THE INDEPENDENT DAILY NEWSPAPER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COMMUNITY SINCE 1868 The Daily Iowan WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2006 WWW.DAILYIOWAN.COM 50¢ Looking for the Iowa’s silent, odorless, deadly threat Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, and write stuff Iowa has the highest levels of exposure in the nation FOR MORE ON THE WRITING TASK FORCE’S RECOMMENDATIONS, CHECK OUT BY WESLEY CROPP who live in a house never get lives in the basement of 621 S. CABLE CHANNEL THE DAILY IOWAN around to it,” said Marilyn Johnson St. “But I probably 17, CAMPUS 4, OR Sebastian, the owner of Iowa won’t [test for radon], because I Many college students across DAILYIOWAN.COM Radon Inspection Service, which am so busy.” the country — but especially in FOR MORE. for 15 years has inspected Hectic lifestyles may stymie Iowa City — are living in the homes for the chemical element. such precautions, but BY BEN FORNELL basement with a killer. Radon levels at seven out of researchers say radon presence Lurking under the founda- THE DAILY IOWAN 10 of buildings in Iowa are well is a bigger problem than people tion and seeping through any over recommended guidelines may realize. Caitlin Segriff came to the UI crack and crevice, radon is the from the Environmental Pro- Bill Field, the chairman of this year as a freshman with second-leading cause of lung tection Agency. And not testing the Radon Measurement and the hope of becoming famous. cancer, after cigarette smoke, for radon could harm many Mitigation Group, a World She doesn’t want her name in and Iowa has the highest and university students who live in Health Organization commit- lights, but in bold black print on most widespread levels of a section of the house where tee, estimated that of the the front of a novel. radon exposure in the nation. radon is the most active — 21,000 people nationwide who But like many undergradu- But it seems testing for basements. die each year from radon expo- ates, she is upset that, while the radon is the last thing on some “I’ve definitely never thought sure, 200 are from Iowa. legendary Iowa Writers’ Work- homeowners’ minds. about it before,” said Mike shop continues to produce “Unfortunately, a lot of people Kaminski, a UI sophomore who SEE RADON, PAGE 3A Pulitzer-Prize-winning word- smiths, the university has not created an undergraduate cre- ative-writing program. “I was pretty disappointed, because the main reason I came here was because the graduate IOWA VS. IOWA STATE — Game-day challenges creative-writing program is so good,” said Segriff, who is from Wis- consin. “Out-of-state tuition is so high, and I feel like I’m not being given the opportunities I paid for.” Her concerns are nothing new — some stu- dents have even signed a petition urging the uni- versity to create a bachelor’s pro- gram in creative writing — and UI officials will soon launch a series of Hogan endeavors provost designed to boost writing opportunities available at the undergraduate level. UI Provost Michael Hogan recently announced that Merrill the university director of the will implement International some recom- Writing Program mendations from the Writing University Task Force, which was charged with finding ways to maintain the UI’s prestigious writing reputation. Recommendations include the creation of a “writing neigh- borhood,” which would include space for the Center for the Book and for visiting writers, Matt Ryerson/The Daily Iowan and the creation of a virtual cre- Becki McCleary of Whateva … We Can Delivea walks back to her car after making a delivery on Benton Street Tuesday. The business can deliver any- ative-writing university. The task force has also advised the thing from alcohol to a person’s laundry. UI to create a creative-writing undergraduate degree, which Hogan has said will require fur- ther study. IN THE DELIVERY TRENCHES SEE WRITING, PAGE 3A RECOMMENDATIONS Whateva ... We Can Deliva — a company in its third football FROM THE WRITING season — will face a stressful Saturday when Iowa State rolls into town UNIVERSITY TASK FORCE: BY MATT SNYDERS passenger, and a violent scuffle • Create a writing neighborhood that ‘The first season was really hectic and stressful. We didn’t THE DAILY IOWAN ensued. would act as a campus for creative “[The driver] got pretty bloodied writing students at the UI. know what to expect. Last year went really well, because we As the number of boozers and up,” Edgar McGuire said. • Develop a writing certificate pro- were better prepared. We want to continue that.’ gram so those interested in non-writ- face-stuffers increases during The brothers estimate that alco- ing-intensive majors could demon- home football games, so, too, does — company