Awareness of Disabilities and Services on Campus

by Dakota Funk

College is a time of enjoyment. It is a time when people go out and discover who they are by meeting new friends, learning new information and going beyond the realms of a student’s life. But what if a student has a disability and can’t do the same things as other students can whether it be in mobility, socializing, learning and mental deficiencies? Can they be protected in post-secondary schools and have the same rights as people without disabilities and accommodations?

Before the 1970’s, more than half of the children with disabilities in the United States did not receive appropriate educational services for equal opportunities. More than one million of these students were excluded from the public school system and were not allowed to attend school with their non-disabled peers. However, there are laws out there today that protect students with disabilities.

ANALYZING AMERICA:

THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES
Nelson Rokke

The identity of the people who make up the United States are unfairly portrayed; stereotypical stigmas often overshadow the issues surrounding citizens of interest both domestically and abroad. Too often, American citizens are classified into groups based on generic criteria such as race, wealth, or political affiliation. The classification of American citizens into such broad categories based on these criteria offer inaccurate perceptions of our citizens and distort our society‘s culture. To accurately identify and truthfully understand who the people of America are, we must consider where they came from. An analysis of false generalization, the history of immigration in our country, and the implementation of new laws will assist in portraying an honest depiction of the people who make up the United States of America.

The 'Weight' of Advertisement

By: Ross Hageman

According to the Pride-Ferrell Marketing textbook, advertising is, “paid non-personal communication about an organization and its products transmitted to a target audience through a mass media.” Basically, they are saying that advertising is the persuasion to use a certain product through mass media.  People are bombarded by tons of advertisements every day that attempt to persuade them to use a product whether they need it or not. There isn’t anything wrong with persuading people to use a product if the product is safe, but what if the product kills people; the government should do something about it right?

No Freedom for Fingers

by Megan Lechtenberg

About ten years ago, there was no such thing as text messaging. When people wanted to communicate with one another, they would call the other on a cell phone and make arrangements. Now days, one of the most dangerous aspects on the road is texting while driving. Many people seem to think texting while driving is important, but what they don’t realize is that it is putting both them and other drivers in danger. In my opinion all text messages can wait until you are fully stopped. There is nothing more important than your life.

“It’s not just a teen thing.” There are also adults who text and drive to communicate with others. Aren’t parents supposed to teach their children not to text while they are on the road? How are kids supposed to learn from their parents if they are the ones breaking the rules? Granted there are many websites to look at and see how dangerous this is, but are teenagers really going to sit down and look up this information and share it with their group of friends? Well of course not. Everyone needs to realize that texting while driving is something that needs to be stopped, which is why most states are making it a law where texting while driving is banned.

Street Drugs, Who Cares?

Drug usage in sports is a topic many are familiar with.  Steroid usage by baseball and football players has been a hot topic in the media over the last twenty years.  Although "performance enhancing drugs" is the focus of everyones concern, why is no one paying attention to the abuse of street drugs by athletes all over the United States?

NFL's New Hitting Policies

There has been a lot of negative notoriety in the NFL this season due to the changes in the rules.  The NFL has always been an intense, physically demanding sport that has left many of its former and current player’s injury riddled.  Many of the league’s players do not play the amount of seasons or games as other associations such as the NBA, and MLB due to the extreme amount of physical toil the players go through.  The NFL is so big among fans all over the world and many of the fans often tune in to see the physical hard-hitting aspect of the games. That is why some of the new rules are not going over so well with the fans and supporters of the league.  Some of the players agree and some disagree with the new rules.  The main change this season which has drawn the most attention is the “defenseless receiver” rule.

Risking money and your life....Good idea?

By: Nick Weinmeister

                In the state of Iowa today, there are 17 licensed casinos that allow smoking on the gaming floor. The state recently implemented a Smokefree Air Act which banned smoking in public places such as bars and restaurants throughout the state, however gaming floors in casinos among other areas are exempt from that act. With any law, if there are exemptions there are going to be complaints. One of the major complaints right now is why the public health department would allow smoking on gaming floors only, but no other part of the casinos? On the flip side, casino owners feel like their business would drastically plummet if smoking was banned throughout the entire casino. There are two big questions to this entire process are, why are casinos exempt from this law when they are an “enclosed area?” And does the state not value employees of casinos enough to keep them from having to breathe in secondhand smoke every day?

School Dress Codes: Why uniformity betters students

By Jaclyn Hickey

Open the front page of the Waterloo Courier or tune into the local ten o’clock news stations and you are sure to hear about the difficulties that the Waterloo Community School District is facing by trying to create a strict dress code policy. Articles plaster the local newspapers about the challenges that are being faced and the pros and cons having these policies in the schools. Meetings continue to take place arguing over exactly how the policy should be wrote, and what policies should be enforced.

