As COVID-19 cases rise in Johnson County, students call for UI to move completely online with renewed urgency
Eleanor Hildebrandt, News Reporter
August 28, 2020
Dozens of students gathered on the Pentacrest on Friday afternoon to protest the University of Iowa administration’s decision to keep students on campus and some classes in-person. Protesters sat socially distanced on the grass outside Macbride Hall while 12 people spoke on the steps of the b...
UI reports 507 self-reported positive COVID-19 cases this week
Clinton Garlock, News Reporter
August 28, 2020
The University of Iowa reported 500 new cases of COVID-19 were self-reported during the first week of classes, bringing the total in the last two weeks to 607 students, faculty, and staff who've reported testing positive for the virus. The UI first released the number of positive cases Aug. 21 — 1...
Johnson County bars ordered to close after increase in COVID-19 cases amongst young adults
Rylee Wilson, News Editor
August 27, 2020
Bars in six Iowa counties, including Johnson County, were required to close Thursday, after a sharp increase in COVID-19 among 19-24 year-olds. In a Thursday press conference, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said young adults, especially those on college campuses, are driving much of the spread of COVID...
1870-2020: Carver College of Medicine celebrates 150 years in the midst of a pandemic
Samantha Murray, News Reporter
August 27, 2020
One hundred fifty years ago, the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine opened to become the first medical school in the U.S. to admit both men and women into its program. September marks the 150th anniversary of the Carver College of Medicine. While the rise in COVID-19 cases in Johns...
Water safety in buildings checked before opening campus
Morgan Ungs, News Reporter
August 27, 2020
After COVID-19 required classes to switch online and students to leave campus in March, the University of Iowa Facilities Management team’s job increased in difficulty, as buildings once full of students were left completely empty, leaving facilities left unused. The Centers for Disease Contr...
Social distancing restrictions lead to long lines outside UI dining halls
Caitlin Crome, News Reporter
August 27, 2020
Normally filled with anxious first year students, the dining halls are now empty and open for takeout only. This school year, the University Housing & Dining closed all dining halls to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on social distancing. While this decision was i...
UI faculty and student-led project maps history of segregation in Johnson County
Mary Hartel, News Reporter
August 26, 2020
Racist restrictions on property — both formal and informal — were common practices in the first half of the 20th century, including in Iowa City. During the last semester, University of Iowa Professor of History Colin Gordon led a group of undergraduates in mapping out these policies on the local level. Historians have always...
Johnson County sees surge in COVID-19 cases as students return for first week of classes
Alexandra Skores, Managing Editor
August 26, 2020
More than 300 positive cases of COVID-19 were reported in Johnson County over the past four days, as University of Iowa students return to classes. Dave Koch, director of Johnson County Public Health Department wrote in a press release on Wednesday, that the cases are primarily among young peopl...
EMPOWER researchers look into effect of COVID-19 mitigations on student well-being
Natalie Dunlap, News Reporter
August 26, 2020
Professors and researchers from institutions across the country are working to understand how changing circumstances in student’s lives are affecting their well-being during the current pandemic. University of Iowa College of Engineering Dean Harriet Nembhard is working to survey students durin...
USG members disappointed in Harreld’s response to campus issues
Rylee Wilson and Caleb McCullough
August 26, 2020
Undergraduate student government members said they felt no progress came out of meeting with University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld as he spoke to the group on COVID-19, in-person classes, racism on campus and more. Harreld spoke over Zoom at a student government meeting on Tuesday and took ...
University of Iowa to begin testing any students, Harreld says, as Johnson County coronavirus cases continue to climb
Eleanor Hildebrandt and Alexandra Skores
August 25, 2020
University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld told student government leaders on Tuesday that testing options would be available to students soon, but didn’t specify any timeline, while cases ramp up in Johnson County. After senators discussed the lack of testing for students who are not exper...
Off-campus behavior may lead to suspensions or cancellations of housing contracts
Alexandra Skores, Managing Editor
August 25, 2020
The University of Iowa stated in an email to students on Tuesday that students who don’t comply with off-campus policies could face a canceled housing contract or university suspension. Director of Media Relations Anne Bassett said in an email that the Office of Student Accountability is re...