Times-Delphic 05/06/2010

>>the final issue

THE TIMES-DELPHIC THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER FOR DRAKE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

DES MOINES, IOWA • Thursday, May 6, 2010 • VOL. 128, NO. 45 • www.timesdelphic.com SPECIAL

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

around

DSM

MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2010

Downtown Farmers Market

Sleepy Hollow: making winter fun

by SARAH ANDREWS Photo/Design Editor tdphotos@drake.edu

Although the snow is finally melting, take one last winter adventure at Sleepy Hollow Sports park before it closes (weather permitting).

Activites at Sleepy Hollow range from advanced ski and snowboard runs to snow tubing or the new Zipfy sled. For those that want to try something new, free ski and

INDIANOLA, IOWA – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation confirmed Monday that Drake sophomore Ben Backstrom died from a self-inflicted, single gunshot wound.

At a press conference at the Warren County Courthouse, Michael Motsinger, the agent in charge of the case, said that the gunshot wound was to his head. It was reported last Tuesday that DCI was treating the investigation as a homicide. Motsinger said that the investigation shifted toward a suicide later that week.

Motsinger gave details about the night Backstrom was found just north of Indianola hunched over a bridge. From surveillance videos and eyewitness accounts, he said that Backstrom parked in a lot at 12:40 a.m. 1.5 miles away from where he was found on the bridge 40 minutes later. Three witnesses said they saw Backstrom walking alone on U.S. Highway 65/69.

Surveillance shows that two hours prior to the 911 call, Backstrom was seen buying zipties at a local store. It was also revealed that his hands were zip-tied together in front of his body.

A handgun is missing from the family residence—the weapon that Motsinger said might have killed Backstrom. He admittedly took the gun as a matter of personal protection, Motsinger said. The gun has not been found yet. Last week, DCI officials searched the Middle River for a weapon.

The manner of death is still under investigation, pending the release of the autopsy report from Polk County.

board lessons are always available from one of the trained instructors.

If you’re on a budget, go on a Wednesday or Thursday night when rental and lift ticket packages are only $20. And don’t worry too much about the melting snow— Sleepy Hollow makes its own when Mother Nature slacks off.

Sleepy Hollow Sports Park is located at 4051 Dean Ave. Des Moines, IA 50317.

For information on hours and more, visit www.sleepyhollowsportspark.com. n

30,000 Iowans flock to first farmers market of the season The Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market kicked off its opening day at 7 a.m. on Saturday stretching over several blocks, with the main concentration of vendors being on Court Avenue. Both vendor and consumer demand prompted the earliest opening date of the market ever; it usually begins the day before Mother’s Day. The market featured a wide variety of food products, from jalapenos to artisan bread to homemade pasta sauce. Some foods, in-

cluding burritos, Chinese food and crepes, were cooked on location, ready for passersby to purchase and eat. There were many other products as well, including jewelry, scarves and tie-dye T-shirts.

Walking down the street, thousands of shoppers traveled from flower vendors to jelly booths to watermelon stands amid the smell of a mixture of fresh bread, BBQ pork and kettle corn. Some of the shoppers held hands; others walked their dogs and still more pushed strollers and bikes down the crowded walkways. Along the street were several musicians, including a young boy playing the violin and an older man playing

Drake sophomore died from a gunshot wound last Tuesday Staff Writer eric.kipp@drake.edu

THE DES MOINES DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET kicked off its season last Saturday in the Court Avenue district.

There, vendors sold food, plants and merchandise. The market goes until next October.

Staff Writer laura.johnson@drake.edu

Backstrom’s death ruled a suicide

by ERIC KIPP

photos by LAURA JOHNSON | Staff Photographer

by LAURA JOHNSON

PAGE 8

jazz tunes from memory on his saxophone.

“I really enjoyed the market,” said Alex Roth, a Drake junior, who had her first experience of the market on Saturday. “It was unexpected the number of people there, the variety of things being sold and how big it was.”

Although customers could buy their first farmers market produce at 7 a.m., vendors, including Gerry and Mel Bauman of Grimes, arrived to set up long before that.

The couple woke up at 4 a.m., gathered their herbs and crepemaking materials and arrived downtown to set up at 5:30 a.m.

