Iowa’s very own ISIS
Time to remove the online student-help name?
Every university has a website designed to assist students whether that be for class registration, coordinating academic meetings, making payments, and so forth. There is nothing unique (or even interesting for that matter) about these webpages. However, the Iowa student population has managed to make this quite noteworthy on campus. At first glance, the header at the top of the page reads “Iowa Student Information System”. But, as one reads through the website, its abbreviated form becomes present.
“ISIS”.
There it is again.
“ISIS”.
Yes, the same abbreviation as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The well-known terrorist group known as ISIS that targets heavily-populated areas to attack. The group that hands children no older than twelve a machine gun and sends them on their way. The group that is now speculated for causing the recent tragedy in Paris.
I know, I know. It should not be a concern. We should be mature about this because we are college kids, right? Obviously the University of Iowa is not supporting a terrorist group. But maybe, just maybe, there are those who do go out of their way to find humor in the name. I guarantee I am not the only student at Iowa who hears the snicker when a professor or fellow student says “ISIS” in reference to the university webpage. I know others have also come across someone who has made a terrorism joke tying to Iowa’s website.
But still, finding humor in the group that is responsible for a state of fear world-wide?
C’mon now.
Sydney Wientjes, a freshman at Iowa is a supporter of the name change.
She said: “Honestly, I think it’s kind of funny but it’s also obviously a strange coincidence that they ended up naming it “ISIS” a while ago, not knowing that ISIS would be such a touchy, hot-button issue recently. I definitely support a name change in the near future.”
A recent Iowa graduate is advocate of this issue as well.
He said: “While I believe that it is not the University’s fault, I do believe that it is their responsibility as a leader in education to stay informed. The name should be changed not out of fear, but out of respect for the many people’s lives who have been brought to chaos.”
She also mentions her concern of whether or not she is being put on some sort of watch list due to the amount of times she has to search ISIS, just to simply check their grades.
What started as something as innocent as naming their information system after an Egyptian god, like many other universities were doing at the time, turned into a much bigger issue for the University of Iowa than ever anticipated. The university has not yet decided on a new name for their information system and say they are open to any suggestions.