Dress codes in schools are not a new issue, history shows the world has been putting these rules into place since the early 1900’s, although the rules have changed over the years the reasoning behind them still stands strong. Designing dress codes seems to be one that will be sure to cause argument amongst the school system and the parents of the students. The First Amendment is an issue that most American’s will stand up for, and feel that dress codes are crossing the line. When it comes to enforcing these there are moral, legal, and ethical issues

Why Time Abroad Leads to Success

By Jacquelin Linn

As a student graduates, they face the daunting task of the first job search. Imagine yourself in a position competing for your dream job. The position comes down to one other person and you. One of you has extended language experience, studying abroad and greater understanding of international culture. Which one of you will receive the position?

All these factors can make the difference between getting that dream job or continuing the search for what could make due.

Studies have shown that those who have experience abroad are more creative, have higher GPAs and have greater success in business. In an article posted on Science Daily, researchers have found that students who experience culture abroad are overall, more open-minded when it comes to culture, which leads to increased creativity in multiple forms of testing. Culture also heavily affects the way the brain acts and responds. In another study from Science Daily, depending on where a child grows up can directly affect the way they perceive and react to information. This study supports the malleability of the brain to accept differing views, especially after spending an increased amount of time around a different culture from your own. The ability to move between multiple cultures and their accepted lifestyle is an important and valued trait for employers.

Even though studying abroad has increased among students continually in recent years, still only one percent of the eight million students in the United States study abroad every year, said the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA). “By virtue of power, the United States is the world’s leader,” an advocate said as part of NAFSA’s article. “But we can’t lead a world that we don’t understand.” Educators call for an increased number of students to study abroad, opening doors for themselves and the United States into the changing global economy.

To talk or not to talk? Mobile phone laws by state

link>By Christine Rublack

Over the summer I did a lot of driving around the Midwest rather it was to the lovely state of Wisconsin or crossing the border into Missouri. I never second guessed using my cell phone when I drove. It just seemed natural to talk. I knew that Iowa had banned texting and driving but never thought about when I crossed into the boarding states. Talking on our phones seems more like a habit then anything while driving anymore but crossing the boarders the laws change and the fines can begin to rack up. That is where I came to the idea of having the same laws about cell phone use rather it’s talking or texting across all the 50 states.

Cohabiting: A Curse or a Blessing?

By: Angela DeHarty

Couples in the United States are now more than ever thinking about moving in with their significant other before marriage. Some feel Cohabitation is a great way to figure out if they are compatible with their partner. For others they feel it is a good way to keep their finances in check. “I don’t see what the problem is, if a couple is intending on getting married in the near future.” Lindsey Schuetz, a student at the University of Northern Iowa said. “I think it depends on the person, I know situations where people are together and it just creates a lot of problems, but I also know people who move in together and they are just fine and happy.”

The Death of Music?

By Brad Ferguson

“Baby, Baby, Baby, Ohhh! I thought you’d always be mine, mine”. It’s next to impossible to say these words without getting a response from someone. These are some of the lyrics from new “hit sensation” Justin Bieber. It seems that pop music is taking over the world, one ignorant ear at a time. It doesn’t make the situation any better when we have television shows such as “American Idol” and “Americas got Talent”. These shows are slowly sucking the life out of the masses and placing the idea that pop music artists who don’t even write their own material is what is considered to be “good music”. It is impossible to walk through a store without seeing somebody wearing a “Hannah Montana” shirt or hearing the newest song by Ke$ha. Speaking of Ke$ha, how pathetic is it that this pop star who entertains millions of younger kids, sings songs about getting hammered. Now I’m not the best role model either, but I’m not famous and getting paid to sing songs. It’s almost as if just because she sings something about alcohol that the new generation will love her. Also, what is up with Disney coming in a making every single T.V. star they have into music stars as well? It’s such a shame to see all of this happening; Disney stars becoming hit music sensations, while all along the musicians and artists who truly deserve to be heard, are kept in the dark—left only for the true, loyal fans who really appreciate music for what it is to find.

Avoid the Debt Trap

By Marissa Barnes
As college students, most of us are familiar with the concept of borrowing loans in order to pay for our college expenses.

What some of us aren’t familiar with, however, is the concept of money management.  Some students have to work their way through college and understand what it’s like to make monthly payments on things such as a car or an apartment. 

On the other hand, many students have the support of their parents throughout college and often lose sight of how expensive it is to be a college student.

