Panel will discuss possibility of official state language Panel will discuss possibility of official state language by Missy Idso Daily Staff Writer State Sen. Steve King, R-District 6, will meet tonight with members of the Iowa State Linguistics Program and Bruce Horner, associate professor of English at Drake University, to discuss the possibility of making English the state's official language. Both King and Horner will give a short presentation followed by an open discussion in Room E-164 of Lagomarcino Hall at 7 p.m.
Every society needs a consistent form of communication currency.
King, who is proposing a bill in the Iowa Legislature to make English the state's official language, said he sees American society as more of a multicultural mosaic than a melting pot. Horner, who is a member of the Iowa Immigrants Rights Project, does not support King's view. He believes that if Iowa passes this legislation, it will not help declining population and employment. King said he hopes the proposal is not seen as racist. He said Americans need to be able to communicate so that there is no apprehension.