Their booth, The Farmhouse,

features a variety of herbs and a skillet for making several kinds of crepes. The Baumans, along with extended family members, run the booth, which is a permanent participant of the Farmers Market.

“We’ve been coming here for 20 years,” Gerry Bauman said.

“My husband was probably one of the first vendors here.”

Shoppers can check out the Baumans’ booth, plus hundreds of others’ from across Iowa and the Midwest, at the Downtown Farmers Market every Saturday through Oct. 30 from 7 a.m. to noon. n

Family Response David Backstrom, Ben’s father, sent an email to the media Monday. In it, he said that he still feels confident that Backstrom was threatened in some manner and that what occurred happened because of a direct threat toward Ben or his family.

“Ben’s family would like to thank everyone for their outpouring of support. We would also like to thank the Warren County DCI for their efforts and compassion during the investigation.

“We would like to share the following information that may allow others to understand what we know so that they may help the authorities resolve this tragedy.

“From information that his family knows, and was confirmed by friends and a letter that Ben left, we know the following: “In the last month, Ben either witnessed a crime or was made to think he had. He received direct threats not to contact police. Ben received a letter on the windshield of his car with family names, details and activities.

“We know that in the last several weeks he withdrew over $1,400 from his bank account, none of which has been accounted for.

“From the letter Ben left, it appears that he was either going to meet with someone, or was instructed to go to the bridge location and sacrifice himself to ensure his family’s safety. The family is not sure if this was a prank, harassment

SEE BACKSTROM, PAGE 2

Global reality change: Drake graduates jet-set before settling into 9-to-5s

by MARY BESS BOLLING Sports Editor tdsports@drake.edu

Of the 72 Chinese students in Drake-graduate Sara Schoneberg’s English class, it only took one to upset the order in the classroom.

One girl hid a dog under her desk during the first day of school.

“I told her to take the dog home and leave for the day, then I think she just started cursing at me in Mandarin,” Schoneberg said. “So I yelled back.”

Eventually, another student who acted as a liaison for the abnormally large class told both to stop yelling at each other, the dog crawled back under the desk and Schoneberg continued to teach the rest of the day with a canine present.

As the international relations major strug-

gled to control what she called her “class from hell,” 25 fellow Drake graduates taught alongside her in the booming country, while numerous others work and live in other foreign countries.

This trend of a tour of service or work abroad between college and permanent employment has become more common in recent years.

The government-run program, the Peace Corps, has placed a handful of former students abroad for two or more years as well.

No matter the program, students said they return with invaluable experience in every facet of life.

“The Peace Corps was a perfect fit,” Drake graduate Kelly Daily (’06) said. “It was a way to go out and gain experience in the field while doing something worthwhile without getting run down with a job all at the same time.”

Daly was stationed in a village in the western African country of Benin.

Though avoiding permanent employment is a common reason for taking time between graduation and the 9-to-5 daily grind, the time away morphed into more than an escape for Daly.

“What made it worth it was the people,” Daly said. “I had a lot of really great people who were supportive in my village who were really supportive and kind of took it on themselves to take care of me.”

Daly said the villagers were the main reason she extended the traditional two-year tour for a third year as a volunteer leader.

“You go in, get all this training and say, ‘OK, I’m going to do this and figure out how

SEE GRADUATION, PAGE 2

photo courtesy of DCI

A MAP was given to reporters at Monday’s press conference in Indianola. The bottom star represents where Backstrom parked his car. The top star is 1.5 miles from the parking lot and represents the bridge where he shot himself with a handgun.

NEWS

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

QUOTE of the

“

THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010

”

PAGE 2

Many of the issues brought up this year are important to address in the future. My hope is that we as a community continue to come together as we have when times are difficult.

PAGETWO DAY SECURITY REPORTS:

—MATT VASILOGAMBROS, SEE PAGE 3

relays edition (part 2) p.m. on April 20 and 6:30 p.m. on April 25.

REPEAT OFFENDER 2:11 a.m. April 24 Security and police responded to a Drake parking lot located in the 1200 block of 31st Street based on the surveillance camera showing a male driving into a sign in the lot and then backing up and trying to re-park his vehicle.