The biggest burden to students and their parents is covering the costs of tuition.  This is usually done by accumulating student loans and other debts that can take years to pay back.

Waterloo School District Dress Code Debate

I vividly remember my days at West High and even then the debate about the school dress code was a hot topic. Then the issue was banning revealing clothing. Now I could see some of their arguments because there will always be those students who want to push the envelope. The fact of the matter back then was the banning of tank tops, and other revealing clothing. I took personal offence to this policy. I usually wore the same thing to school every day, I wore layered clothing, for one reason: the temperature differences in the building were drastic. One room would be might be comfortable or even a little chilly in the summer time if you had a room with air conditioning, but most of the building did not have air conditioning. So when you got up to your class on the third floor and it was 90 plus degrees, you could shed a layer of clothes. I was upset because tank tops were banned, like I already said, it got HOT in those rooms  I just didn’t see the problem with tank tops, to me what was wrong with seeing a little shoulder? We didn’t like it then, I remember it being the topic of debate my senior year and that was almost ten years ago.

Are you prepared to save a life?

By: Rachel Cook

Nearly 310,000 people die every year from coronary heart disease. This is almost half of all deaths every year. Coronary heart disease can cause sudden cardiac arrest, which is when the heart stops beating effectively. Cardiac arrest results in the need for Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), or more importantly, defibrillation. Defibrillation is an electrical shock delivered by an electrical device called an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). AEDs are very simple to use and are being put many different places every day such as airports, malls, and casinos. However, there are some places that do not have AEDs, or if they do, it takes a long time for them to get to the scene. This is when it is extremely important to know CPR. Early CPR increases the effectiveness of early AED use and results in a higher chance of survival. Every minute that care is delayed, a person’s chance of survival is reduced by 10%. Therefore, if more people were certified in CPR it would significantly increase the number of cardiac arrest victims being saved.

Four Loko: Good Time or Bad News?

By Lauren Anderson

Four Loko is a dangerous and caffeinated alcoholic beverage commonly consumed on college campuses. Four Loko was created by Phusion Projects LLC. in 2005. Four Loko started in Ohio when three students from Ohio State University noticed college students mixing alcohol and caffeine, which is common at most U.S. colleges these days. The three students formed Phusion Projects LLC. and created Four Loko. The drink got its name from the four main ingredients it contains: alcohol, caffeine, taurine, and guarana.

The Ohio State students began selling 23 oz. cans of 12% alcohol Four Loko at on-campus stores. In 2006, the drink became increasingly popular on college campuses across the nation, expecially the Midwest. At the same time, Four Loko’s effect started to be questioned. From 2007 to 2009, the drink gained momentum, was sold in 46 states, and started being exported to Europe. At the end of 2009, the Food and Drug Administration began investigating the effects of alcohol energy drinks, which, of course, included Four Loko.

Negative Influences of Media on Adolescents

By:Jamie Bruess

Because of the rise in technology since 1996, adults, as well as children have made more and more room for technology in their everyday lives.  From cell phones to video games almost every individual has a technological item in their possession no matter their age. The primary focus is if they are effective or are they just another distraction?

Getting a cell phone was a big thing when I was in my sophomore year of high school and now majority of children have one even before reaching middle school!  Statistics show that today 23% of teens are getting their first cell phone at age 12 and another 23% at age 13.  What parents might not realize when purchasing a plan to fit their childrens' needs are the effects of it all.

Out-of-State Students Left Out-in-the Cold

by Karyn Spory

I am from Wayland, Missouri; a small town that is just a hop, skip, and short swim across the Des Moines River from Iowa. In fact, I live on East Des Moines Street in Wayland, Missouri. With all of those coincidences it would seem that I was destined to go to college in Iowa, but the cost of out-of-state tuition and no relief in sight proved to be an uphill battle.

Is the price of “Weed” too high?

By Selso Casares

You may think so if you look at what you are risking if you decide to smoke the drug on campus. Waking up from a nap on a Thursday afternoon because you pulled an all-nighter the evening before, now imagine waking up from that nap by two UNI police officers barging in your room, basically ransacking everything you own, because your roommate has unfortunately been busted for going to class “blazed.” Not only have you been rudely awakened and your rooms in shambles but guess what? You have also been charged with possession because paraphernalia was found on your side of the room. It’s not a pretty picture but it can happen to you if you’re not aware of your roommate’s extracurricular activities. And just how much power do our Resident assistants have? If your neighbors or even your hall for that matter smells of the weed will you be suspected…do you wear cute vintage clothes and have a free love type of attitude, then yes, honey you will be prime suspect #1. Of course this profiling is not fair but what can you do to make sure your room is not wrongfully searched. If you are innocent then you have nothing to worry about but if you decide to bring marijuana into your room there will be repercussions. Well according to our student handbook, “Students who violate this policy may be referred for an educational/treatment program and may be subject to disciplinary action.”

