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UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA CEDAR FALLS, IA THURSDAY, APRIL 5 VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42
CEDAR FALLS, IA
VOLUME 119, ISSUE 16
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022
OPINION
CAMPUS LIFE
SPORTS
OPINION PAGE 3
CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 4
SPORTS PAGE 6
Opinion Columnist Drew Hill looks at religious freedom in the U.S. in an international context.
Media day gives pre-season look at UNI men’s basketball.
Campus prepares to welcome parents, siblings and more for Family Weekend.
2022 midterms approach
“Insure Your Future” unveils firstPanthers cast first votes through early voting in Maucker Union of-its-kind internship Students can participate in program early voting in the midterm MALLORY SCHMITZ News Editor
elections from Wednesday, Oct. 19, through Friday, Oct. 21 in Maucker Union. The chairperson for satellite voting in Maucker Union, who asked to be identified as Pat, said, “There are people who cannot come on Election Day, so this just gives them another opportunity to get their vote registered.” The electronic voting booths are set up in the coffeehouse level of Maucker Union near the Essentials convenience store. Any voter registered in Black Hawk County is able to participate in early voting. In addition, people can register to vote for the first time at the polls or update their voting information to reflect their Black Hawk County address. While students can register to vote with their Cedar Falls
TREVOR MEYERS Staff Writer
NIXSON BENITEZ
Early voting is available in Maucker Union from Oct. 19 - 21. Residents of Black Hawk County can register to vote for the first time at the polls or update their voting address to reflect their Black Hawk County address.
address, Pat said that they should be sure to note that some candidates on the ballot will be specific to Black Hawk County and may differ from their hometown officials. The deadline for absentee ballot requests is also
approaching. Absentee ballot requests must be received by the County Auditor’s Office by 5 p.m. on Oct. 24. Absentee ballot requests may be mailed to the County Auditor’s Office or delivered in person.
The absentee ballots themselves must be received by the County Auditor’s Office by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8. They also may be mailed or delivered in person. See EARLY VOTING, page 2
Insure Your Future is a group made up of many insurance companies throughout the state of Iowa who are now rolling out a first-ofits-kind internship program. This program was made possible through collaborations between the Iowa Economic Department Authority, the Iowa Insurance Division, participating financial service companies and other regional education institutions. More than 72 internships are being targeted towards college sophomores and freshmen and will be available for the summer of 2023. See INTERNSHIPS, page 2
UNI’s study abroad program bounces back post pandemic KATE MURPHY Staff Writer
More students are looking to study abroad through UNI as it has been bouncing back since the pandemic restrict-
ed travel over the last couple years. Ann Frenna, who works as a secretary at the study abroad center (SAC), says it was a challenge to function during the pandemic because of health
COURTESY/INSTAGRAM
A group of students went a faculty-led tip to Mexico this past summer. This year, all of the faculty-led programs are tied to UNIFI credit instead of Capstone credit, meaning that students are no longer required to be of junior standing to participate in the two to three week long programs.
risks and travel restrictions but is happy to see study abroad programs start up again. “At this point, all of our partner universities have welcomed students back to their campuses. The loosening of travel restrictions and entry requirements has made travel much easier,” Frenna said. According to Frenna, the planning that goes into students studying abroad hasn’t changed much since the program has been reopened. Students typically discuss the location they’d like to go to, how long they plan to stay and what courses they’ll take. “The only difference is that we do have some students coming in to plan their experience abroad later in their academic career than they had initially planned because COVID-19 prevented them from traveling for a time,” Frenna said. Another adjustment the program encountered was the change from LAC core classes
to UNIFI. “As UNI makes the transition from the LAC structure to UNIFI, we continue to work with upperclassmen who are continuing to earn LAC credits at universities abroad and through short-term faculty-led programs over winter session and in the summer months,” Frenna said. “Those students who are on the UNFI track are able to satisfy those courses abroad as well.” According to Frenna, study abroad students also go through a process of having their courses abroad pre-approved so that they know how their credits will come back to UNI at the end of their experience. The biggest change from the LAC core to UNIFI is the change in Capstone requirements. “One change is that in the past, students had to be of (at least) junior standing to satisfy their Capstone through a shortterm faculty-led program,” Frenna said. “Now that many
of these two to three week long faculty-led programs are tied to UNIFI credit, all students can participate in this type of study abroad experience.” The locations available for students to study abroad change yearly. Currently, there are programs open to study at universities in 14 different countries. Students can also participate in a two to three week long faculty-led program over winter session or in the summer. “We have exciting faculty-led summer offerings in Greece, the Galapagos Islands, the United Kingdom, Brazil, France, Mexico and Spain,” Frenna said. Frenna believes that having the opportunity to study abroad helps students grow academically and emotionally while preparing them for their professional future in a global community. See STUDY ABROAD, page 2