#daily iowan

[militantinremission]

Vivek Ramaswami: The Perils of 'Race Neutrality'

Vivek Ramaswami's interview w/ Ann Coulter killed many birds w/ One Stone. Her blatant Racism & his acceptance of it spoke Volumes. Vivek has been pushing an Anti- Black Narrative for several years; I have personally said that he WILL become a victim of the Institutionalized Racism that he marginalized & dismissed. Ann Coulter is NO DUMMY! She tested his 'Race Neutral' stance from the start of the Interview. When she told him Point Blank that she agrees w/ him on many issues, but won't vote for him because he's 'Indian', Vivek didn't blink. He later commented that he 'respected her Courage to speak honestly'(???). THIS is what separates Black Americans from 'Brownfolk', & why ANY Black & Brown Coalition is just a pipe dream.

I have said a few times that Black Immigrants & Brownfolk don't have the same experience as Black Americans. We have an American Experience of Institutionalized Systemic Racism that has endured for Centuries. From the American Constitution, to Local Law, legislation has been put in place w/ the intent of marginalizing Black America as a Collective. For example: Property Taxes are lower & Insurance Rates are higher in Black Communities, compared to similar situations (same Property Lot size, same Vehicle) in Non Black Communities. This is by legislative design. 'People Of Color' don't share that experience. Like Irish, Italian, & Eastern European Immigrants, these Folks experienced a Period of 'Social Hazing' by the Mainstream, but are eventually included into American Society. They know Discrimination & Prejudicial Bias, but few experience the level of Systemic Racism that Black America faces daily.

Vivek Ramaswami's Case is worth noting. He's a 2nd generation American- a child of Brahmin Parents; both w/ Post Graduate Degrees (like Nimrata 'Nikki' Haley & Kamala Harris). He was born & raised in Ohio, attended Private School, & was able to amass Hundreds of Millions of Dollars at QVT Financial (managing their Biotech Division). By all accounts, Vivek is living The American Dream. His brief Public School Experience in Cincinnati has obviously affected his view of Black Americans. He has gone out of his way to slander the Black American Experience; marginalizing Our History & Our Struggle, but his Family arrived in the 1980s. He positioned himself in Conservative Politics & rose to prominence spewing Anti- Black rhetoric. Conservative News Media Outlets gave him a wave to ride, but he Wiped Out in the Iowa Primary.

Despite visiting all 99 Counties, Ramaswami received a meager Return on his Investment. Iowans liked his talking points, but weren't comfortable w/ his Religion (Hinduism) or his 'Brown Skin'. The conversations that his Wife had w/ Iowan Voters were cringe worthy! Many looked her in the eye & stated their mistrust of his 'dark complexion' & questionable Christian Values; this despite Vivek touting his Jesuit Education non-stop on the Campaign Trail. Black Americans (other than Sen. Tim Scott) would've been insulted, but Vivek & his Wife apparently took it on the chin. He dropped out of the Race after Iowa, & predictably kissed the ring of Donald Trump. Throughout his Presidential Bid, Vivek Ramaswami sounded like he was auditioning for the Office of Vice President more than President.

Donald Trump recently had an Event at Mar A Lago that Media is calling a 'Vice Presidential Sweepstakes'. Ramaswami was among those being considered. It appears that his interview w/ Ann Coulter was an effort to beef up his Social Capital among MAGA Republicans, but Coulter deflated his Trial Balloon before he could reach a proper threshold. I personally find it comical. Vivek got so wrapped up in his perceived White Privilege, that he didn't realize what he REALLY had was Anti- Black Privilege. He thought that his wealth put him in the Ballpark, but didn't realize that most Americans don't know much about Hedge Funds or Biotech. Vivek literally flew beneath the radar, but his glaringly Non- White features overshadowed his rhetoric.

Like most 'People Of Color', Vivek Ramaswami failed to understand that AmeriKKKa sees him & his demographic as nothing more than a 'Buffer Group'. Their arrogance & smugness towards Us, blinds them to the fact that they are tools of Benign Neglect Policies; set up solely for the purpose of marginalizing Black American efforts to exercise a Right of Expression... Middle Class & Poor Whitefolk are becoming aware of just how much money this demographic earns; i'm anticipating a pushback at some point. AmeriKKKa IS NOT a Democracy, it's a White Supremacist Capitalist Republic. In This Land, The Wealthy Rule & Wealthy Whitefolk (i e. WASPS) are at the top of the Totem Pole... To date, the average Asian American Family earns more than the average White American Family. Black America knows FULL WELL what happens when Whitefolk begin to think that a Non- White Population may B outperforming them. For their own sake, Latinx & Black Immigrants should pay close attention.