Cell Phones Gettin' Sweaty

By Megan Boomershine

What do driving, drinking, eating and working out have in common? Cell phones. The controversy in recent months over people misusing their cell phones is dull. The different perspectives on the argument have been stated *sigh* over and over again. At the end of the day, who honestly cares what people do with their fingers and cell phones? Well, it’s reached a whole new level. You can text when you drink, eat and even sleep for the unbelievably gifted, why the desire for using a cell phone while working out?

Iowa City Cracks Down on Hawkeye Spirit

By: Brittany Montella

Cedar Falls, Iowa – The “Think before you drink” campaign is not taken lightly these days by the University of Iowa or Iowa City police. 19 year old University of Iowa student, Lauren Terzick of Shorewood, Illinois said “I feel like Iowa's spirit and life around campus is slowly dying and changing. This school no longer feels like the home I’ve had for the past two years.” This is due to the recent 21-ordinance that forbids anyone under the age of 21 to enter the bars downtown Iowa City and campaign’s new rules for tailgating. “This seems quite ridiculous to Terzick who remembers what it was like prior to the ordinance. “Tailgating before games is what makes this university so great. Now, there are no open alcohol containers and all of these stringent rules for football games,” said Terzick.

Can I Have the Flu Please?

By: Reilly Zlab

As the season changes from fall to winter, Iowans will begin walking around wearing surgical masks and signs that say don't approach me…I’m sick. In reality, the flu is not that easy to spot. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) encourages everyone to protect him or herself and to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Although you can be vaccinated at any point during the season, October and November are the best times to receive a flu vaccination. This means that those of you still refusing the vaccination have already fallen behind the crowd.

Drinking and Driving

By: Christopher Hofeldt

Over the limit, under arrest. It’s a phrase that much of the world is hearing more and more often. Over the past several years thousands of adults, students, and children have lost their lives do to alcohol related accidents. Nearly 12,000 deaths occurred in 2009 with 412 of those accidents happening in the state of Iowa. Though the number has steadily decreased over the past few years, 2010 is on record pace of drunken driving deaths. I feel that not only the state of Iowa but the nation as a whole must crack down on people of all ages to have stricter penalties for drunk driving.

Classrooms Get A New Look

By: Hannah Rodriguez

It is not just a private and Catholic school tradition anymore. Many public schools across the country are moving toward standardized uniforms and the Waterloo Community School system is one of them. Such a decision however brings commotion from all sides of the story not only students but parents as well.

The Public School Parents Network has a list of pros and cons for students wearing uniforms. The new change of course brings hope that they will instill discipline within their students and make the school a safer environment. There are the obvious reasons like leveling the playing field for all students no matter what their household income is. A standardized dress code brings education to the forefront leaving brand name clothing and fashion in the back of students' minds while in the classroom. Overall, uniforms create a clean slate for learning as everyone is looked at equally.

Remedies for Travel Headaches

By Caleb Flores

Have you ever had problems booking flights or delayed flights that messed up your travel plans? The holiday season means time to shop for gifts, and spending time with the special people in your life. But, with the holiday season comes travel problems that can throw a huge wrench in your holiday plans. In a recent article, “Problems with the holidays” it gives insight into some problems that you might encounter when traveling or planning your vacation. Some of the problems that you might encounter are high priced tickets, delayed flights, overbooked air travel, and of course cancellations due to weather. Looking at the factors can really help you plan for your next travel adventures.

International News Declines in Local Media When Lohan Jailed Makes the Front Page

By Kaitlyn Morley

Photo taken by: Stefano Corso

Lindsay Lohan has been jailed again. Who cares? Apparently the American population cares. It is your time to stand up and fight for your right to read news. The United States population constitutes *4.5 percent of the total world’s population. For being such a small portion of the world population, we think our news is far superior and more important than the new in any other country. Brittany Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and Paris Hilton, however, should not be more newsworthy than international news in our newspapers, radio station news broadcasts, and television news programs.


International News: Bringing about the Golden Age, written by Ethan Zuckerman (2008), recognize five reasons why average American should stay informed on international issues. First, the recent increase in globalization has changed the job atmosphere by outsourcing customer service call centers and manufacturing jobs. The American workers have not only lost their job but risk losing future jobs to overseas markets. American should become aware of a common trend occurring abroad that could affect their jobs at home.

