UIowa SJMC Audio Production

UIowa SJMC

Discontinued: The Decision That Changed Iowa Athletics – As the pandemic shut down college athletics in 2020, the University of Iowa decided to cut four varsity sports, changing the lives of dozens of student‑athletes. For many, their sport is not just what they do — it’s who they are. Through interviews with athletes, coaches, attorneys, and journalists, *Discontinued* explores the fallout, from a Title IX lawsuit to lasting questions about belonging. What happens to someone’s sense of self when the sport they’ve committed to since childhood is suddenly taken away?

  1. May 28

    Discontinued Pt. 4: Bleeding Black & Gold

    Six years after the university cut for teams, athletes, parents, and alumni are still living with the aftermath. Some have found closure. Others are still trying to understand what was lost.  This episode looks at where those affected are now, and how the decisions made in 2020 continue to shape their sense of belonging, their connection to Iowa, and what the future of college athletics might hold.  Producer: Megan Klein Assoc. Producer: AJ Reisetter Host: Savannah Nguyen Editor: Camryn Warn Discontinued: The Decision That Changed Iowa Athletics As the pandemic shut down college athletics in 2020, the University of Iowa decided to cut four varsity sports programs, irrevocably changing the lives of dozens of student-athletes. For athletes at any level, their sport is not just what they do — it’s who they are. For college athletes, that connection is inseparable from school pride. Through interviews with athletes, coaches, attorneys, and journalists, Discontinued explores the fallout of the cuts, from the Title IX lawsuit that challenged it to the lasting questions about belonging and who universities consider expendable. What happens to someone’s sense of self when the sport they’ve committed to since childhood is suddenly taken away?

    12 min

  2. May 28

    Discontinued Pt. 3: Fight for Iowa

    As the impact of the cuts deepens, some athletes refuse to accept the decision quietly.  This episode follows swimmer Sage Ohlensehlen and the attorneys behind the Title IX lawsuit that challenged Iowa’s decision, while also tracing Kareem Allaf’s role in the effort to save men’s tennis. As the fight unfolds — in courtrooms and beyond — athletes begin to push back against an institution that has already moved on.  Producer: Claire O'Donnell Assoc. Producers: Lily Kopp, Kellen Rife Host: Brendan Schnoebelen Editor: John Murphy Discontinued: The Decision That Changed Iowa Athletics As the pandemic shut down college athletics in 2020, the University of Iowa decided to cut four varsity sports programs, irrevocably changing the lives of dozens of student-athletes. For athletes at any level, their sport is not just what they do — it’s who they are. For college athletes, that connection is inseparable from school pride. Through interviews with athletes, coaches, attorneys, and journalists, Discontinued explores the fallout of the cuts, from the Title IX lawsuit that challenged it to the lasting questions about belonging and who universities consider expendable. What happens to someone’s sense of self when the sport they’ve committed to since childhood is suddenly taken away?

    21 min
  3. Discontinued Pt. 2: The Silent Season

    May 28

    Discontinued Pt. 2: The Silent Season

    As the season unfolds, athletes are left to compete in an atmosphere of empty stands and the knowledge that it will be their last as Hawkeyes. This episode explores the emotional toll following the university's decision to eliminate four athletic programs, tracing the shift from the initial shock of the announcement to the resilience of athletes competing through the final weeks of their careers — sometimes fueled by resentment toward their own institution. Producer: Emily Nyberg Assoc. Producers: Delaney Spizzirri, Isabelle Woody Host: Devin Kearney Editor: Ciceli Lawson Discontinued: The Decision That Changed Iowa Athletics As the pandemic shut down college athletics in 2020, the University of Iowa decided to cut four varsity sports programs, irrevocably changing the lives of dozens of student-athletes. For athletes at any level, their sport is not just what they do — it’s who they are. For college athletes, that connection is inseparable from school pride. Through interviews with athletes, coaches, attorneys, and journalists, Discontinued explores the fallout of the cuts, from the Title IX lawsuit that challenged it to the lasting questions about belonging and who universities consider expendable. What happens to someone’s sense of self when the sport they’ve committed to since childhood is suddenly taken away?