When We factor in the Sabre Rattling between The U.S. & China over Commerce & Taiwan, plus rising tension between The U.S. & Hindustan/ Bharat over alleged Election Tampering, there may B some blow back on Asian Americans; especially during a Time of Economical Uncertainty- think Japanese Americans during WW2... Chattel Slavery has provided Black Americans w/ a unique perspective that Immigrants don't have. Whitefolk regarded Us as Sub Human (3/5ths of Humanity), so they weren't discrete about their actions around Us. This gives Us an intimate understanding of HOW AmeriKKKa moves. We warned these 'People of Color' about the folly of Race Neutrality, as We warned Poor Whitefolk about the folly of choosing White Privilege over Progressive Politics 135Yrs ago (i.e. The Populist Movement). NO ONE took heed to Our Prophecy- that American Capitalism WILL come for them, once We're neutralized. As always, it's Profit over People.

-The pendulum swings both ways.

[ntimmel]

Daily Snark 8/12/24 Iowa Drivers

This really is a phenomena I’ve only seen here in Iowa.

It’s bothered me since day one of living here. 

And it hasn’t improved; Iowa driver’s education might teach driving skills, but not driving etiquette. 

You try sitting through a light cycle in Los Angeles? You’re gonna get shot. And, I have to admit, justifiably so.

Maybe Iowans have nowhere to go, and nothing to do, but damn…

Some people (me) like to get places. 

[sp-ud]

how did i not notice in the original college photo technodad posted he was in front of the old capitol building and wearing a hawkeye lanyard. ive lived in Iowa since i was 4, i used to go past this building regularly. my house is full of hawkeye apparel. what the hell.

[iowacitypast]

Photo & Text:

Iowa women's basketball coach Vivian Stringer cuts down the net in celebration of the Hawkeyes' 72-56 victory over Tennessee in the NCAA Mideast Regional final Saturday at Carver Hawkeye Arena. The win earned the Hawkeyes a trip to the Final Four for the first time in school history.

From the from page of the March 29, 1993 Daily Iowan.

Back together again... Iowa and the Final Four.

[vague-humanoid]

"In the 19-page lawsuit, McDowell describes the reported discriminatory actions she observed from her colleagues, both directed to her and others," reported Jami Martin-Trainor. "This includes officers intentionally looping in the downtown Iowa City area to 'ogle young women and comment on their bodies and/or clothing,' which was referred to as the 'Lust Lap.' McDowell also describes a situation that occurred in the summer of 2017 where she faced 'unwanted and non-consensual kissing and sexual groping' from a colleague."

According to the lawsuit, McDowell also witnessed a lieutenant say that a Black homeless man was "not worth the skin on his bones," that coworkers would constantly use "gay" as a slur, and that some firefighters would deliberately misgender and deadname transgender people.

“This ordeal has caused Sadie to develop a myriad of debilitating symptoms and mental health conditions including Major Depressive Disorder and Other Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder,” said the lawsuit.

[tearsinthemist]

The Des Moines Register

What does NOAA's winter outlook show for Iowa and the Midwest?

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez, Des Moines Register

Thu, October 24, 2024 at 6:13 AM CDT·2 min read

La Nina is slowly developing but is still expected to influence winter conditions across the United States. NOAA's U.S. Winter Outlook, released by the Climate Prediction Center, gives insight to what this means for Iowans and Midwesterners.

Large parts of the United States will see a warmer-than-average winter, will Iowa?

NOAA said in its prediction that warmer-than-average temperatures are favored in the south up to the eastern Great Lakes.

While October has been unseasonably warm, Iowans should prepare for colder weather. December through February has an equal chance of above-normal or below-normal temperatures. The normal daily high in Des Moines is around 36 degrees in December, 31 degrees in January and 36 degrees in February.

A small portion of northwest Iowa is more likely to see below-average temperatures, according to NOAA.

How much snow will Iowa see this winter?

“This winter, an emerging La Nina is anticipated to influence the upcoming winter patterns, especially our precipitation predictions,” said Jon Gottschalck, chief of the Operational Prediction Branch of the Climate Prediction Center.

Like the temperatures, most of Iowa has equal changes of above-normal and below-normal precipitation. A swath of northeast Iowa has a change for above-average precipitation.

The Des Moines area normally sees 35.3 inches of snow each season, with about 25.4 inches falling between December and February.

Drought conditions will persist across Iowa, Great Plains, NOAA says

NOAA noted that extreme drought will continue across much of the Great Plains. In most of Iowa, drought conditions are expected to persist. However, NOAA's drought map indicated parts of southern and southeast Iowa may be drought-free.

“Unfortunately, after a brief period in the spring of 2024 with minimal drought conditions across the country, more than a quarter of the land mass in the continental U.S. is currently in at least a moderate drought,” said Brad Pugh, operational drought lead with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “And the winter precipitation outlook does not bode well for widespread relief.”

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: What does NOAA's winter outlook show for Iowa and the Midwest?

