK ZOLETA

mark-zoleta@uiowa.edu

Roman Slabach/The Daily Iowan Filmmaker/writer Iva Pezuashvili sits for a portrait on Oct. 23.

Iva Pezuashvili sat in the cozy confines of Cortado during a brisk, bright morning. As one of the International Writing Program residents, Pezuashvili is a filmmaker, screenwriter, and writer who hails from Georgia. Pezuashvili has written for several TV dramas, has written and directed several short films, and is currently an author of two story collections. With short brown hair and glasses, he speaks in quick rhythmic swathes about his adversities when attending Shota Rustaveli Cinema and Theatre University for filmmaking. “Of my four years there, I’d never seen a professional camera until my movie set,” he said. “We didn’t have funding from the university. We were spending our parents’

money to shoot something.” His university didn’t offer the students any cameras or anything of that sort when they were studying filmmaking. On Sunday, he screened his short film, Babazi, at the IWP Cinémathèque. Babazi was originally a short story

under 10-degree weather, we worked for only 14 minutes. By that time, the battery would die. So we would charge, then shoot, then charge, then shoot.” Pezuashvili’s dedication to filmmaking runs deep; it’s his craft. During his time writing for television,

‘When you’re standing on a set and you’re a director, and 120 people are waiting for your orders, it’s amazing.’ — Iva Pezuashvili, filmmaker that he turned into a film. The film was met with applause, with several scenes being shot in a forest in the dead of winter. “We used an old camera,” Pezuashvili said. “In

he said, it was a strange and long process. “I’ll be on a set for 26 or 27 hours,” he said. “No one is paid extra for it. It was our job. In television, it’s your life. When you’re working

in film or for a TV series, you don’t have the weekend.” His passion for his craft is palpable; Pezuashvili’s eyes brightened at just the idea of shooting a film. “When you’re standing on a set, and you’re a director, and 120 people are waiting for your orders, it’s amazing,” he said. “Storyboarding, figuring out how to shoot [a scene], all of it, it’s amazing. That’s why I see myself as a filmmaker more than a writer.” His collection of short stories, I Tried, and an anthology in which he is featured called The Book of Tbilisi are available for purchase online. In the future, Pezuashvili plans to apply for the Iowa Writers’ Workshop fiction program after his time in the IWP, and he plans on finishing a novel that is currently in the works.

Alloy Orchestra gives sound to the silence Alloy Orchestra will play their piece for the German silent film Varieté this Saturday at the Englert. BY JACK HOWARD & NAOMI HOFFERBER daily-iowan@uiowa.edu

The Cambridge, Massachusetts, film-score group Alloy Orchestra will return to the Englert on Saturday, catching some local flavor for the traveling found-sound ensemble. The group will score Edwald Andre Dupont’s Varieté, a 1925 German silent feature, as well as a short film from the Brinton Collection, a series of early silent films recently unearthed, restored, and donated to the University of Iowa Libraries by Iowa historian

Michael Zahs. The Alloy Orchestra played its first show in Boston in 1991, a live score to Fritz Lang’s 1927 sci-fi film Metropolis, and since then, the ensemble has amassed an impressive repertoire of film soundtrack compositions, accompanying films ranging from the classic American slapstick comedies of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton to the revolutionary Soviet montage films of Sergei Eisenstein and Dziga Vertov. As a three-piece group, Alloy Orchestra is unconventional by film-scoring standards; the group has made a name for it-

self through using heavy, percussive instrumentation and a wide array of found-sounds to evoke a variety of musical styles for the films it scores. The orchestra has been on tour throughout the U.S. the past year. “The tour is going great,” Alloy Orchestra Director Ken Winokur said. “Varieté is one of my favorite films of all time; the direction is so magnificent. The acting is subtle and realistic. The cinematography is just unbelievable.” Winokur said the percussive nature of the band allows it to reflect the film’s energy.

When the members truly enjoy a film, he said, composing something to go along with it becomes easier. “This one kind of wrote itself,” Winokur said. “It sounds crazy, but the films speak to us. The films tell us what they need to help export the plot and amplify the emotion.” He said that while there is always some improvisation in each performance, the main improvisation comes when the members compose — they all work together to compose bit by bit while watching the film. The performance is cohost-

ed by FilmScene, which helped to bring Alloy Orchestra to Iowa City the first time, during the early days of FilmScene in 2011. Andrew Sherburne, the founder of FilmScene, said each performance by Alloy is consistently great as well as unique. This time, Alloy prepared a unique, local touch to precede the main event. “For this particular event, Alloy pulled a silent film from the Brinton Collection, which is housed at the University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections,” Sherburne said. “So they chose a film from that collection as an introductory,

warm-up film. They’ve had short films preceding the main film on a number of occasions, but we thought this would be a fun one to celebrate our local connection to silent film.” The Brinton Collection contains a number of silent films from the early film era, collected by William Franklin Brinton, who initially introduced the films to the area. A 2017 documentary Sherburne directed, Saving Brinton, outlined the history of the Brinton Collection and the rediscovery of the films, which were donated to the UI Special Collections in 2014.