    11 min
  4. Discontinued Pt. 1: Benched By the Budget

    May 28

    Discontinued Pt. 1: Benched By the Budget

    When athletes and coaches from four University of Iowa programs are called into a meeting at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, they expect a routine update. What unfolds leaves some angry, others disillusioned.  This episode reconstructs that moment — from the financial pressures behind the decision to the shock and uncertainty that follow. As the reality sets in, athletes are forced to confront what it means to lose not just their sport, but a core part of who they are.  Producer: Jayce Bertrand Host & Assoc. Producer: Lance Peterson Editor: Alayna Larson Assoc. Producer: Payton Martinez Discontinued: The Decision That Changed Iowa Athletics As the pandemic shut down college athletics in 2020, the University of Iowa decided to cut four varsity sports programs, irrevocably changing the lives of dozens of student-athletes. For athletes at any level, their sport is not just what they do — it’s who they are. For college athletes, that connection is inseparable from school pride. Through interviews with athletes, coaches, attorneys, and journalists, Discontinued explores the fallout of the cuts, from the Title IX lawsuit that challenged it to the lasting questions about belonging and who universities consider expendable. What happens to someone’s sense of self when the sport they’ve committed to since childhood is suddenly taken away?

    12 min
  5. A Campus in Conflict Pt. 4: Echoes of the Past

    05/21/2025

    A Campus in Conflict Pt. 4: Echoes of the Past

    From the Vietnam War protests to today, the University of Iowa has served as a space for civic engagement and freedom of expression. The children of former UI president Sandy Boyd reflect on the legacy of the Vietnam protests, while current graduate student Clara Reynen shares her experiences with student activism. The final episode of “A Campus in Conflict” explores the nuanced parallels between the past and present, while tying in the current threats to freedom of expression. Producer: Brady Behrend Host: Abby Feldmann Editor: Megan Smith Associate Producers: Grace Hecox, Oliver Sewart

    10 min
  6. A Campus in Conflict Pt. 3: Emerging Leaders and Tough Decisions

    05/21/2025

    A Campus in Conflict Pt. 3: Emerging Leaders and Tough Decisions

    With student resistance rising, University President William “Sandy” Boyd faces difficult decisions about how to conclude the school year safely. Meanwhile, ROTC student Richard Tyner grapples with how to handle the upcoming Governor’s Day celebration and the potential threat of clashes between students and military troops on campus, and former members of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) discuss their efforts to protest the university’s involvement in the war. Host James McCurtis explores the inner conflicts and uncertainties that loomed over the campus as the spring semester came to a close. Producer: Cassidy Safris Host: James McCurtis Editor: Grace Westergaard Associate Producers: Sydney Libert, Dawson Moore

    18 min
  7. A Campus in Conflict Pt. 2: Pressing Issues

    05/21/2025

    A Campus in Conflict Pt. 2: Pressing Issues

    In May 1970, as protests erupted across the University of Iowa in response to the Vietnam War and the Kent State shootings, a team of student journalists found themselves on the front lines. Not as activists, but as documentarians. In this episode, we hear from students who covered those tense days with a pen, not a picket sign. What happens when a student journalist is forced to choose between objectivity and empathy? And what did they risk to preserve the truth? Producer: Aidan Wirtz Host: Grace Katzer Editor: Shaely O'Dean Associate Producers: Gavin Lemke, Kayla Buehring

    14 min
  8. A Campus in Conflict Pt. 1: Rising Fears, Rising Voices

    05/21/2025

    A Campus in Conflict Pt. 1: Rising Fears, Rising Voices

    As the Vietnam War escalated, tension built on the University of Iowa campus. College students were reaching the age where, if the war didn’t end soon, even a draft deferment might not save them from the horrors of Vietnam. In this episode, historians and former students reflect on the early sparks of protest and how fear, frustration, and hope ignited a fire that would challenge the status quo. Producer: Rose Grau Host: Maddy Hellwig Editor: Abbie McLaren Associate Producers: Brian Allen, Karina Navarro

    19 min
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Discontinued: The Decision That Changed Iowa Athletics – As the pandemic shut down college athletics in 2020, the University of Iowa decided to cut four varsity sports, changing the lives of dozens of student‑athletes. For many, their sport is not just what they do — it’s who they are. Through interviews with athletes, coaches, attorneys, and journalists, *Discontinued* explores the fallout, from a Title IX lawsuit to lasting questions about belonging. What happens to someone’s sense of self when the sport they’ve committed to since childhood is suddenly taken away?

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