Eight UI students braved the weather Thursday night to attend the “Hawks Nest Insider Meeting” in the Pappajohn Business Building.
Topics at the meeting ranged from increased attendance at non-football events to rumors of the student section being moved to a more favorable position in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Although, the general theme was to create a more cohesive identity for the Iowa student section,
Iowa men’s assistant basketball coach Joel Cornette opened the night with a passionate speech. Cornette, now in his third year, compared the basketball team’s situation to the new initiative to organize the student section.
“We’ve got a lot of steps to take as a basketball team, and we’ve got a lot of steps to take as a student section,” Cornette said. “And we’ll do it together.”
Iowa basketball players Anthony Tucker and Cully Payne both spoke to the group about the impact fans can have at home games. Later in the meeting, the participants discussed building an actual nest for Herky at football games and developing a more concrete schedule for songs to be played at all events.
The UI Student Committee on Athletics, the organization behind Hawkapalooza in September, led the forum. The committee also mentioned a development regarding an expanded student viewing party for Iowa’s away football game with Ohio State on Nov. 14.
The group said the party would be held in the IMU ballroom where food and beverages would be provided.
Committee members expect an increase in attendance at future meetings.
— by Jon Linder
