FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Tom Rice, head, Department of Political Science, (319) 273-7490
Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS — While Al Gore and George Bush crisscross the country, each courting the “independent” vote, a UNI professor says that particular voting block is no more important than any other.
Tom Rice, head of the UNI Department of Political Science, explains that the number of people who identify themselves as independents increased drastically during the '70s and early '80s. "People called themselves independent, but it took a while before that factored into how they registered as a voter. Today it's very fashionable and popular to call yourself an independent."
He believes people call themselves independents because they have become disenchanted with the parties. But that doesn't mean those same people have abandoned the ideology of the party. In fact, said Rice, if you look at the voting records of most independents, you'll find they heavily favor a specific party. So they aren't true independents.
“After you get rid of those closet partisans, what you'll find is that only about 40 percent of those calling themselves independents, really are true, classic independents.”
There are two kinds of true independents, said Rice. First are those who approach the election like a blank slate. “They really look at the issues and take time to educate themselves about the candidates. Then they choose one. But even that person must have some predisposition that she/he brings to the election.”
The second kind of true independent is the “woefully uninformed” individual, said Rice. “This person is apolitical and usually not very interested in the political process. He or she may vote due to a sense of civic duty.”
So what's it all mean for the presidential race, which polls indicate is so tight that a definite front-runner can't be called at this point? Not much,” said Rice. “In a tight race, every group -- social, economic, partisan, religious -- is important.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Lou Honary, director and UNI professor, ABIL, (319) 352-5218
Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa's Ag-Based Industrial Lubricants (ABIL) Research Program was recently awarded a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ABIL also was allotted $350,000 in the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Appropriations bill. Congressman Jim Nussle (R), wrote a letter of support for this funding request.
The USDA grant will be used for testing and demonstration of on-the-farm soybean processing/grease manufacturing plants. “The idea is very simple,” said Lou Honary, UNI associate professor and director of ABIL. “The farmers came to us asking for help in adding value to the soybean oil they had as a by-product of on-the-farm soybean processing. We found that, with proper processing and quality control, the farmers might be able to make industrial greases from the oil.”
ABIL introduced the nation's first soybean-based multi-grade hydraulic fluid, and is recognized nationally as a leader in the development and commercialization of soybean-based industrial lubricants. SoyTRUK™ is a fifth wheel grease for semi trucks, and SoyLINK ™ is a lubricant for chainsaws. Both were introduced in 1999.
“The ABIL Program at UNI has proven its worth,” said Nussle. “This appropriation will help the ABIL Program further accelerate its development and commercialization efforts.”
Established in 1991, the UNI-ABIL Research Program is nationally recognized as a leader in the development and commercialization of soybean-based industrial lubricants. The program brings together research and testing to identify soybean oil characteristics and match them to appropriate industrial uses.
ABIL's first commercial product introduction came in 1997, when it introduced a high-performance multi-grade hydraulic fluid, brand named BioSOY. The next product, BioTRANS, a patented electrical transformer fluid, was jointly developed with Waverly Light & Power Co., Waverly, Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) and the Iowa Soybean Promotion Board (ISPB) are two of the key organizations that help fund ABIL research and development efforts.
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