president Edgar McGuire hol products account for 60 to 75 strate a writing course concentration. the demand for beer, cigarettes, ice, percent of Whateva’s deliveries • Establish a post-M.F.A. fellowship greasy food, and “whateva” else the business in April 2004 with “It’s crazy,” Clark McGuire said. during home games. When taking program for creative writing students tickles tailgaters’ fancies. younger brother Clark McGuire, “There are some problems. When booze orders, staff ask for date of that would keep them at Iowa to Whateva . We Can Deliva — birth, and upon delivery, photo teach writing courses; the fellows who is Whateva’s vice president. you drive down Melrose Avenue an Iowa City company that, as its “The first season was really hectic and they see the sign on the car, identification is required, and the would also receive a stipend for their information is recorded and veri- own projects. name implies, delivers pretty and stressful. We didn’t know what they’ll yell at you. Some jump on • Create a website that would act as much anything — is preparing to to expect. Last year went really your vehicle or shake it.” fied. a “virtual writing university,” which meet this challenge when Iowa well, because we were better pre- He recounted an incident in “We’re not here to make five dol- would consolidate information about State rolls into town Saturday. pared. We want to continue that.” which a drunken individual lars delivering to underage kids,” public readings in Iowa City and “This is our third football season Preparation or no preparation, entered a delivery car and refused Edgar McGuire said. provide instruction to UI writers. in business,” said company presi- the madness on Melrose can pres- to leave. The driver proceeded to • Appoint a director of translation dent Edgar McGuire, who opened ent dangers for drivers. physically remove the unwanted SEE DELIVERY, PAGE 3A studies to oversee the UI’s literary translation master’s program. TATE UNCERTAINTIES DAZZLING PROSE SCRABBLING INDEX 72 22 C Doctors have cleared Drew Tate to play Zadie Smith dazzles an Englert In Virtel reality, the godhead is found Arts 4A, 7A © © Saturday, but Kirk Ferentz is playing wait audience. 4A on a Scrabble board. Letterly. 7A Classifieds 4B Crossword 8A 41 5 C and see. 1B Partly sunny to Opinions 6A clear, light winds Sports 1B 2A - The Daily Iowan - Iowa City, Iowa - Wednesday, September 13, 2006 NEWS The Daily Iowan Volume 138 Issue 58 BREAKING NEWS STAFF Phone: (319) 335-6063 Publisher: E-mail: [email protected] William Casey. 335-5788 Editor: Fax: 335-6184 Krumm, Leff win board seats Meghan Sims. .335-6030 CORRECTIONS Managing Editor: Call: 335-6030 Jane Slusark. 335-5855 Incumbent Jan Leff and newcomer Tim Krumm take school board positions Policy: The Daily Iowan strives for Metro Editors: accuracy and fairness in the reporting Mason Kerns. .335-6063 Seung Min Kim. .335-6063 with just over three percent of possible voters casting their vote of news. If a report is wrong or mis- Ray Mattson. 335-6063 leading, a request for a correction or a BY ANDREA WATERFIELD Opinions Editor: clarification may be made. Laura Michaels. .335-5863 THE DAILY IOWAN IOWA CITY SCHOOL PUBLISHING INFO Sports Editor: The Daily Iowan (USPS 143.360)is Tyson Wirth. 335-5848 In the face of ongoing discus- BOARD ELECTION, Pregrame Editor: published by Student Publications Inc., sion about the proposed 1 cent FOR TWO SEATS: Jason Brummond. 335-5848 local-option sales tax for Iowa E131 Adler Journalism Building, Iowa Arts Editors: City’s schools and amid heated City, Iowa 52242-2004, daily except Jenna Sauers. 335-5851 • Tim Krumm: debate on what to do about Saturdays, Sundays, legal and universi- Louis Virtel. 335-5851 1,271 votes (59.42%) ty holidays, and university vacations. Copy Chief: City High’s declining enroll- Periodicals postage paid at the Iowa Beau Elliot. .335-6030 ment, Iowa City School Dis- Design Editor: • Jan Leff (incumbent): City Post Office under the Act of Brittany Volk. 335-6030 trict voters chose Tim Krumm 1,245 votes (58.20%) Congress of March 2, 1879. and Jan Leff to fill two seats on Photo Editor: SUBSCRIPTIONS Ben Roberts. .335-5852 the School Board on Tuesday. • Write-in candidate*: Call: Pete Recker at 335-5783 Web Editor: An unofficial count late 513 votes (23.98%) E-mail: [email protected] Tony Phan. .335-5829 Tuesday showed 58.2 percent Business Manager: Subscription rates: Debra Plath. .335-5786 of the voters voted for Leff, an • Total Votes: 2,139 Iowa City and Coralville: $20 for one Advertising Manager: incumbent School Board mem- Total Registered in Iowa City semester, $40 for two semesters, $10 Cathy Witt. .335-5794 ber and retired teacher. School District: 63,293 for summer session, $50 for full year.