young Art, i'm literally standing and applauding, what the hell has happened to the state of iowa?? once the bastion and the national standard for educational excellence and NOW???? what in the name of civility is going on here??? "fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life" IOWA...
In the late 1950’s I sang “Jesus loves all the children of the world” enough times in Sunday school to actually believe it. My Sunday school teachers were a couple who farmed and invited all of us, including three African American children, to their farm for parties. We had so much fun and I’m thankful I was immersed into the acceptance of all the precious children of the world. I’m convinced Pope Francis believed the same!
Thank you, Art. This column speaks the honest truth about the good a diverse population brings to Iowa. This collection of new ideas, fresh eyes, and rich cultures not only enrich our communities but, on a personal level, these same wonderful people enrich our souls.
You hit a nerve. As a graduate of Iowa State University I am PROUD we have the first and so far only football stadium in Division I FBS named for a promising Black athlete and scholar, Jack Trice, who was the victim of an on-field hate crime when he was trampled on a play vs. Minnesota and later died of his injuries. A letter he wrote before that fateful game ("People are expecting me to do great things...I will!") has been often quoted and inspired many. We commemorated the 100th anniversary of Jack's story on campus in the fall of 2023. His family returned to Ames and Jack was given an honorary degree. The family also has established a foundation in his name. Folks in Ames fought like hell for decades to get that stadium named for Jack. Coach Matt Campbell's players (including Super Bowl quarterback Brock Purdy) voted to adopt the vertical-striped patch reminiscent of the 1923 uniforms now worn on their jerseys (and emblazoned on the Jacobson Building athletic complex) in honor of Jack. I think it's pretty safe to say WE'RE NOT GOING BACK.
And in 1959, when the Cyclones' legendary "Dirty Thirty" squad had a final game at Oklahoma with an Orange Bowl berth on the line, ISU Coach Clay Stapleton informed OU Coach Bud Wilkinson that the Cyclones would take a forfeit and return to Ames rather than stay in racially segregated accomodations. Wilkinson intervened and the Cyclones were allowed to lodge as a team. They lost the game but scored a much bigger victory off the field.
I am also proud that we have a Carver Hall on campus named for Dr. Carver (as does Simpson College, which my daughter attended - damn proud of that too) and that Iowa State's wrestling program under Dr. Harold Nichols is well known for being a welcoming program for multiple generations of Black athletes, including a whole bunch of All-Americans and national champions.
And a side note -- I made the distinction that ISU is the only school in Division I FBS to have a stadium so named. The stadium at D-I FCS HBCU Grambling State University in Louisiana is named for legendary Coach Eddie Robinson, maybe the greatest collegiate football coach of all time -- who received his master's degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Our great sister institution should promote that as well as the legend of Frank Kinney Holbrook of Tipton, who was the first Black Hawkeye athlete in multiple sports and led Iowa to its first conference football championship --and, flanked by his white teammates, survived an on-field rumble with Missouri not unlike the circumstances in which Jack was killed. Former Hawkeye and NFL standout Quinn Early has made a documentary on him.
And Iowa's most famous icon, American Gothic, was painted by Grant Wood, a gay man. Have we forgotten what AIDS revealed--huge swaths of our creativity were driven by the LGBTQiA community--one small part of America's diverse communities.
Is it any wonder that Iowa is backsliding on education and economic viability--we're displacing states like Mississippi and Alabama. Good for them, but dumb for us.
Despite comment demeaning University Education. Once achieved can never be taken from you. You will benefit any environment you find yourself in. I grew up with my Grandfather calling me Professor. This was a wonderful motivator for me.
Thank you for this column, as always! We lived in Iowa for two years after we were first married in the late 60s. We loved the progressiveness of the state.our youngest daughter graduated from Iowa state and went on to earn a law degree at Georgetown. We feel a strong connection to Iowa, but do not understand why the politics has taken such a downward spiral. They used to value education and diversity.
Thank YOU Art for speaking the honest to God truth!!!! I am an immigrant from Michigan😊
But I came to Iowa during Bob Ray years and fell head over heels in love with THAT Iowa.
I was school nurse in DMPS for 22 years and loved that job. It makes me cringe to see how
our Legislature has slowly bled the tax dollars away and then accused it of poor education!
