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WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2026
CEDAR FALLS, IA
VOLUME 122, ISSUE 30
Planned Panther District expected to eliminate 850 student parking spots
By Olivia Harrington Assistant News Editor
The Panther District, a substantial mixed-use development proposed for the southwest corner of Hudson Road and West 27th Street and hailed as a “fabulous opportunity” by UNI President Mark Nook, will also remove at least 850 prime student parking spots, potentially creating a challenging parking environment for students. UNI students learned about the proposed parking changes from an online survey. On March 30, Nathan Compton, an architect at the University of Northern Iowa, sent out a survey to all students, faculty, and staff. The survey focused on how people use campus parking lots and included questions about the South
Art Lot, which could be removed in the future to make way for the construction of the Panther District, eliminating 850 parking spots. The survey asked how often people park on campus and which lots they use the most. It also asked how closing certain lots, like the South Art Lot, would affect drivers. This included questions about how it might change their commute or impact their ability to find parking. Renderings in the online survey identified the South Art Lot as one of the university’s busiest parking lots, 90.2% full on the day the survey reported parking lot use. See PARKING, page 2
Courtesy Photo A graphic from the online survey shows that the South Art Lot was 90.2% full on the day the survey was reported. If eliminated, 850 parking spots will be removed.
@skbrown8 on Instagram/Courtesy Photo Spencer Brown graduated from UNI in 2020 and was drafted the following year to the Buffalo Bills.
From the UNI Dome to Highmark Stadium
Buffalo Bills OT and UNI alum Spencer Brown talks mindset By Estelle Johnson Executive Editor
Only a few years ago, Spencer Brown was lined up against players from colleges like Iowa State and North Dakota State, and now, he’s five years into his career with the Buffalo Bills and set to play on the newest field in the National Football League. Born and raised in Lenox, Iowa, Brown is the son of Liz Jessen and Kurt Brown. He has two siblings, Erica and Garrett.
He graduated from UNI in 2020 with a Communication and Media degree. The 6’ 8” offensive tackle played for the University of Northern Iowa Panthers from 2017 until 2019. Brown started in 17 games, 12 of them in his senior season. Brown was drafted in 2021 to the Buffalo Bills — he was the 3rd round, 93rd overall pick. Brown started playing football in sixth grade. “When I first started
playing football, my Dad said something every single time I went to practice,” Brown said. “Work hard, play hard and have fun — it’s super simple.” When Brown was a senior in high school, he got word that former UNI head coach Mark Farley was on the lookout for rookies. While on a recruiting trip, Farley went down to Lenox — because he heard of a tall, athletic guy who played there.
“So he comes down there, and I meet him in the lobby … never met him before, and he’s watching Huddl on his phone,” Brown said. “I’m like, you see my tape? He said no. I asked, you haven’t seen my huddl … and you’re here?” There was something about that action that resonated with Brown. “I was like, this guy walked in blind and gave me a shot, and I turned this
into what it is.” Brown’s parents raised him to be hard-working and strong-minded. His mom is a first-grade teacher, and his dad sells seed. When Brown came to UNI, no doubt being raised like that would help him out. “UNI is blue collar, work your mind and body, keep your nose to the grindstone type of place,” he said. See BROWN, page 15