[tallmantall]

James Donaldson on Mental Health - Learn the suicide risk factors

John S. Westefeld To reach the suicide hotline, callers can dial 988 starting from any phone, just like dialing 911 According to the latest data available from the American Association of Suicidology, in 2021 there were 48,183 completed suicides in the United States, which is 132 per day. In 2021, 549 Iowans ended their own lives, an average of 1.5 every day. Suicide is a public health crisis. The suicide rate is the highest it has been since 1941, according to preliminary 2022 data reported by USA Today in November. #James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com Link for 40 Habits Signupbit.ly/40HabitsofMentalHealth If you'd like to follow and receive my daily blog in to your inbox, just click on it with Follow It. Here's the link https://follow.it/james-donaldson-s-standing-above-the-crowd-s-blog-a-view-from-above-on-things-that-make-the-world-go-round?action=followPub As 2024 begins, it is important to review basic information about suicide, as well what to do if you are concerned about someone being potentially suicidal. Even after many years of research, it remains very difficult to predict suicidal behavior. However, there are a few key risk factors. These risk factors include but are not limited to depression, feeling hopeless and helpless, talking about wanting to die, low self-esteem, isolation/loneliness, experiencing violence and victimization, increased use of drugs/alcohol, and a previous attempt. Access to firearms is an additional concern, because for many years firearms have been the No. 1 method people have used in carrying out suicide. In 2022, 26,993 people ended their lives using a firearm, according to CDC provisional data in July 2023. In my view, reducing firearm access would lower the suicide rate, and is of paramount importance. If you are concerned about someone being suicidal, it is important to reach out and ask what many suicidologists call “the question,” which is “Have you been feeling so badly lately that you have thought about harming yourself” or some approximation of this wording. A myth remains that by introducing the topic, we will give people the idea to carry out a suicide. You are more likely to save a life than cause a death by raising the issue and giving the individual permission to talk about how they are feeling. It is also important to provide the individual with hope, monitor them for risk, and encourage seeking help. Don’t give up encouraging the individual to seek treatment. It has been my experience people will frequently initially resist going for help — but with continued support and encouragement, many will eventually seek treatment. A very important resource is the phone number 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This number can also be texted. You can contact the 988 Lifeline for your own support should you be feeling suicidal, but also receive help in terms of assisting someone else who you consider potentially suicidal. There have been some positive advances related to suicide prevention. One of the most recent and important is that after many years of discussion, a netting system has been put in place at the Golden Gate Bridge. I believe there is also more general awareness about the issue. We need to educate the public about warning signs, what to do if concerned about someone, and available resources. We also need increased funding for mental health generally, and suicide prevention/response specifically. Hopefully, we can begin to reduce the suicide rate — and save lives. John S. Westefeld is board-certified in counseling psychology, a suicidologist and a professor emeritus at The University of Iowa. The views expressed are his own. Read the full article

[hemp-pot]

HEMP.GG;Consumers can purchase high-level THC products through loophole - UI The Daily Iowan

Consumers can purchase high-level THC products through loophole  UI The Daily Iowan source https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiYmh0dHBzOi8vZGFpbHlpb3dhbi5jb20vMjAyMy8xMC8zMS9jb25zdW1lcnMtY2FuLXB1cmNoYXNlLWhpZ2gtbGV2ZWwtdGhjLXByb2R1Y3RzLXRocm91Z2gtbG9vcGhvbGUv0gEA?oc=5

[loansampm]

UI alumni and students face impending student loan payments - UI The Daily Iowan

http://dlvr.it/Swg8TR

[audiofuzz]

HEAR: Americana Folk Rock | Mipso - “Broken Heart / Open Heart”

