UISG opposes voter ID

The University of Iowa Student Government on Tuesday voted to oppose Secretary of State Paul Pate’s “election-integrity” proposal, HF 150, and all proposals that would create barriers to college students’ voting.

Pate’s proposal is in response to alleged voter fraud. UISG’s resolution argues that voter fraud is not an issue, noting that voter fraud consisted of only 0.0084 percent of votes cast in the 2012 election in Iowa.

According to the resolution, 18- to 24-year-olds compose 21 percent of the voting population, yet their turnout rate in elections is dismal. The resolution argues that requiring voter IDs would further discourage college-age voters from electoral participation.

The proposal notes that states with same-day voter registration have higher voter turnout rates. Such registration encourages groups with historically low turnout rates, including young people and racial minorities, to vote.

UISG actively encouraged electoral participation in the most recent presidential election.

— by Elianna Novitch

Man arrested in shooting

A release from the Iowa City police on Tuesday said Darius Davison, 20, of Cedar Rapids had been arrested following a Feb. 6 shooting.

On Feb. 6, officers responded at 5:27 p.m. to a call from Bartlett Road reporting of shots being fired and a person on the ground, the report said. The investigation, the report said, allegedly found Davison was the perpetrator of the incident, which began as a property dispute. According to witnesses, the release said, Davison allegedly had a handgun and fired four rounds, striking the person.

The release stated warrants went out on Feb. 8 for Davison’s arrest for Class-B attempted murder. On Feb. 14, the report said, Davison was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshall Service in Bloomington, Illinois; he will be transported to the Johnson County Jail.

The U.S. Marshall Service, Cedar Rapids police, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation aided the Iowa City police in the incident, the report said.

— by Kayli Reese

UISG backs free-speech event

The UI Student Government on Tuesday passed a proposed to contribute $10,000 to a free-speech symposium that the University of Iowa will put on.

“Honoring and Hating Free Speech: The Challenges of The First Amendment” will take place on March 28. The total cost of putting on the symposium is $61,250.

The goal behind hosting the free-speech symposium is to increase knowledge and awareness of peoples’  First Amendment rights, especially to promote an understanding between the balance of free speech and hate speech, and to initiate a productive conversation on campus about the role of free speech.

UISG, along with the Office of the President, Office of the Vice President of Student Life, Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, Graduate College, Tippie College of Business, College of Education, Inter-Fraternity Council, Office of the Dean of Students, Office of the Provost, University Lecture Committee, and the Carver College of Medicine are interested in making financial contributions in order to support the opportunity for university students, faculty, and staff to become educated on First Amendment rights.

UISG believes that the symposium will be a valuable resource and opportunity for students to partake in especially during the current political climate.

— by Elianna Novitch 

UISG moves against ‘conversion therapy’

The UI Student Government on Tuesday voted to support banning “conversion therapy” in the state.

The resolution backed Iowa Senate Bill SF74 and a proclamation made by Iowa City against conversion therapy.

The city said conversion therapy “is a dangerous, harmful, unscientific, and illegitimate practice that should be discouraged, denounced, and abandoned as means to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender.”

The Iowa Senate Human Resources Committee is discussing SF74, which would ban “sexual orientation change efforts” toward individuals under the age of 18 and the application of penalties to these actions.

According to the resolution UISG passed, conversion therapy is defined as ex-gay therapy and sexual reorientation therapy.

“It is a dangerous and discredited practice that falsely claims it can change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. People who go through conversion therapy are eight times more likely to attempt suicide and also six times more likely to report high rates of depression,” SSR22 reads.

A number of organizations have denounced conversion therapy including the American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American College of Physicians, American Counseling Association, and American Medical Association.

The UI has a history of being progressive when it comes to LGBTQ rights, being the first university in the country to recognize an LGBTQ student organization and among the first to provide the option of listing preferred name and pronouns in university records.

— by Elianna Novitch