Happily Ever After?

By Lenna Curry


Fairytale weddings are often the dreams of many girls from the time they learn to play house. They begin planning their perfect dress, floral arrangements, and who will be in their bridal party. Specifics such as who they would be marrying are typically an afterthought. These dreams were also shared by Sara, 26, of Waterloo, Iowa as a young girl. The only difference is that Sara happens to be marrying another woman.

Steroids...The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

By Lizzy Thuringer

“How can I make myself look better, more fit and in shape?” Are these the questions you ask yourself every day but can never find an answer? These types of questions lead to the hundreds, even thousands, who use steroids today. The peer pressure and demands of trying to portray the best image you can and better yourself in the most physical way, is another reason for steroid usage. When using steroids, there are some dangerous risks to consider. There are positives and negatives about steroids, but the negative aspects are what are keeping the rest of the millions out there not using the drug.

The Teen Tan Ban

By Kayla Streb

Think back to the last time you were with a small group of friends or family, and take a look around. See the faces, lives and dreams of those who surround you. Now take a moment to digest the fact that one in every five of these loved ones will develop skin cancer at some point throughout their lives. It could happen to your aunt, your roommate, or even your brother; skin cancer knows no boundaries.

Violent Video Games and the Ramifications on Young Children

By Kristi Wiltgen

With Christmas around the corner, people are trying to decide what to get their young ones. Many will gravitate towards purchasing some form of entertainment device, one of them being video games. To them, these games are an excellent present because they tend to be the hot item, on many children’s wish list in a technology savvy world. They know that when their child unwraps their present, and finds the latest and greatest video game, they are sure to get the best parent award, at least for the time being.

Texting while dying

By Stephanie Smith

The music is blaring; the wipers swish back and forth, wiping water from the windshield, and you’re in the middle of a heated texting conversation with your roommate. But the radio really isn’t that loud. The rain isn’t extremely distracting. And glancing up and down from your phone in the middle of all that isn’t really that dangerous…is it?

Mobile phones have become as common as, well, the common cold. Gone are the days of solitude and privacy. In their place, is now the incessant stream of communication: emails, text messages and phone calls—all of which can be accessed on the go. But the increase in mobile communication has also led to an increase in vehicular accidents caused by distracted driving.

Time Will Tell

By Ziyue "Tommy" Liu

Good video games are addicting. If they are not then they are not good. 

Being addicted to video games, in most cases, means a person spend hours on the game and also spend time thinking about the game while not playing. This is what addiction means, having excessive does of something. 

Surprisingly, a certain group of people believe that there is something called a “positive addiction”. In general speaking, addiction usually means an activity repeated many times which cause potential harm to the person or the community around that person. So in contrast, a “positive addiction” would mean an activity repeated many times which could cause potential benefit to the person or the community around that person. So can video gaming become a “positive addiction” eventually?

Firstly, bad influences of video gaming can include but not limited to violence behaviors, causing health problems and interrupting with normal working and studying schedules. Some also believe that playing too much video game would affect a person’s normal social interaction abilities.

Tips for College Freshmen

By Alex J Frazier 

I remember being a freshman in college. I remember the excitement and the anticipation. However, I can also recall the nervousness that came right along with it.

Now that I am well beyond the halfway point of my college career, I am looking back and reflecting on the things that I enjoyed while in college, as well as the things I did not. There are many lessons freshmen should learn through their own experiences, but then, there are also some things freshmen should be told in advance. I know this because there are many things I wish someone would have told me when I was a freshman. The following is a list of some of those things:

Are We Raising Children or Consumers: the effects of advertising to our youth

By Therese Kuster

American young people today view more than 3,000 advertisements per day on television, the Internet, billboards and in magazines according to the American Academy of Pediatrics .  In fact, one study suggests that these kids spend as much or more time watching TV in a year than they do going to school.  This implies some pretty significant information about priorities of American parents.  The United States should implement stricter regulations against advertisements of all products to children under the age of 12 and eliminate all advertisements to children under the age of 8.  These ages directly correlate with the ages at which children are able to distinguish the intent of advertisements and understand the difference between these ads and reality.

The Music Industry is Failing! Right?

By Adam Smith

When was the last time you bought a CD? When was the last time you paid for your music? Chances are if you are like most music-listeners in today’s world, your primary music format is that of the mp3 and if possible, you rarely pay for it.