North Carolina based indie-Americana folk quartet Mipso share the contemplative and gentle track "Broken Heart / Open Heart" out everywhere now. The band's propulsive sixth studio album Book of Fools, is due out August 25. The album is now available to pre-order digitally here and on vinyl here. Plus, the band will embark on an extensive tour across North America beginning in Portsmouth, NH on August 17 with tickets on sale now via mipsomusic.com/tour. "Broken Heart / Open Heart" is an earnest processing of grief and display of love and hope amidst loss. "Broken Heart / Open Heart" out today, was built around the idea that a broken heart can become an open heart. On the track, the band builds to a simmering pace, but it never boils over–the intimate vocal is gripping, alongside the muted piano and an overdriven guitar that add grit to the bittersweetness. Mandolinist and vocalist Jacob Sharp and guitarist Joseph Terrell wrote the track together that became a vessel for his processing of the grief that comes in the wake of losing someone you love. Referencing the gut-wrenching opening lyrics, "How do you tell someone you’re lonely, when they’re sitting by your side?" Sharp shares, "I’ve had a couple friends recently who lost a family member for the first time. My mom was sick for a long time - I remember hard times, and I was broken for a while after she passed." Despite the immense pain and heartache Sharp endured, he's able to embrace the brokenness to rebuild himself. Sharp continues, "Now I look back grateful to have been broken enough to have had to decide how to put myself back together. There’s a universal binding in that feeling of realizing you’re broken enough to be wide open - and I think with the right support and love that openness can be a gift. " Book of Fools, the forthcoming sixth studio album by Mipso out August 25, sees the band at their most assured, guided mostly by their own intuition and less impacted by time constraints, expectations or outside forces. Over ten cohesive tracks, driving rhythms, earnest, thoughtful lyricism guide the band back to their roots and who they are at their core. As Terrell puts it, "'Book of Fools' feels more relaxed, more confident, more us – like we’re wearing our favorite clothes and telling our favorite story and it feels exciting again.” There's a fresh, solid confidence and profound understanding of one another that radiates through the music. It's this palpable connection that can only come from this group playing together around the world several hundreds of times and it's here they rediscover their joy and unmatched connection as musicians and as best friends. The previously shared tracks "The Numbers," and "Carolina Rolling By" have captivated fans who are eagerly anticipating the forthcoming project. "Carolina Rolling By" earned the band the cover of Spotify's Roots Rising and number one spot on the playlist, plus placements on Summer Acoustic, Chill Folk, Fresh Folk, Apple's New in Americana, Southern Craft and Amazon's Fresh Folk & Americana. "The Numbers" also appeared on Fresh Folk and New in Americana. "The Numbers" is a rhythmic, wry, finger-wagging observation of the market-obsessed culture that permeates American society. Inspired by NPR's Kai Ryssdal and his signature phrase, "Let’s do the numbers!," the band wonders how tracking the daily economic tea leaves became a veritable religious observance for the ruling class. Fiddler and vocalist Libby Rodenbough recalls hearing an Iowan voter on TV discussing presidential candidates and saying, “I like the incumbent because the stock market’s doing well.” Rodenough says, "I looked around at this cruel place where we live and I felt forlorn that the NASDAQ offers anybody any kind of comfort. How do I know things are bad? Because I feel it, and I see it.” The notion that the success of the stock market had very little to do with the actual lived experiences of everyday people laid the foundation for the groovy, slick "The Numbers." The first taste of the forthcoming project, "Carolina Rolling By" is a relaxed, country-tinged groove that tells the story of a down-and-out pill-popping truck driver trying to get back on his feet. Written in part as a love letter to driving around their home state, Mipso's signature layered, poignant harmonies paint a vibrant portrait of the view out of the driver's window–the deep, clear blue sky with the sun beating down and the crisp air floating by. Terrell says the song came about after a boating accident that led to him needing to take painkillers during recovery. Similar to previous Mipso releases, the track finds beauty in pain and allowed Terrell the space to craft the ode to driving through North Carolina that he's always wanted to make. It was during his recovery that the song materialized. Terrell says with a fresh understanding of the power of pills, "I couldn’t walk for 12 days but I had my grandma’s guitar and some hydrocodone and worked on this song I think because I fully understood for the first time how anyone could get addicted to those." Read the full article

[chrisryanspeaks]

HEAR: Americana Folk Rock | Mipso - “Broken Heart / Open Heart”

North Carolina based indie-Americana folk quartet Mipso share the contemplative and gentle track "Broken Heart / Open Heart" out everywhere now. The band's propulsive sixth studio album Book of Fools, is due out August 25. The album is now available to pre-order digitally here and on vinyl here. Plus, the band will embark on an extensive tour across North America beginning in Portsmouth, NH on August 17 with tickets on sale now via mipsomusic.com/tour. "Broken Heart / Open Heart" is an earnest processing of grief and display of love and hope amidst loss. "Broken Heart / Open Heart" out today, was built around the idea that a broken heart can become an open heart. On the track, the band builds to a simmering pace, but it never boils over–the intimate vocal is gripping, alongside the muted piano and an overdriven guitar that add grit to the bittersweetness. Mandolinist and vocalist Jacob Sharp and guitarist Joseph Terrell wrote the track together that became a vessel for his processing of the grief that comes in the wake of losing someone you love. Referencing the gut-wrenching opening lyrics, "How do you tell someone you’re lonely, when they’re sitting by your side?" Sharp shares, "I’ve had a couple friends recently who lost a family member for the first time. My mom was sick for a long time - I remember hard times, and I was broken for a while after she passed." Despite the immense pain and heartache Sharp endured, he's able to embrace the brokenness to rebuild himself. Sharp continues, "Now I look back grateful to have been broken enough to have had to decide how to put myself back together. There’s a universal binding in that feeling of realizing you’re broken enough to be wide open - and I think with the right support and love that openness can be a gift. " Book of Fools, the forthcoming sixth studio album by Mipso out August 25, sees the band at their most assured, guided mostly by their own intuition and less impacted by time constraints, expectations or outside forces. Over ten cohesive tracks, driving rhythms, earnest, thoughtful lyricism guide the band back to their roots and who they are at their core. As Terrell puts it, "'Book of Fools' feels more relaxed, more confident, more us – like we’re wearing our favorite clothes and telling our favorite story and it feels exciting again.” There's a fresh, solid confidence and profound understanding of one another that radiates through the music. It's this palpable connection that can only come from this group playing together around the world several hundreds of times and it's here they rediscover their joy and unmatched connection as musicians and as best friends. The previously shared tracks "The Numbers," and "Carolina Rolling By" have captivated fans who are eagerly anticipating the forthcoming project. "Carolina Rolling By" earned the band the cover of Spotify's Roots Rising and number one spot on the playlist, plus placements on Summer Acoustic, Chill Folk, Fresh Folk, Apple's New in Americana, Southern Craft and Amazon's Fresh Folk & Americana. "The Numbers" also appeared on Fresh Folk and New in Americana. "The Numbers" is a rhythmic, wry, finger-wagging observation of the market-obsessed culture that permeates American society. Inspired by NPR's Kai Ryssdal and his signature phrase, "Let’s do the numbers!," the band wonders how tracking the daily economic tea leaves became a veritable religious observance for the ruling class. Fiddler and vocalist Libby Rodenbough recalls hearing an Iowan voter on TV discussing presidential candidates and saying, “I like the incumbent because the stock market’s doing well.” Rodenough says, "I looked around at this cruel place where we live and I felt forlorn that the NASDAQ offers anybody any kind of comfort. How do I know things are bad? Because I feel it, and I see it.” The notion that the success of the stock market had very little to do with the actual lived experiences of everyday people laid the foundation for the groovy, slick "The Numbers." The first taste of the forthcoming project, "Carolina Rolling By" is a relaxed, country-tinged groove that tells the story of a down-and-out pill-popping truck driver trying to get back on his feet. Written in part as a love letter to driving around their home state, Mipso's signature layered, poignant harmonies paint a vibrant portrait of the view out of the driver's window–the deep, clear blue sky with the sun beating down and the crisp air floating by. Terrell says the song came about after a boating accident that led to him needing to take painkillers during recovery. Similar to previous Mipso releases, the track finds beauty in pain and allowed Terrell the space to craft the ode to driving through North Carolina that he's always wanted to make. It was during his recovery that the song materialized. Terrell says with a fresh understanding of the power of pills, "I couldn’t walk for 12 days but I had my grandma’s guitar and some hydrocodone and worked on this song I think because I fully understood for the first time how anyone could get addicted to those." Read the full article

