Although life can be uncertain, we know there are two things on the Iowa State campus that are certain.

One is The September 29th Movement and the administration are strong in their convictions.

The other is that neither group will budge.

The Movement wants to schedule a meeting with President Jischke to talk about issues at ISU that greatly concern them.

They want to talk about Catt Hall, diversity on campus and increased funding for certain minority educational programs, among other things.

But the Movement wants an impartial third party to run the meeting, putting Jischke and the Movement on equal ground.

The administration has continually refused to be considered on equal footing with the Movement, saying that Jischke can’t give up his administrative power.

Now, two years into the battle, a Department of Justice representative has gotten involved.

Pascual Marquez, a senior conciliation specialist, is now trying to determine what capacity the third party will serve.

Will it be a facilitator, mediator or conciliator?

Whatever the term, there is one thing that needs to be done: the two parties need to meet.

Something needs to be done.

Progression is needed.

We can’t sit at this stage forever.

Maybe the parties need to meet informally just to talk and recognize each other’s differences and respect them.

The parties need to get past the constant refusal to budge.

There is a little word called compromise. It has been used around the world to end wars, to settle family differences and to decide who gets the last piece of candy.

President Jischke and The September 29th Movement: there is no dishonor in compromise.