This conversion from the physical format of the CD to the digital format of mp3s has led to a number of changes in the world of music. Most noticeably, despite getting physically smaller, the geographic reach of music in the world has expanded exponentially. CD players, tape players, Walkmans, and even radio stations have lost their luster under the presence of online files that can be transported from person to person around the globe in the blink of an eye.

Reduce, Reuse, PREcycle?

By Elizabeth Mace

  We’re all familiar with the concept of recycling in order to reduce our carbon footprint on this glorious planet we call Earth.  Process your old products and waste into new materials to prevent the waste of reusable materials. Seems like a great idea right?   Not to mention, recycling also intends to reduce air pollution, water pollution, energy, and amount of space needed for landfills.  Recycling is a huge part of that phrase that has been etched into our brain since elementary—Reduce, reuse, and recycle! 

            Recyclable materials include many kinds of paper, glass, metal, textiles, plastic, and electronics.   Materials to be recycled need to be picked up at curbside or brought to a collection center.  After transportation, they are sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed into new materials ready to be manufactured.  After manufacturing of the new products, the cycle begins again.  Although recycling is a wonderful energy saving activity, it isn’t exactly what it seems.  There are still large amounts of resources and energy consumed, not to mention a degree of pollution that follows.

To Rent or to Buy

By Alex Swanson

Each year college students take out multiple loans to pay for all of the expenses that the next semester of classes will bring. They use these loans to pay for everything from tuition, housing, cost of living, and inevitably text books. If college tuition wasn’t expensive enough try adding hundreds of dollars onto it for an average of five books a semester. Typical text books can run anywhere from $50 to over $100. With many college courses requiring multiple books for each semester students spend hundreds of unexpected dollars on top of what they are already paying for tuition. This money crisis has struck fear around campuses and started to get out of hand in the past few years with students deciding to not purchase necessary books for their courses.

Students are hindering their education because of the high prices of books. Some book companies have begun to offer their text books online. The drawback to this is that the student is then not able to have a printed copy of the book to take to class with them and use to reference. Also the student’s availability to the text book is contingent on their access to the internet. A newer and easier way to gain cheaper access to text books is through renting.

Faster Than A Speeding Bullet

By Anna Schreck

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s--well, Amtrak. And it’s stirring up quite the commotion. With the onset of a plan to establish additional rails in Iowa and the stimulus package President Obama has advocated expanding our slow choo choos to that of the high-speed trains in other parts of the world, you may be seeing ‘Amtrak’ (combination of ‘America’ and ‘Track’) in the headlines more often than normal.

First, a little history. Amtrak is a nationwide network of passenger rail service created in 1970 by Congress, and began operations on May 1, 1971. Amtrak is also known as the National Railroad Passenger Corporation and was created to be a hybrid public-private company to transport passengers on the same tracks on which private companies hauled freight. The hope was Amtrak would become financially self-sufficient in the next two years. However, the financial independence has not yet been established and Congress continues to scuffle with the amount of federal funding for which Amtrak should be eligible role and its role in our national transportation system.

Sporting events every sports fan should attend

By Derek Rosen

There are certain events that every true sports fan should experience before they die. These events vary from the very big well known events such as the Olympics or the World Cup to the small and lesser known events like the Iowa/Iowa State wrestling meet or The All-Africa Amputee Football Tournament. Odds are most people don’t like or possibly haven’t heard of some of the events on the list, but by attending these great events hopefully at least a small appreciation for that sport, its athletes and fans is learned.

The larger events will take little incentive to talk most fans into attending due to the well-known storied backgrounds behind them. It is up to other fans and sports writers to entice every sports fan into attending some of the less known events such as the Iowa versus Iowa State wrestling meet, the Iditarod and an All Blacks Rugby game in New Zealand.

The E-Reader Epidemic

By Leah Jeffries

“Technology is unreliable, it’s as simple as that,” said Hanna Pint, a Spanish education major at the University of Northern Iowa.

When asked her thoughts about E-readers; such as Kindle, Nook, Sony E-reader, becoming a staple in education, Pint expressed her concern about the downfall that technology experiences and how schools should not rely on it solely.

So ask yourself this, why then are E-readers becoming such a huge part of the education system? Are we, as a society, really prepared to completely replace books?

Yes, you read that correctly. Books.

Shining a Light on Paternity Fraud

By: Nate Hendershot

In the United States, the unwary and ignorant can find themselves victims of a plethora of fraudulent endeavors. Ponzi schemes, identity theft, phony cashier's checks, and sweepstakes scams are some of the many types of fraud that perpetuate society today. However, there is another kind of fraud, one that is perhaps more sinister than any of the aforementioned scams, yet it receives comparatively scant attention nationwide: Paternity Fraud. Generally speaking, paternity fraud is when a mother has named a man the father of her child knowing full well that this man is not the biological father. When done inside a marriage, the cuckolded husband is usually unaware of the epic treason his adulterous wife has committed against him, and goes on living life none the wiser. However, when there is child support involved, cuckoldry and paternity fraud reaches a whole new level of shadiness.