[iowaprelawland]

“Fighting Words” or Free Speech: Matt Walsh at the University of Iowa

By Sonja Cutts, University of Iowa Class of 2026

May 30, 2023

On April 19th, 2023, two groups of people—each several hundred members strong—convened at the Iowa Memorial Union (IMU), a large brick building on the University of Iowa campus. One group was there to watch conservative commentator Matt Walsh speak following a screening of his controversial documentary “What is a Woman?”, which advertises that it follows Walsh “as he fearlessly questions the logic behind a gender ideology movement that has taken aim at women and children.” (1) The other group was there to protest against Walsh and his supporters. As attendees lined up for admission into the event, protestors gathered near the line, shouting slogans like “Trans rights are human rights” and “Protect trans kids.” Others chalked pro-LGBTQ+ messages onto sidewalks surrounding the IMU. Once the event began and the line dispersed, protestors marched through nearby streets, playing musical instruments and disrupting traffic. (2)

Walsh’s appearance was announced back in March by the University of Iowa’s Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) chapter, the student organization hosting the event. (3) Tensions began brewing in early April, when flyers were anonymously posted in downtown Iowa City containing a screenshot from an Iowa YAF group chat. In the conversation pictured, the UI College Republicans President, Samuel Haack, uses an offensive anti-transgender slur. (In an email to The Daily Iowan, Iowa YAF Vice Chair John Piaszynski confirmed the legitimacy of the screenshot but wrote that members of his organization “do not condone the use of disrespectful terms.”) (4)  Shortly after, on April 7th, five progressive student organizations released a joint statement calling on the University “to do what is right by suspending Iowa YAF from all further activities.” (5) A Change.org petition “urg[ing] the University of Iowa to protect transgender students over hate and transphobia” would go on to collect over 4,700 signatures. (6)

However, Iowa YAF has not been suspended. Their event went on as scheduled, despite opposition from many students. Now that the dust has settled, it is worth asking one important question—could the University legally have stopped Walsh from speaking on campus?

Hypothetically, they could have halted the event in one of two ways—either by suspending Iowa YAF and imposing a sanction that would prevent them from using University space for any event, or by forbidding them from using University space for this event specifically. However, both methods would have run into the same challenge. The University of Iowa is a public university—a school primarily funded by a state government. Because the Fourteenth Amendment makes the First Amendment apply to states, (7) public universities are required to uphold freedom of speech.

