THE INDEPENDENT DAILY NEWSPAPER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COMMUNITY SINCE 1868 The Daily Iowan FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2007 WWW.DAILYIOWAN.COM 50¢ of the Lobbying KING truck-stop hill the Iowa 80’s claim of being the world’s largest truck stop is difficult to deny Capitol Student officials push for lower tuition and protection from purported landlord abuse in Iowa City BY MASON KERNS THE DAILY IOWAN DES MOINES — The message from college students traipsing the State- house corridors on Thursday was sim- ple: The game of hide-and-seek past Legislatures have played with univer- sity funding is hindering not only scholars but also the state’s economy. “Students in the state of Iowa have the highest debt in the nation, and this is just unacceptable,” UI Student Govern- ment President Peter McElligott said in a forceful speech fol- A Peterbilt truck on a rotating platform faces the window of Iowa 80’s show- An International semi sits on the Iowa 80 showroom floor in front of a huge lowing a morning of lobbying. “It’s creat- room floor. display of different taillights. ing a serious brain McElligott drain. Students love this state, but we’re UISG president photos by Matt Ryerson/The Daily Iowan being forced to leave CHECK OUT DI WEB — AT DAILYIOWAN.COM — TO for higher-paying job markets like CATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS AND INTERVIEWS FROM THE Chicago and Minneapolis.” WORLD’S LARGEST TRUCK STOP AND TO SEE MORE SHOTS Assembled for Student Day at the OF THE 211- ACRE TRUCK HAVEN IN A PHOTO SLIDESHOW Capitol, student leaders on Thursday FROM MATT RYERSON. urged lawmakers to fully fund $72 million in supplemental higher-edu- BY PATRICK BIGSBY the Iowa 80 truck stop will continue cation appropriations that the state Board of Regents requested in Janu- THE DAILY IOWAN to reign supreme. “You might find a place that sells ary. Last year, regents asked for $40 WALCOTT, Iowa — If you build it, more diesel fuel or has a bigger million and received only around $12 they will come. The maxim, best restaurant, but this truck stop has million. known to visitors of one of Iowa’s cin- the largest combination of profit SEE LOBBYING, PAGE 4A ematic landmarks, is one Will Moon centers, truck parking, and fuel believes applies to his business as pumps,” Moon said. well. Iowa 80 doesn’t skimp on ameni- Moon is the president of the Iowa ties. Professional long-distance driv- 80 truck stop, which confidently ers can take advantage of showers, a UISG ELECTIONS bills itself as “The World’s Largest dentist’s office, a barber, a conven- Truck Stop.” ience store, a movie theater, a roar- Though Moon admits there may ing fireplace, washing machines, and a chapel, or they can browse the be several ways of measuring the truck warehouse and showroom size of a truck stop, he handles while their trucks get washed, Off & skepticism about his claim with a weighed, refueled, or repaired. Hun- simple question. gry travelers can fill up at the food “Have you ever seen a bigger court or Iowa 80 Kitchen’s 50-foot one?” he said. buffet. Those wishing to commemo- So far, no one has stepped rate their visit may peruse the running forward to dispute him. And in the extensive souvenir store awash midst of the interstate system’s with, among other things, oversized 50th birthday, it looks as though belt buckles. UI Student Government Neil Vandevoord books his fuel delivery at Iowa 80 truck stop on Monday. presidential candidates SEE TRUCK STOP, PAGE 3A Vandevoord said the truck stop goes through around 75,000 gallons of diesel a day just from his company, which delivers 10-12 truckfuls a day. have 10 days to make a stand BY KAYLA KELLEY SEX OFFENDERS THE DAILY IOWAN Starting today, UI Student Govern- ment presidential and vice-presiden- tial candidates have only 10 days to Supervisors back 2,000-foot-rule repeal campaign for student support before the polls close March 6; last year’s can- didates enjoyed 15 days. In a unanimous vote, the Johnson County board says the current law is ineffective “[It’s] to take the pressure off of can- didates,” UI junior and presidential BY STEPHEN SCHMIDT offenders, this is a law that has for sex predators, making them and try to replace it with some- hopeful Atul Nakhasi said, noting that THE DAILY IOWAN really been shown to not be very more likely to offend again. thing tougher,” said Johnson many candidates got sick last year and effective,” Supervisor Sally In Iowa, 12 other counties County Sheriff Lonny missed classes. “It’s less of a burden.” In a 5-0 vote Thursday, the Stutsman said, adding that the besides Johnson have passed Pulkrabek, noting that the The UISG Student Elections Johnson County Board of Super- 2,000-foot rule actually makes it measures