There was no damage to the sign and very minor damage to his vehicle. However, the underage-for-drinking male student appeared to be intoxicated and police were 1:38 a.m. April 24 Security responded to Morehouse Residence Hall based on report of an intoxicated student. It was determined a male not associated with Drake University was intoxicated and was underage for consuming alcohol. He also was in possession of another’s driver’s license. The license was confiscated. He stated he was staying with a female student while he was on campus. She was called and came to his rescue.

3:49 p.m. April 24 Two male students reported they had tires on their vehicles slashed in the 2800 block of Brattleboro and they believe the vandalism occurred between 11:30 p.m. on April 23 and 1:30 a.m. on April 24.

4:30 p.m. April 24 Two intoxicated males walked into a Drake parking lot lo-

called. The student lied to police about his identity, but security advised them correctly as they have had four separate encounters with the student over the past eight months with alcohol related incidents. The student was arrested for OWI and, when searched, marijuana was found in his possession and he was also charged with a drug violation. The dean of students was advised.

cated in the 1400 block of 28th Street and appeared to be intoxicated. They were Drake students who were of age to drink alcohol. They stated they were looking for food. They were told to get their food and move on. Five minutes later they were seen smoking in the stadium and they were advised on trespass for the stadium and adjacent parking lot for the remainder of the night. They were seen a short time later at a large party in a Drake Real Estate property in the 1400 block of 29th Street. The occupants of the residence were advised to clean up their mess and break up the party, which they did. The Drake Real Estate manager was advised.

6:51 p.m. April 24 Security responded to 1300 block of 33rd Street based on report there was a smoky haze in the hallway. The Drake Real

RHA hosts First-Year Finale

by STEPHEN SLADE

1:20 a.m. April 25 Security responded to the Goodwin–Kirk Residence Hall Complex based on report of a male who was throwing up all over himself in a first floor men’s restroom and was not responding to questions. It was determined the underagefor-drinking male student had locked himself in the handicapped stall. Entry was made and the student had vomited all over the floor and defecated on himself. He could not tell anyone the year or his phone number. Police and fire/rescue were called. The fake license was confiscated and the student was transported to a local hospital. The director of Residence Life was present and advised she would be going to the hospital with the student.

Estate manager was advised. It was determined the fire extinguisher had been emptied in the hallway and it was unclear as to where the suspect had gone after discharging the fire extinguisher.

6:51 p.m. April 24 Security responded to the Norman Apartments (Drake Real Estate) based on report of a broken window. A female student reported her apartment door window had been broken out between 3:30 a.m. and 5:51 p.m. on April 24. The student advised that nothing was disturbed in the apartment.

9:06 p.m. April 24 A female student reported someone broke her side view mirror to her vehicle while it was parked in a Drake parking lot located in the 1300 block of 32nd street. She stated the incident occurred between 3:30

1:59 a.m. April 25 Security responded to Herriott Residence Hall based on report of two males not associated with the university giving staff a hard time. The two appeared somewhat intoxicated and had no legitimate reason for being on campus and were advised on trespass for the campus.

2:52 a.m. April 25 Security responded to Crawford Residence Hall based on report by a resident assistant of a student who had a lot to drink and was vomiting in the third floor men’s restroom.

The uncooperative underage for drinking male student would not come out of the stall or would not unlock the door.

It was eventually unlocked and the student exited. Police were called and in the meantime the student had calmed down, somewhat. His roommate advised he would watch over him for the remainder of the night.

7:18 a.m. April 25 Police requested security to stop by 1235 34th Street in regards to a loud party. The Des Moines officers advised that upon their arrival there were several people on the porch and the music was blaring. The Des Moines officer advised the inside of the house was completely trashed and there were people passed out everywhere.

Earlier, males and females were seen dancing on the porch and throwing full cans of beer at passing vehicles. There was a family picking up beer cans in the street and also in the fraternity house. The president of the house showed up and stated he had no idea what was going on, nor did he know the family walking through the house. However, he let them continue. An alum was found passed out surrounded by beer cans. He was awakened and asked to leave the area. The matter and several pictures have been coordinated with the dean of students. The director of sorority and fraternity life has been advised.

4:19 a.m. April 27 A staff member reported a vehicle just struck a light pole located in a Drake parking lot north of University Avenue in the 2800 block. A female student reported she turned her windshield wipers on because of the rain. Unfortunately they did not engage and she crashed into the pole causing damage to her vehicle.