This requirement would make it difficult—if not impossible—for the University of Iowa to suspend and sanction Iowa YAF for their alleged transphobia. However, in the joint statement released on April 7th, five University of Iowa progressive organizations argued that the University should suspend Iowa YAF because they had violated “Rule 9 of the Office of Student Accountability’s Rules for Student Organizations.” Rule 9 states:

A student organization may be subject to disciplinary sanctions if one or more organization members violates University regulations at an event sponsored by the organization or in the course of the organization’s affairs and the organization failed to exercise reasonable preventive measures. Sanctions may also be imposed on the organization if the activity of one or more members at the organization-sponsored event seriously threatened (a) any educational process or other legitimate function of the University or (b) the health or safety of any member of the academic community. (8)

The joint statement points to the last section of Rule 9, arguing that Iowa YAF has “endanger[ed] the health and safety of our transgender peers” by running the group chat in which Haack used an offensive slur, hosting Matt Walsh, and scheduling events for the Spring 2023 semester with the titles “Debating the Transgender Movement,” “What Age Should be Allowed to Transition?” and “Women’s Spaces in the Age of Transgenderism.”

This argument that speech on the campuses of public universities can be limited if it poses a safety issue has been successfully argued in court before. In 2011, a student named Neil O’Brien at the public California State University-Fresno (CSUF) was disciplined after he filmed and confronted two professors in their respective offices. O’Brien was upset about a poem recently published in the student newspaper La Voz de Aztlan and questioned the two professors about their involvement in its publication. He was charged with violating CSUF’s Student Code of Conduct, which prohibits students from engaging in behavior that “threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.” When O’Brien sued several University officials in response, the Ninth Circuit ruled that CSUF had not violated his First Amendment rights. (9)

However, it is important to note that this lawsuit involved a direct confrontation between the people having their safety threatened and the person doing the threatening. Iowa YAF’s actions, while they could be considered threatening to transgender students, did not involve direct confrontation between the group and those students. This distinction could mean trouble for the University of Iowa if they suspended Iowa YAF. If the student organization sued, the University would most likely have a difficult time proving that Iowa YAF’s First Amendment rights had not been violated.

That brings us to the other possible method of stopping Walsh’s lecture: refusing to allow Iowa YAF to use University space for that event specifically. This strategy conflicts with one specific aspect of the First Amendment—the public forum doctrine. The Supreme Court recognized this doctrine in the 1939 case Hague v. Committee for Industrial Organization, in which they held that “[t]he privilege of a citizen of the United States to use the streets and parks for communication of views on national questions may be regulated in the interest of all… but it must not, in the guise of regulation, be abridged or denied.” (10)

These spaces specifically mentioned in the Hague ruling are considered “traditional public forums,” as they have been historically used for public speech and debate. Speech in these forums enjoys broad First Amendment protections, and can only be regulated in a narrow, content-neutral manner. Public universities, on the other hand, are considered “limited public forums.” In these forums, the government is granted more leeway when it comes to discriminating against classes of speakers or types of speech. Some public universities, for example, refuse to host speakers unless they are invited by a student organization. However, viewpoint discrimination is still forbidden in limited public forums. (11) The University of Iowa could not refuse Walsh space to speak on campus simply because they found his speech to be offensive.

However, the University could shut down Walsh’s planned lecture and/or the screening of his film if they found that his speech fell under a category unprotected by the First Amendment—obscenity, defamation, fraud, incitement, or fighting words, just to name a few. (12) The category most applicable to Walsh and other controversial campus speakers is fighting words, which were identified as an exception to the First Amendment in the 1942 Supreme Court case Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire. In that case, the Court ruled that words which “inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace” are unprotected speech. (13) Since then, the Court has narrowed the scope of the fighting words doctrine several times. Notably, in the 1989 case Texas v. Johnson, the Court defined fighting words as words that are "a direct personal insult or an invitation to exchange fisticuffs." (14)

Hypothetically, the University of Iowa could refuse to grant Walsh space for his event by arguing that during it, he would most likely engage in insulting speech that could provoke violence. This argument has been made before in court. In 2017, a supporter of the white nationalist Richard Spencer sued Auburn University after they cancelled a speech Spencer planned to give in one of the school’s auditoriums. Due to Spencer’s infamy and widely despised views, the University was worried his presence would threaten the safety and security of those on campus. However, a federal judge ruled against them, finding that Auburn had engaged in unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination. (15) Additionally, since Chaplinsky, the Supreme Court has not held upheld a single conviction on the basis on the fighting words doctrine. If Walsh sued the University of Iowa for refusing to let him speak, the University would most likely not win the suit using this argument.

In short, it does not appear that the University had any legal way of shutting Walsh down. If they refused to let him speak, they would most likely be sued and defeated in court. Even if they somehow won, they would still have to face the court of public opinion, in which Walsh is a formidable enemy. The very same month as his lecture at the IMU, Walsh spearheaded an incredibly successful boycott of Bud Light after the beer brand partnered with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Sales of the beer dropped by eleven percent the week after Mulvaney posted a collaboration with Bud Light to her Instagram account. The next week, they dropped another twenty-one percent. And the week after that, they dropped a staggering twenty-six percent. Writing on Twitter, Walsh bragged that he and his supporters had “devastated Bud Light.” (16) One can only wonder if the University of Iowa would fare better if suddenly thrust into the middle of a culture war.

