The Daily Iowan
IC women’s care resources dwindle This summer saw the restructuring of the Women’s Resource and Action Center and the closure of Iowa City Planned Parenthood.
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hen a distressed male undergraduate student came to her office, Linda Kroon knew she could help him in ways other campus resources couldn’t. The University of Iowa student was part of a conservative student organization — a club Kroon said he loved being a part of — when an male influential club member made
unwanted sexual advances toward him. The advances escalated to physical contact when the student went to Kroon, despite neither the student nor his aggressor identify as LGBTQ+. After seeking UI counseling services, the student was referred to Kroon, who was the director of the UI Women’s Resource and Action Center, or WRAC, at the time. Her role was to connect UI students and faculty members of all backgrounds and identities with the appropriate resources for their situation. As a previously confidential resource for students and fac-
ulty, Kroon outlined plans for the student, ensuring he could continue participating in an organization he loved while also avoiding uncomfortable situations with his aggressor. Together, Kroon and the student selected specific activities the club hosted in public that he could attend and made sure he never arrived at or left a meeting alone. Kroon said cases like this don’t always fit specific criteria to get help from other campus resources, and if it weren’t for WRAC, it may otherwise have been overlooked or ignored, keeping UI students and faculty from doing their
UI Dance Department enters new era of growth
Republicans fill JoCo supervisor ballot
The Dance Department looks forward to the features of its new building as it parts with historic Halsey Hall, set to be torn down.
Two Republican candidates filled the empty nominations in Districts 4 and 5.
After over a decade of planning, the Dance Department at the University of Iowa is set to relocate from the historic Halsey Hall to a new Dance Building, formerly the Museum of Art. Faculty, students, alumni, and community members are invited to the official opening ceremony, which will take place Sept. 24, at 3:30 p.m. A reception and building tours will follow. Kristin Marrs is an associate professor and the director of graduate studies for the Department of Dance. She has noticed a lot of enthusiasm and inspiration from the students thanks to the professional at mosphere t he new da nce space fosters. “We’ve been hoping for a new building for quite a while, and we’re thrilled that this moment is here,” she said. “The space is gorgeous. It fosters creativity to be in a place that feels good and looks good.” The relocation moves the Dance Department from the east to the west side of campus, positioning it next to the Theatre Building and a short walk away from Hancher Auditorium.
After securing their nominations during the June 2 primary, Johnson County’s Democratic supervisor candidates are facing a new challenge this fall as Republicans have stepped in to contest two races that initially had no GOP candidates. Following the primary, Johnson County Republicans began recruiting candidates for the races, ultimately nominating Wanda Foster to run against V FixmerOraiz in District 4 and Donna Dane to run against Mandi Remington in District 5 on Aug. 20 — under three months before the election. Now starting her campaign, Foster said she decided to run after seeing how little representation there was in District 4 from both sides. “Other voices need to be heard,” she said. “We need to have a balance of what all the different residents of this area would want to hear and what their issues are for the county government. Let's just at least get out there and get some other conversations going, and find out what other people are within.” The Johnson County Republican Party celebrated the addition of Foster and Dane on its website, calling the two candidates an “unprecedented opportunity.” The party is asking supporters to help the candidates through campaign activities including distributing signs and making financial donations. In an interview with The Daily Iowan, Teresa Horton Bumgarner, chair of the Johnson County Republicans, said the party sought candidates who were both qualified and willing to run. “They presented themselves as being excellent