Now they are after our higher education strength. Thank you for using your voice s0 effectively.
young Art, i'm literally standing and applauding, what the hell has happened to the state of iowa?? once the bastion and the national standard for educational excellence and NOW???? what in the name of civility is going on here??? "fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life" IOWA...
In the late 1950’s I sang “Jesus loves all the children of the world” enough times in Sunday school to actually believe it. My Sunday school teachers were a couple who farmed and invited all of us, including three African American children, to their farm for parties. We had so much fun and I’m thankful I was immersed into the acceptance of all the precious children of the world. I’m convinced Pope Francis believed the same!
Thank you, Art. This column speaks the honest truth about the good a diverse population brings to Iowa. This collection of new ideas, fresh eyes, and rich cultures not only enrich our communities but, on a personal level, these same wonderful people enrich our souls.
That right there might win our Art another Pulitzer Prize.
Amen.
You are so right, Art. Thank you for putting it so clearly,
Thanks Art. Well said as always. Bravo.
You hit a nerve. As a graduate of Iowa State University I am PROUD we have the first and so far only football stadium in Division I FBS named for a promising Black athlete and scholar, Jack Trice, who was the victim of an on-field hate crime when he was trampled on a play vs. Minnesota and later died of his injuries. A letter he wrote before that fateful game ("People are expecting me to do great things...I will!") has been often quoted and inspired many. We commemorated the 100th anniversary of Jack's story on campus in the fall of 2023. His family returned to Ames and Jack was given an honorary degree. The family also has established a foundation in his name. Folks in Ames fought like hell for decades to get that stadium named for Jack. Coach Matt Campbell's players (including Super Bowl quarterback Brock Purdy) voted to adopt the vertical-striped patch reminiscent of the 1923 uniforms now worn on their jerseys (and emblazoned on the Jacobson Building athletic complex) in honor of Jack. I think it's pretty safe to say WE'RE NOT GOING BACK.
And in 1959, when the Cyclones' legendary "Dirty Thirty" squad had a final game at Oklahoma with an Orange Bowl berth on the line, ISU Coach Clay Stapleton informed OU Coach Bud Wilkinson that the Cyclones would take a forfeit and return to Ames rather than stay in racially segregated accomodations. Wilkinson intervened and the Cyclones were allowed to lodge as a team. They lost the game but scored a much bigger victory off the field.
I am also proud that we have a Carver Hall on campus named for Dr. Carver (as does Simpson College, which my daughter attended - damn proud of that too) and that Iowa State's wrestling program under Dr. Harold Nichols is well known for being a welcoming program for multiple generations of Black athletes, including a whole bunch of All-Americans and national champions.
And a side note -- I made the distinction that ISU is the only school in Division I FBS to have a stadium so named. The stadium at D-I FCS HBCU Grambling State University in Louisiana is named for legendary Coach Eddie Robinson, maybe the greatest collegiate football coach of all time -- who received his master's degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Our great sister institution should promote that as well as the legend of Frank Kinney Holbrook of Tipton, who was the first Black Hawkeye athlete in multiple sports and led Iowa to its first conference football championship --and, flanked by his white teammates, survived an on-field rumble with Missouri not unlike the circumstances in which Jack was killed. Former Hawkeye and NFL standout Quinn Early has made a documentary on him.
If that's woke, so be it. I'll DEI on that hill.
Your column today should echo from every hill and hummock. So much common sense. I agree with Chuck Offenburger. You got some wise words.
And Iowa's most famous icon, American Gothic, was painted by Grant Wood, a gay man. Have we forgotten what AIDS revealed--huge swaths of our creativity were driven by the LGBTQiA community--one small part of America's diverse communities.
Is it any wonder that Iowa is backsliding on education and economic viability--we're displacing states like Mississippi and Alabama. Good for them, but dumb for us.
Make Iowa proud of its literacy again.
Despite comment demeaning University Education. Once achieved can never be taken from you. You will benefit any environment you find yourself in. I grew up with my Grandfather calling me Professor. This was a wonderful motivator for me.
Thank you for this column, as always! We lived in Iowa for two years after we were first married in the late 60s. We loved the progressiveness of the state.our youngest daughter graduated from Iowa state and went on to earn a law degree at Georgetown. We feel a strong connection to Iowa, but do not understand why the politics has taken such a downward spiral. They used to value education and diversity.
Wonderful, Art, as always! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