10:43 a.m. April 29 A female observed two males throw a brick through a car window of a vehicle parked in the 2500 block of University Avenue. A purse and lap top computer was stolen. The purse was found by a security officer near 25th and Cottage Avenue minus $100 in cash.

Musician Schedule for Saturday at the Agora 11–11:30 a.m. – Shades 11:30 a.m.–12 p.m. – Alex Eich 12–12:30 p.m. – EGG 12:30–1 p.m. – Joshua Poindexter 1–1:30 p.m. – Jon McDonald 1:30–2 p.m. – Yoni Solomon

8:46 p.m. April 30 A female student reported that a male student had gotten drunk on two occasions and came to her room in Jewett Residence Hall where she allowed him to stay. He vomited on her carpet on both incidents and she had to pay a cleaning bill. He agreed to pay but doesn’t have any money.

The female was advised to take civil action.

7:09 p.m. May 1 A male student was seen coming down off the roof of the Bell Center. He, a female student and another male student were advised on trespass for the facility.

8:41 p.m. May 1 Two males were advised on trespass at the intramural field.

Police were called to assist as their stories did not make a lot of sense.

9:42 a.m. May 2 It was reported that papers on the outside of a room in Herriott Residence Hall had been set on fire. Damage was minor but the incident has been turned over to fire investigators.

7 p.m. May 2 A male adult was advised on trespass near the Goodwin– Kirk Residence Hall Complex.

He had no legitimate business being on campus and had tried to borrow money from a male student earlier after previously borrowing the same student’s umbrella.

Maxwell says university’s focus is still on support FROM BACKSTROM, PAGE 1 that went too far or an actual threat. What is clear is that Ben felt the threat to his family was real and that he felt he had no other choice but to comply.

“The family was very close and some previous discussion and his notes to the family were very open about his concerns. There is no doubt in our mind that his death was a reaction

to a perceived threat. This has been confirmed by his many friends. There was no signs of depression, he had a date for Saturday’s formal and had made lunch plans with his father for the following day.

“We were informed by DCI that Ben was shot. We have been assured that the DCI will continue to follow-up on the many leads. We also believe that there is no threat to our family or the Drake community.

Staff Writer stephen.slade@drake.edu

The year is winding down, but campus life is pumping up around the first-year residence halls. Residence Hall Association has announced the first RHA First-Year Finale to celebrate the end of the first year of college experience.

The weeklong event kicked off on Monday with backyard games in Helmick Commons and a campus-wide game of Capture the Flag was held yesterday, with four flags instead of two so each hall could defend its own.

“The First-Year Finale week is something that will be a continued successful program for future first-years to enjoy,” Resident Assistant and sophomore Leeta Carlson said.

In addition to the events held during the week, students are given the chance to shed their spare change during Penny Wars. Four jars labeled with the name of each first-year residence hall are located at the front desk of each hall.

Pennies are positive points (one penny equals one point) for whichever hall the penny is donated towards. Any other change or bills counts as negative points against whichever jar—or residence hall—you choose to try and take down.

All proceeds will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Central Iowa.

The First-Year Finale will conclude with a barbecue in Helmick Commons from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday that will feature various Drake bands, including VEISHEA’s Battle of the Bands winner, EGG, who has opened for bands like Fun and Motion City Soundtrack.

“It’s the first annual First-Year Finale and it’s really exciting to see it come together,” said first-year Stalnaker President Laura Vollmer.

“Everybody has had a great time with it and I hope to see it continue in the future.” n

3:36 p.m. April 29 Security and the fire department responded to Ross Residence Hall based on a fire alarm. There was no fire or smoke and it was determined that a detector had been set off by a female student using her hair dryer.

photo by ERIC KIPP | Staff Photographer

DCI AGENT MICHAEL MOTSINGER speaks at a press conference Monday afternoon at the Warren County Courthouse.

“We are prepared for speculation and uncertainty around Ben’s death, and we know that the DCI is working with the information that they have and are carefully working through the evidence. We ask that if anyone has additional information, then please contact the police.

“Most importantly, everyone who knew Ben would share that he thought of others before himself in all cases. We would also like to share that Ben was a strong advocate of organ donation. This last week, 3 of Ben’s organs were successfully transplanted into 3 Iowans and one was successfully transplanted into a recipient in Kentucky.”