Healthy College Students...NOT!

By Courtney Moore


Are college students becoming increasingly unhealthy? Being a college student probably means going to school, heading to work, then more than likely at the library till late. How does a “normal” college student get away with staying healthy? There are various aspects we can look at when evaluating a student’s health.

There are many things to consider such as sleeping habits, eating habits, physical activity, and binge drinking. Time management has a lot to do with how healthy a student can be. If a college student doesn’t have time or feels as though she/he doesn’t have time, then they will choose not to do the healthy alternative. However, it’s hard not to choose the unhealthy alternative. The choice at the time may look like the only possibility because of what we always have going on.

A Bowl Full of Money

By Dru Jorgensen

It would be a true statement to say that college football is very popular. It actually ranks as one of the most popular sports in the United States. A lot of people know what a playoff is; even if they are not interested in sports. Most college or professional sports have some type of a playoff system. So why does one of the most popular sports in the United States not have a playoff? That is a good question. Currently college football is using a bowl-game system. To be correct; Division 1-A, the highest division of college football, is the only division using a bowl-game system.
There are currently 35 bowl games in college football. One may ask what is a bowl game? That can be answered in a simple statement, such as, it’s a game at the end of the season in which a team plays in. It can have a complex answer. Either way a question that has been asked for quite a while, and especially in the last couple years is, should NCAA Division 1-A football have a playoff?

Fan Cans Controversy

By: Amy Jenkins

 

These fan cans were created in 27 different color combinations, ranging from blue and white, red and silver, navy and orange, to the beloved UNI purple and gold. The beverages match the school colors of many colleges and universities, but many are not the specific hue that the educational institutions hold near and dear to them. This was an optional and voluntary program for the brand’s wholesalers and about half decided to participate in the promotion. Carol Clark, the company’s vice president of corporate social responsibility, says that Anhueser-Busch aimed for this marketing campaign to “use color schemes to connect with fans of legal drinking age in fun ways in select markets across a variety of sports”.

You Gotta Belieb

By Aldijana Omanovic

Whether you love to love him or love to hate him, Justin Bieber's rise to fame is incredible. This current sensation is much more than a "current sensation." The 16-year-old pop star has infected the world with Bieber Fever and the only cure for it is more Bieber.

Meditation: Not Just for Men in Robes

By Kayla Ferdon

If you believe life is stressful and there is nothing we can do about it, you have not experienced meditation.

I found peace at the most stressful time in my college career. Some people thrive on deadlines and stress, but everyone has a breaking point. I reached mine during my sophomore Spring semester. I was on the verge of giving up when the a solution found me.
It was the end of the semester and each week was my new "worst week ever." I started skipping meals and losing sleep in an attempt to get everything done. The few moments I had to rest, I wasted sitting on Facebook or watching TV; I told myself I deserved a "veg-out" session. When I laid down to go to sleep, I would lay there for hours stressing about all the things I could be doing. For all that hard work, a break was deserved, but the time should have been used more effectively. I decided to set aside an hour to go to the library and find a book to read for personal benefit; the idea was that I could read it each night to help me fall asleep. The book I chose did more than help me fall asleep, it taught me a new way of life.

I have always found a great interest in studying religions and their practices. I checked-out a few books on various religions, but one captured my attention, Wicca: A Year & a Day. There was a brief section explaining the importance of meditation, and how to do it. That night, I decided to try meditation; I had the best sleep I had in months. Further research of meditation showed the use of meditation in many religions as well as secular practices. The word meditation might spark images of Buddhist monks in orange robes and earth-loving hippies surrounding themselves with incense and candles, but anyone can meditate; there are no requirements to being a "meditator." Modern-Day Meditation by Jim St. James discusses meditation in the modern world.
Experts at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine say, "Today, many people use meditation outside of its traditional religious or cultural settings as a form of mind-body medicine."
I spend 10-20 minutes meditating on nights I cannot fall asleep, or anytime I find myself stressed out. Doing so has brought my stress level down drastically. I do not waste time worrying about what needs to get done, and instead focus on resting when needed, and being level-headed when it is time to work. Meditation is like your personal pause button. The busiest person in the world, spiritual or not, can set aside 10 minutes to meditate. Those 10 minutes save a person from "burning out," and wasting a great amount of time having a mental breakdown. My experience with meditation is only the beginning. Some experts say the most effective meditation is completely different from the way many of us imagine a session, closing our eyes in a quiet space.
"'You don't have to go off and go to a monastery,' [Dr. Charles Raison is the principal investigator of the study at Emory and CNN Health mental health expert] said,'"said Zen Buddism Examiner Merlyn Seely. "Meditation can be done literally anyplace and when you get used to it, say usually around a month to three of practice, then you could literally go throughout the whole day in meditation."
Meditation can be practiced in the most chaotic places with open eyes sitting in an office chair. The key is practice and focus. A person must choose the form of meditation that works best for their lifestyle.

