Guest Opinion: Cory Booker is the best option on gun policy
June 17, 2019
Gun violence has plagued this country for far too long. What should have been dealt with long ago has now, sadly, become near commonplace — not only in our schools and places of worship but in our low-income communities that often get overlooked in the gun-violence conversation. Now, more than ever,...
Guest Opinion: Iowa must do more to protect clean water
June 10, 2019
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Food & Water Watch, and Public Justice have filed a lawsuit against the State of Iowa because we have waited long enough for clean water in Iowa. Voluntary measures and the outdated Master Matrix for factory farm permitting are pipe dreams based on the hope t...
Guest Opinion: Elizabeth Warren has won me over
May 6, 2019
I was excited when Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., announced her presidential exploratory committee on New Year’s Eve, but I wasn’t persuaded yet. I loved that the first major candidate to throw a hat in the ring was a smart, progressive woman with a story to tell about how to rebuild the middle c...
The Doctor Is In: What’s your gut trying to tell you?
May 5, 2019
There are trillions of bacteria that live in the intestinal tract, and for the most part, we just ignore them, letting them do their job by digesting food on a daily basis and absorbing the nutrients we put into our body. It’s known that changes to this microbiota can be associated with inflammator...
Guest Opinion: An erstwhile Iowan’s view from Nevada
May 2, 2019
With each addition to the sprawling field of Democratic presidential contenders, Nevada gains must-visit attention. Six of the Democratic candidates were in the magnet city of Las Vegas on April 27 to speak to a gathering of union activists and community organizers. A Planned Parenthood staffer...
Guest Opinion: Attacks on Planned Parenthood are counterproductive and ignorant
May 1, 2019
Last week, the Iowa Senate passed an amendment to House File 766 that would block Planned Parenthood from receiving two types of federal grants that fund sex-education programs in Iowa. While Planned Parenthood is no stranger to political attacks, this recent attack is not only unnecessary but compl...
Guest Opinion: Wronkiewicz offers new perspective
April 22, 2019
Since Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, announced he wouldn’t run for re-election in the 2nd District, there has been much fanfare and speculation over who might run for Congress to replace him. While many names have been floated for both Republicans and Democrats, there is one potential candidate who shouldn...
Guest Opinion: UI burns the future on Earth Day
April 22, 2019
What would former University of Iowa President Thomas Macbride do on Earth Day in 2019? Would he announce UI’s recognition of the climate emergency in the latest IPCC report by global scientists and launch a plan for a carbon neutral campus like the University of Michigan? Would he recognize the ...
Guest Opinion: Iowa faculty deserve a sick leave bank
April 14, 2019
We are faculty in the Department of Rhetoric writing to draw attention to serious flaws in the university’s current catastrophic medical-leave policy. The problems are highlighted by the situation currently faced by one of our colleagues, a lecturer in rhetoric who was diagnosed with an advanced c...
Guest Opinion: UI leaders share message about public-private partnership
April 10, 2019
We would like to thank the University of Iowa community for its active and engaged participation surrounding the exploration of a potential public/private partnership (P3) for our utility system. Robust dialogue is necessary to ensure that the university pursues an appropriate strategic direction for the ca...
Guest Opinion: A once-in-a-lifetime learning experience
April 8, 2019
As you prepare for finals and look ahead to summer jobs, don’t miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Have you ever considered working on Capitol Hill? My U.S. Senate office offers internship opportunities that will give you hands-on work experience in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment....
Guest Opinion: What the Odyssey teaches us about good undergraduate research mentoring
April 7, 2019
Well, it’s that time of year — job- and internship-hunting season. Students seek out letters of recommendation from current and past professors and research mentors. Some students participate in summer-research programs while others serve in a faculty mentor’s or department’s lab. The skills...