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Miss Iowa continues her year of service From UI student to Miss Iowa, Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw has made an impact during her few months as Miss Iowa. BY ALEXANDRA SKORES

alexandra-skores@uiowa.edu Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw, Miss Iowa 2018, may have walked out empty-handed in the Atlantic City Miss America pageant, but she has not stopped being an active role model in Iowa. “The past few months have been amazing,” HughesShaw, a former University of Iowa journalism student, said in an email to The Daily Iowan. “I officially have been Miss Iowa for four months, and I want time to stop passing so quickly. This year is a

year of many firsts.” She said in her email that the month of September was busy with events regarding suicide awareness and prevention. She has worked closely with her organization, How About HOPE (Helping Others and Providing Encouragement), working to combat the notion that people should shy away from talking about suicide, she said. “I have been formulating a plan and board of directors for the How About HOPE campaign,” she said. “I am working on a school tour to reach as many students as

possible. Mental health affects all ages. It is important to equip students with tools to help them recognize when someone needs help.” Miss Iowa Scholarship Board President Rachael Vopatek said in an email to the DI that Hughes-Shaw has done great things for the state and knows her year of service will allow her to take more great action. “Mikhayla is 100 percent devoted to giving of her time and talents to others,” Vopatek said in her email. “She has already spoken to numerous groups throughout

the state of Iowa, and she is always seeking out the next person or audience she can teach to make a difference.” Hughes-Shaw recently spoke at the Iowa City Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk. “Mikhayla has been a great partner in bringing awareness to the issue of suicide. Her courage to travel across Iowa and tell her story is truly inspiring,” said Keri Neblett, part of the Out of the Darkness organizing committee, said in an email to the DI. “I am grateful that she was able to attend the Out of the

Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention and bring hope to those affected by suicide.” Hughes-Shaw also supported Apricot Lane Boutique in Davenport in a small fashion show on Fox 18 Davenport. “When Mikhayla steps in a room, she has the ability to illuminate the hand and bring a pleasant vibe to anyone she comes in contact with,” said André Wright, a producer of Unique Alleyway Shows, in an email to the DI. “It was important to have her there so that young girls that live in our community can see that they also can achieve greatness.”

Hughes-Shaw said she hopes to continue her year of service with more and more events all over Iowa. She has made appearances at HERO lodge, a facility that serves as a getaway for veterans, the National Alliance on Mental Illness Walk, and the UI Homecoming Parade. Hughes-Shaw will also participate in a “Treasure Box U.S.” tea party at the Knights of Columbus in Davenport on Nov. 10. “This year is one of great variety,” Hughes-Shaw said. “I never know what the next day will bring, and I love it.”

David Harmantas/The Daily Iowan Miss Iowav, Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw, rides in Corvette during the Homecoming Parade on Oct. 19.

Sports

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018 DAILYIOWAN.COM

HAWKEYE UPDATES

Big Ten volleyball update

The Big Ten holds steady this week with half of its teams remaining in volleyball’s top-25 rankings. No. 3 Minnesota and No. 4 Penn State stayed put, with a major shift in the top 10 coming after thenNo. 9 Wisconsin beat No. 5 Nebraska. Wisconsin has jumped ahead to No. 7 in the rankings with Nebraska falling to No. 9, and Illinois topping them both at No. 6. Michigan also jumped up one spot to No. 12, and Purdue holds steady at No. 17. The conference also holds 11 of the top-60 RPI spots, with Iowa coming in at No. 49. For the rest of the season, Iowa will play three teams far ahead of them in RPI: No. 14 Penn State, No. 15 Nebraska, and No. 13 Purdue.

@THEDAILYIOWAN

Hawks O-line proves itself supreme The offensive line is one of the best in the country this year due to strengthened friendships.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE Friday

No. 3 Minnesota at Michigan State No. 17 Purdue at Rutgers Indiana at No. 4 Penn State No. 7 Wisconsin at No. 12 Michigan

Saturday

No. 3 Minnesota at No. 12 Michigan No. 7 Wisconsin at Michigan State No. 17 Purdue at No. 4 Penn State Indiana at Rutgers No. 6 Illinois at No. 9 Nebraska

Sunday

Iowa at Maryland Ohio State at Northwestern

BIG TEN WEEKLY AWARDS Swimming and Diving

Indiana and Minnesota each earned swimming and diving honors this week after returning to competition. Vini Lanza and James Connor of Indiana won Swimmer of the Week and Diver of the Week, respectively, after performances against Texas and Florida. Max McHugh of Minnesota took home Freshman of the Week after first-place finishes in four events.