Meditation has proven medical benefits. Practicing meditation on an "as-needed" basis can relieve stress, increase calmness and focus the mind. If done regularly, meditation can help a person learn more effectively, cope with illness and improve psychological balance. Many patients recovering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a disorder incurred from experiencing a traumatic event, find healing in meditation. Meditating can enhance overall health and well-being.
The Art of Living says there are three reasons for illness, all of which may be healed with meditation; violation of natural law such as eating unnatural food, illness imposed by nature such as cancer, and release of past impressions also known as Karma. A form of meditation should be selected based on the illness, the desired outcome and personal preference.

Much like physical exercises, there are many variations of exercises for your mind. Mindfulness meditation is a basic, common form that requires being present in all activities. A person should be self-aware during even the simplest of tasks, understand the sights, sounds and elements of your everyday life. Walking to class can look and sound like a new experience when you open your eyes and your mind. This style of meditation has grown in popularity in recent years. USA Today notes hospitals using mindfulness meditation as a reliever of stress and pain.
Another basic, but valuable type of meditation, similar to mindfulness, is Vipassana. Commonly know as insightful meditation, Vipassana is one of the oldest known forms of meditation founded by Buddists. This is the kind of meditation people think of when they hear the word meditation; men in robes, sitting in nature completely at peace. This style suggests you have wisdom within you that needs to be released, you just need to clear the way. The best way to begin is by sitting quietly and peacefully. The mind should be kept attentive and focused on the sounds and movements of slow, deep breaths. Some prisons, by enlisting the help of organizations such as the David Lynch Foundation, have found Vipassana and Transcendental meditation as a rehabilitation that can reduce recidivism, relapse to criminal behavior, for the inmates. Transcendental meditation is virtually the same as Vipassana without ties to religion.
Meditation can be done anywhere at anytime. Meditation can be guided or self-initiated and in silence or chaos. It is used in practices like yoga and self-affirmations like mantra-reciting. Loving-kindness meditation can release negative emotions and develop positive ones. The number of variations and styles of meditation is endless.

So many options can make it overwhelming for a beginner to know where to start. The main thing to understand is that meditation does not have to be time-consuming. It can be done for as few as 10 minutes and still be effective. Here are some useful tips on getting started.

Before you can be comfortable meditating in public spaces, it is is good to begin by finding a quiet spot, become comfortable in that space and calm yourself. Once you have found your space, you can close your eyes or focus on a simple object. Begin relaxing every muscle in your body starting with your face and heading slowly down to your toes and feet. Take deep breaths in through your nose, out through your mouth. This is known as ocean breathing. Try not to think of any single idea for too long. Allow your thoughts to float through your minds like passing clouds. Be aware of your time, but do not focus on it; take as much time as you may need. Once your mind is clear, and you feel at peace, you can begin to wiggle your fingers and toes. Take your time reawakening your muscles before moving or standing. With time, anyone can see results, and feel prepared to take on whatever the world throws at them.

Meditation requires commitment, and a willingness to participate. The origins of meditation are deeply rooted in religious and spiritual practices, but a person does not need to be religious to attain peace in mind, body and soul.
Buddist Monk, Matthieu Ricard, known as the "happiest man in the world" says, "Training allows us to transform the mind, to overcome destructive emotions, and to dispel suffering. The numerous and profound methods that Buddhism has developed over the centuries can be used and incorporated by anyone. What is needed is enthusiasm and perseverance. Meditation has a universal value: it would be a great pity to disregard the possibility of transforming our mind."

Meditation is the solution to the world's little problems; a way to pause life for a few moments. Regular practice can create an inner sense of equilibrium and forever change anyone's life.


Here are a few excellent sites for further information:
Insight Intuitive Consulting & Intution in Business A blog discussing "setting your energy"
How to Meditate Helpful videos on getting started
Positive Thinking Mayo Clinic's advice on thinking positively
Why Meditate? Great book written by Matthieu Ricard

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