University Response President David Maxwell sent an e-mail to the Drake community Monday afternoon, saying that regardless of the situation, he will continue to focus on the well-being of Backstrom’s friends and family, and of the campus.

“The university continues to offer Ben’s friends and family our deepest sympathies and support during this difficult time. We will maintain our focus on providing care for those affected by his passing. In the past week, the Drake family has come together in a variety of ways to offer one another support, solace and guidance.

“I personally have been very moved by the ways in which Ben’s friends, colleagues and faculty have taken ownership of one another’s grief in an effort to share—and thus perhaps lessen—the burden. What we have seen and heard in these days gives me considerable hope that the campus community will be able to respond to this latest news with similar strength, wisdom and compassion.” n Matt Vasilogambros contributed to this article.

Graduates discover alternative summer options FROM GRADUATION, PAGE 1 I’ll work after the experience and do something to help these people,’” Daly said. “But, as you do that, they end up helping you more than you could ever help them. You don’t even realize it until you’re in the middle of doing it.”

Daly has since moved back home to the Quad Cities and spent four months searching for a job. Just last week, she received a job offer from the U.S. Peace Corps office in Washington, D.C., and is waiting for her background check to clear to officially accept the position.

Not every graduate who takes a tour of service comes back with such immediate positive responses to their experience.

Kirk Martin, director of Drake’s Chinese Cultural Exchange Program, said through reviews of participant survey results, he found

SEND YOUR STORY IDEAS TO TDNEWS@DRAKE.EDU

that graduates react more positively about the program five years after they return.

“It’s hard to tell immediately following the experience because students are not sure how it helped them yet and haven’t seen the changes in themselves,” Martin said.

But he said he stresses to students before they go that they should be ready for change.

“It changes your life in a lot of ways,” Martin said. “But no matter where you are, there you are. It’s still you. Through the challenges you’ll face, it becomes a really good opportunity to get to know yourself, quickly.”

Assistant Director of International Programs and Services/Study Abroad Jennifer Hogan said the changes students face can pose challenges when they return to the U.S. “It’s kind of like being in a parallel universe,” Hogan said. “Everything pretty much

stays the same for everyone else in your life.

Most of your friends haven’t done something as profoundly different.”

As the Chinese school year nears its June close, Schoneberg said she’s more nervous to return to live in her hometown of Des Moines after 11 months in a different world.

“Coming back is the hardest part,” she said.

“You’re used to that culture.”

Schoneberg, who traveled abroad to Australia and the Czech Republic before teaching in China, said another challenge is relating your experiences to loved ones at home.

“Some people will care—usually those who have done it themselves—but most people really don’t care,” she said. “You’ll have this really funny story to tell, but it’s sad because you’ll see silent nods and people who just don’t pay attention.” n

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PAGE 3

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010

the BUZZ

OPINIONS&EDITORIALS LAST DAYS

THE TIMES-DELPHIC It’s been a great, but tough, year. Take a break and enjoy a safe summer.

Rejected grad speech

Parting thoughts

Apparently you have to be brilliant to give it

TD editor’s reflection of the year

M

y fellow sturepresent our writing skills, dents, disand pink shoes with sequins, tinguished representing our experimenfaculty and tation with sexuality. Truly adorable grandmothers. every shoe was available Here we are. We finally did here at Drake and it was up it. The journey from brainto us to gather them and put less nobodies to brainless them in our box.

JOE BARLOW somebodies is complete.

Thankfully, we didn’t Hard work, determination have to do it alone. There COLUMNIST and Adderall have prepared were Brannock foot-meaus for our new lives as unsuring devices, telling us employed college graduates. which shoes fit and which It begins today. Here. Now. With me. shoes matched our favorite slacks. These deIt truly is an honor to be delivering this vices are our professors and friends. Professors speech. I remember being a freshman and and friends do different jobs and help us in their looking at the seniors and thinking, ‘Wow, I will own way. Professors guide us by telling us what never be that pompous.’ But look at me now. classes to take and explaining difficult concepts.

Look at me now.