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1.       The Daily Wire. (n.d.). What is a Woman?. DailyWire+. https://get.dailywire.com/wiaw/subscribe

2.       Iowa Young Americans for Freedom [iowa_yaf] (2023, March 21). [Graphic Announcing Matt Walsh’s Lecture].  Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/p/CqDc4uruEVh/

3.       Hansen, R. (2023, April 20). Protesters block campus streets during conservative Matt Walsh’s appearance in Iowa City. Iowa City Press-Citizen. https://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/local/2023/04/20/demonstrators-protest-anti-trans-speaker-matt-walshs-iowa-appearance/70133924007/

4.       Delgado, E. (2023, April 8). UI student organizations call for suspension of Iowa young Americans for freedom. The Daily Iowan. https://dailyiowan.com/2023/04/08/ui-student-organizations-call-for-suspension-of-iowa-young-americans-for-freedom/#

5.       University Democrats at Iowa Executive Board, Young Democratic Socialists at Iowa Steering Committee, Ignite UI, Student Advocates for Planned Parenthood UI, & Environmental Coalition at Iowa. (2023, April 7). Joint Statement on Campus Transphobia. https://www.docdroid.net/CY7YbuN/joint-statement-on-campus-transphobia-pdf

6.       Paxson, T. (n.d.). Speak out against Matt Walsh - Protect Trans Students at UIowa. Change.org. https://www.change.org/p/speak-out-against-matt-walsh-protect-trans-students-at-uiowa

7.       Legal Information Institute. (n.d.). Incorporation doctrine. In Wex. Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/incorporation_doctrine

8.       Dean of Students. (n.d.). Discipline of Registered Student Organizations. University of Iowa Division of Student Life. https://dos.uiowa.edu/policies/discipline-of-registered-student-organizations

9.       The First Amendment Clinic at Duke Law. (n.d.). O’Brien v. Welty. Campus Speech Database. https://campus-speech.law.duke.edu/campus-speech-incidents/obrien-v-welty/

10.   Oyez. (n.d.). Hague v. Committee for Industrial Organization. Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://www.oyez.org/cases/1900-1940/307us496

11.   Legal Information Institute. (n.d.). Forums. In Wex. Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/forums

12.   Congressional Research Service. (2019, January 16). The First Amendment: Categories of Speech. Congress.gov. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11072

13.   Oyez. (n.d.). Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire. Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1955/315us568

14.   Legal Information Institute. (n.d.). Fighting words. In Wex. Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fighting_words

15.   The First Amendment Clinic at Duke Law. (n.d.). Padgett v. Auburn University. Campus Speech Database. https://campus-speech.law.duke.edu/campus-speech-incidents/padgett-v-auburn-university/

16.   Covucci, D. (2023, May 2). A steep decline in Bud Light sales in April has conservatives touting victory in boycott. The Daily Dot. https://www.dailydot.com/debug/bud-light-sales-boycott-conservatives-victory/

[iowafed]

Reynolds loses appeal! - Daily High Five

And, we’re 11 days out from our Birthday Party! Make sure to grab your tickets here! Now, let’s get into the High Five: 1. GOP TAKES FOOD FROM IOWANS: Last night, the Iowa House sent SF 494, the bill to cut food and health care assistance, to the Governor’s desk. This bill would increase costs for Iowa while simultaneously kicking eligible Iowans off assistance programs. The majority of SNAP…

[kathleenmaddison]

Module 3 References

70s fashion. (2018, November 8). Vintagedancer.com. https://vintagedancer.com/1970s/1970s-fashion-history/

Ahluwalia World. (n.d.). Ahluwalia. (Retrieved March 1, 2023), from https://ahluwalia.world

Andy Puddicombe. (n.d.). Headspace. (Retrieved March 1, 2023), from https://www.headspace.com/andy-puddicombe

BBC News. (2015, March 5). How did WW2 change the way people dressed? BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31719704

Blackman, C. (2015, October 8). How the Suffragettes used fashion to further the cause. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2015/oct/08/suffragette-style-movement-embraced-fashion-branding

Co-founder. (n.d.). Sports Business Journal. (Retrieved March 1), 2023, from https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Conferences-Events/2018/SMS/Speaker-Faculty/Andy-Puddicombe.aspx

Culture. (n.d.). Gsu.edu. (Retrieved March 1, 2023), from http://sites.gsu.edu/ssampson8/culture/

Grahame, M., Miranda, L., Rich, D., Cousins, P., & Almeida, L. A. T. (n.d.). Fabric printing. Custom printing on fabric in London. Bags of Love. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.bagsoflove.co.uk/products/fabric-printing.aspx

History of fashion 1950’s - 1960’s. (n.d.). Catwalk Yourself. (Retrieved March 1, 2023), from https://www.catwalkyourself.com/fashion-history/1950s-1960s/

Krause, J. (2021, October 1). Instagram marketing benefits for small businesses. The Daily Iowan. https://dailyiowan.com/2021/10/01/instagram-marketing-benefits-for-small-businesses/

Lischer, B. (2021, January 14). Brand launch: How to make a powerful first impression. Ignyte. https://www.ignytebrands.com/brand-launch-how-to-make-a-powerful-first-impression/

Michie, N. (2022, June 27). Roe v Wade and fashion’s New Freedom. FASHION Magazine. https://fashionmagazine.com/flare/identity-politics/roe-v-wade-fashion/

Phillips, I. (1997, February 11). The Look that shocked the world. Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/news/the-look-that-shocked-the-world-1278048.html

Samples. (2021, July 13). Important events in the 1970s. Historic Newspapers. https://www.historic-newspapers.co.uk/blog/1970s-events/

social change. (n.d.). In Encyclopedia Britannica.