similar to the resolu- restrictions cause sex offenders Board announced on Thursday the visors approved a resolution that more difficult to track sex tion passed Thursday, and 15 to not register where they live. three tickets will spend the next urges the state Legislature to offenders. more are considering similar The Iowa State Association of two weeks entreating students for repeal an Iowa law that prohibits Johnson County prosecutor actions to overturn Section Counties wants to replace the their votes, after the Office of the sex offenders from living within Janet Lyness, who proposed the 692A.2A of the Iowa Code, which 2,000-foot rule with safe zones that Registrar finished checking the can- Lyness 2,000 feet of a school or daycare. resolution to supervisors last contains the 2,000-foot rule. would ban sex offenders from didates’ petitions for authenticity. “Although everybody is sup- week, said the rule limits housing “We need to admit that the Johnson County portive of getting tough on sex and employment opportunities 2,000-foot rule was a mistake SEE SUPERVISORS, PAGE 4A prosecutor SEE UISG, PAGE 4A NIGHTMARE TIME WEATHERING BREATH OF GLOBAL INDEX 39 4 C Little went right for the Hawkeye CONTROVERSY AIR Arts 7A © © 4B hoopsters in West Lafayette on It’s been an interesting time to A group screens Al Gore’s An Classifieds Blustery winds, 90% Crossword 6B 30 -1 C chance of rain, freezing Thursday night, would be the polite be a regent in Iowa, to say the Inconvenient Truth, then airs out a Opinions 6A rain, sleet , snow way to put it. 1B least. 8A global-warming discussion. 5A Sports 1B 2A - The Daily Iowan - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, February 23, 2007 NEWS Fethke lauds UI’s successes The Daily Iowan Volume 138 Issue 150 CHECK OUT DITV — CITY BREAKING NEWS STAFF CHANNEL 17, CAMPUS 4, Phone: (319) 335-6063 Publisher: OR AT DAILYIOWAN.COM E-mail: [email protected] William Casey. 335-5788 Editor: — TO WATCH VIDEO HIGH- Fax: 335-6184 Meghan Sims. .335-6030 LIGHTS OF UI INTERIM PRESIDENT GARY CORRECTIONS Managing Editor: FETHKE’S ‘CONDITION OF THE UI’ SPEECH. Call: 335-6030 Jane Slusark. 335-5855 BY COLIN BURKE Policy: The Daily Iowan strives for Metro Editors: accuracy and fairness in the reporting Erika Binegar. .335-6063 THE DAILY IOWAN Seung Min Kim. .335-6063 of news. If a report is wrong or mis- Ray Mattson. 335-6063 UI interim President Gary leading, a request for a correction or a Opinions Editor: Fethke reflected on university clarification may be made. Laura Michaels. .335-5863 accomplishments, goals, and PUBLISHING INFO Sports Editor: issues still facing the institution The Daily Iowan (USPS 143.360)is Charlie Kautz. 335-5848 Arts Editors: published by Student Publications Inc., at hotelVetro during the annual Jenna Sauers. 335-5851 “Condition of the University” E131 Adler Journalism Building, Iowa Louis Virtel. 335-5851 speech Thursday. City, Iowa 52242-2004, daily except Copy Chief: Fethke, who has held office for Saturdays, Sundays, legal and universi- Beau Elliot. .335-6030 nearly nine months, praised the ty holidays, and university vacations. Design Editor: UI’s ability to raise funds aside Periodicals postage paid at the Iowa Brittany Volk. 335-6030 Graphics Editor: City Post Office under the Act of from those allotted by the state Nelle Dunlap. .335-6038 government. He said more than Congress of March 2, 1879. Photo Editor: 80 percent of the university’s SUBSCRIPTIONS Ben Roberts. .335-5852 funding comes from other Call: Pete Recker at 335-5783 Web Editor: endeavors, pointing to out-of- E-mail: [email protected] Tony Phan. .335-5829 Business Manager: state tuition and fees as one of the Subscription rates: fastest growing revenue streams. Iowa City and Coralville: $20 for one Debra Plath. .335-5786 Advertising Manager: The administrator said those semester, $40 for two semesters, $10 Cathy Witt. .335-5794 finances have grown because of the for summer session, $50 for full year. Classified Ads Manager: school’s all-time high enrollment. Matt Ryerson/The Daily Iowan Out of town: $40 for one semester, Cristine Perry. .335-5784 “We have to be able to articu- UI interim President Gary Fethke gives the annual “Condition of the University” speech at hotelVetro on $80 for two semesters, $15 for summer Circulation Manager: session, $95 all year. Pete Recker. .335-5783 late why we are valuable,” Thursday. Fethke commended the school for many accomplishments, including 80 percent of its funding Fethke said, pointing to such ini- Day Production Manager: coming from sources other than the state Legislature. Send address changes to: The Daily Heidi Owen. .335-5789 tiatives as a means to communi- Iowan, 100 Adler Journalism Building, Night Production Manager: cate that importance to students.