Cross-Country

Kenneth Hagen from Indiana and Mary Abramson from Purdue earned Men’s and Women’s Athlete of the Week honors for crosscountry. Hagen recorded his best finish of the season on Oct. 19 with a time of 25:33.8 to lead his team. Abramson earned her honor at the same meet, finishing 13 seconds ahead of the runnerup to win the women’s side of competition.

Men’s Golf

Two Big Ten golfers earned the Co-Golfers of the Week title after medaling in weekend events. Will Grimmer from Ohio State claimed his medal with an 11-shot lead for his second career victory. Wisconsin’s Jordan Hahn tied for medalist honors with a 4-under final round.

Lily Smith/The Daily Iowan Iowa offensive lineman Keegan Render waits at the line of scrimmage against Maryland during the Homecoming game at Kinnick on Oct. 20. The Hawkeyes defeated the Terrapins, 23-0.

BY JORDAN ZUNIGA

jordan-zuniga@uiowa.edu It doesn’t take a genius to notice that the No. 18 Iowa Hawkeyes are a good team. One glance at the last three games, in which the Hawkeyes outscored their opponents, 11347, and clicked in all three phases, says it all. The offensive explosion has been the story, with Nate Stanley and the passing game getting it done when it needs to, and Ivory Kelly-Martin and the other running backs picking up any slack left behind. What probably goes unnoticed by many is the stellar play of the offensive line throughout the season. It’s a veteran group in the middle, with se-

niors Ross Reynolds and Dalton Ferguson as guards and Keegan Render snapping. On the outside, the line is younger, with sophomores Tristan Wirfs and Alaric Jackson as tackles. All of them played large chunks of last season, but this season, they’ve blossomed into one of the better lines in college football. “The offensive line is playing extremely well,” quarterback Stanley said. “I think that goes back to the work that we put in in the offseason.” The work in the offseason that has helped the most this season didn’t come from inside the weight room but from food runs and movie nights. “In the offseason, we tried to focus on being a more cohesive team,” Ferguson said. “In years past, we were good, but we weren’t all best

Swimming dives into tough season Marc Long heads into his 14th season as both the men’s and women’s head coach this year.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Some of the guys

New Hawkeye Okonkwo adjusts to life in the U.S. Freshman tennis player Oliver Okonkwo has had a hard time adjusting to American tennis. cody-r-smith@uiowa.edu

”

home on Nov. 2. These next two meets will feature the Hawkeyes trying to take advantage of the tough competition to climb in the rankings. Iowa has some returning stars on both the men’s and women’s squads, which are

Heading to Iowa as a highly rated recruit from across the Pond, freshman Oliver Okonkwo has adjusted both his game and personal life. Okonkwo is one of two freshmen on the Iowa men’s tennis roster. Originally from Berkshire, England, he took home championships in the 2016 Aegon Winter County Cup and the Grade 4 International Tennis Federation. His résumé also includes doubles runner-up finishes in the 2016 and 2017 British National Championship. After dominating the competition overseas, he saw an opportunity to come play college tennis in the United States. Okonkwo used a tennis agency, Stars and Stripes, to get in touch with Iowa head coach Ross Wilson, and the two agreed that Okonkwo would be a great fit for Hawkeye tennis. Moving to a different country can be a difficult adjustment for an 18-year-old. Especially when the person doesn’t have family there for support along the way. “This is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life,” Okonkwo said. “I’m in a different country, different cultures. I’m glad I have had people help me along the way.” Another adjustment Okonkwo has been

SEE SWIMMING, 5A

SEE TENNIS, 5A

— Football head coach Kirk Ferentz on facing Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley

STAT OF THE DAY

8-0

SEE FOOTBALL, 5A

BY CODY SMITH

like that, it’s like playing 12 guys when you face those guys.

The Iowa fieldhockey team is 8-0 when scoring at least 3 goals this season.

friends, and we weren’t all hanging out with each other. I think that’s paid off for us.” In years past, Iowa’s offensive line has led the way to terrific rushing offenses. The line showed its ability to do that in the last game, against Maryland, in which the offense put up 224 rushing yards while holding the ball for nearly 41 minutes. While that game was indicative that the offensive line is perfectly capable of opening up rushing lanes when it needs to, this season has been more about its ability to protect Stanley. The Hawkeyes rank first in the Big Ten in fewest sacks allowed, allowing just 6 so far this season, which is almost half as much as the sec-

Katina Zentz/The Daily Iowan Swimmers dive into the pool for the women’s 50 backstroke during a meet between Iowa and Western Illinois on Feb. 2 at the Campus Recreation Center. The Hawkeyes won, 127-75.

BY TANNER DESPLANQUE

tanner-desplanque@uiowa.edu Iowa’s swimming and diving team is gearing up for the beginning of a highly competitive season. The Hawkeyes will face Minnesota and South Dakota State on Saturday and will continue against Michigan and Denver at