WGSN Login. (n.d.). Wgsn.com. (Retrieved March 1, 2023), from https://www.wgsn.com/fashion/article/62dedaba0bb01fe83111bbbf

(N.d.). Comparably.com. (Retrieved March 1, 2023), from https://www.comparably.com/companies/nike/mission

[dailyrugbytoday]

HSBC Los Angeles Sevens 2023 Winners and Losers

New Post has been published on https://thedailyrugby.com/hsbc-los-angeles-sevens-2023-winners-and-losers/

The Daily Rugby

https://thedailyrugby.com/hsbc-los-angeles-sevens-2023-winners-and-losers/

HSBC Los Angeles Sevens 2023 Winners and Losers

The USA vs Japan match will take place on February 26, 2023, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, as part of the Los Angeles 2023 World Rugby Sevens Series competition.

During the two-day 2023 HSBC Los Angeles Sevens competition, sunny Southern California didn’t always live up to its moniker, but that didn’t detract from the caliber of rugby played.

New Zealand won the competition, defeating Fiji in 2022 to win the title for the second year in a row in Los Angeles. To win the gold medal and all 22 points necessary for automatic qualification to the 2024 Paris Games, the All Blacks defeated Argentina 22–12 in 2023.

As the stakes rise, the nations will travel to Vancouver, Canada for the upcoming competition from March 3–5. New Zealand, which won in Sydney the previous time around, will look to make it three gold medals in a row this season.

Let’s go back to Southern California in 2023 to see who won and lost before the action moves up north:

New Zealand wins the 2023 HSBC Los Angeles Sevens

With just one loss throughout the two-day competition, the All Blacks had quite the run to win the Cup. They defeated Chile 26-7 in the opening game, the USA 36-15 in the second pool game, and Samoa 14-7 in the third, but Manu Samoa won all three group games, so they came in second.

They then defeated Pool D champions Great Britain 24-12 in the quarterfinals, league champions Australia 33-17 in the semifinals, and Argentina 22-12 in the championship game on Sunday.

They now have much more of a lead in the season standings. With five tournaments remaining in the season, they lead Argentina by 21 points and have 107 points overall. They now have the chance to lose first place.

Great Britain

Following the departure of important players like Dan Norton, Great Britain/England has been steadily declining over the last few years, although it completed Los Angeles with a strong competition.

With 35 points, the team entered the tournament in 10th place, but they went unbeaten in group play, defeating finalist Argentina, finalist France, and finalist Spain before losing to another finalist, New Zealand, in the quarterfinals.

Homecomings

Just two points separated Team USA from a top-four slot and guaranteed qualification for the 2024 Paris Games as they approached their homecoming competition.

Yet the Eagles avoided further relegation by defeating Japan 31-7 and leaving their home with a 13th-place finish in the competition.

After losing to Samoa and New Zealand in the first two pool games, they were ruled out of contention for a medal. Even if it wasn’t a good draw for them, they also lost to Spain in a quarterfinal game for ninth place, 14-12, so that doesn’t make it any easier to take.

South Africa

Simply put, Los Angeles looks to be the Kryptonite of South Africa. In the United States in 2022 and 2023, the Blitzboks had a terrible time.

They began the competition with an uninspiring 12-0 victory over Canada, lost to Uruguay 10-5 and Ireland 14-5 to get to the quarterfinals.

But after that, they were never going to have much of an impact because they were down 28-0 against Fiji until scoring a last-second try. Nevertheless, in the semifinal for fifth place against Samoa, they fell 45-5 and managed to score on yet another last-second attempt.

With 76 points and a silver medal from the previous competition in Sydney, South Africa entered the competition in second place. Nevertheless, they had another dismal performance in the United States.

Iowane Teba

Despite Iowane Teba’s absence from the match due to injury, Fiji won the bronze medal, and there is no doubt that Teba was the player who had the biggest impact on the team overall.

The 30-year-old was at the top of the DHL Impact Player leaderboard for the majority of the competition before losing it at the conclusion because he had an impact on the game that went beyond simply scoring tries, which he did frequently.

More News :: World Rugby U20 Championship will be held in South Africa

The Flying Fijians will be hoping he’s available for the forthcoming event in Vancouver, Canada from March 3-5 because his performance in Los Angeles cemented his place in large letters on the rugby map.