Our friends help us choose the best beer and I am aware that many graduation speeches laugh when we fall down a flight of stairs. The use metaphors to jazz up their speeches. This bonds we made with our Brannock foot-measpeech will follow that same formula. Unfortu- suring devices will last a lifetime. nately, there is a massive problem. Every year, Finally, we became seniors, and our shoe colthere are thousands of graduation speeches and lection was quite large. There was not enough I’m guessing over 90 percent use metaphors. room in our boxes for many more shoes and This means that if I want to be original—which what room was left was being filled by Avatar I do—I need to really dig deep and obscure for quotes and John Stamos trivia. a unique metaphor. I am willing to make this (PAUSE AND GET CHOKED UP sacrifice for originality.

“GLENN BECK STYLE.” WAIT FOR AU(CLEAR THROAT DRAMATICALLY.) DIENCE STANDING OVATION. THEN As we head out into this crazy blue ball that CONTINUE.) we call Earth, we are going to have a lot of chalWe all reach a breaking point: the point lenges, but if we try to live like a wet cardboard where we put in one shoe too many. Our boxes box full of shoes, life will be good, my friends. begin to tear from the water and squirrel urine Life will be good. soaked in the bottom. All of our shoes fall out You see ladies and gentlemen, we are the wet of our boxes and we go insane. There is nothcardboard boxes (MAKE LARGE SWEEP- ing inside of our heads except meaningless ING ARM GESTURE). Before we came to graduation speeches and awkward metaphors.

Drake, we were just sitting in our garages gath- There are also semicolons, even though we ering dust and attracting squirrels. There was can’t remember what they are for. a little wet line around the bottom where we That is what we celebrate today. Our achad absorbed too much water (and occasionally ceptance of defeat; leaving here realizing that squirrel urine). We had been there sitting idly, really there is no such thing as knowledge and waiting for our moment to be useful. You see, we are just meaningless pieces of skin and stuff our garage was our safety net. It was our moth- (or cardboard). But there is a bright side; we er’s overprotective arms, shielding us from the have our Brannock foot-measuring devices, and real world and PG-13 movies. But there came whether you are a 9 ½ or a 10, a lady’s size 4 or a time for us to grow up and leave our garage. a children’s size 6, you have a foot—or at least When Drake sent us our acceptance letters, socks. God bless America and God bless Otis we suddenly became a wet cardboard box with Brannock, the inventor of the Brannock footwings—hypothetical wings. We could finally be measuring device. set free. So we left our mother’s warm embrace (WAIT FOR SECOND OVATION AND and we came to Des Moines, Iowa. Here we HIGH-FIVE PRESIDENT DAVID MAXbegan to get our boxes filled with shoes. Shoes WELL AS YOU STREAK ACROSS THE represent knowledge and experiences. We lived STAGE NAKED.) like kings freshman year. We could stay up late and watch as many PG-13 movies as we wantBarlow is a senior broadcast news major and can be ed. Life was good and our boxes got filled with contacted at joseph.barlow@drake.edu. all kinds of shoes. There were red shoes, which

Sangeet

Celebration before a South Asian wedding

photo courtesy of ANKITA DHUSSA

T

yler O’Neil and at times.

I went to The Some have said that it is New York Times not the job of the student this April for a newspaper to report on conference on the future of these difficult events, but I journalism. There, we sat join others in saying that with student journalists from it is exactly our role. In my all over the country. One by MATT VASILOGAMBROS mind, the TD is the main one, they shared their stories news source for events on about trying to find ways our campus and we will reEDITOR-IN-CHIEF to reach more students and main that. The stories we their articles about the mowrite are sometimes diffinopoly of Sodexo food on cult, but they are important. their respective campuses. Then, it was time for I hope that next year’s TD will continue to the two kids from a small, private school in Des cover such events and challenge the norms of Moines, Iowa, to speak about the news that has campus, not being afraid to upset others by our occurred on their campus. Let’s just say the kids coverage. Sometimes, it’s OK to piss off Presifrom the East Coast were surprised. dent Maxwell or the student body president.

Drake University was brimming with news Many of the issues brought up this year are this year—an unfamiliar feeling that any for- important to address in the future. We appremer editor of The Times-Delphic can attest to. ciate the actions done by Drake students and On our very first issue—which seems like years faculty to curb some of these issues. But most ago—we broke news about dozens of athletic of these problems have not been solved and I’m suspensions due to alcohol abuse and the sad not sure they can be by one university. My hope news of the death of a first-year student. From is that we as a community continue to come tothere, articles involving Student Senate, sexual gether as we have when times are difficult. The assault, the Phi Delta Theta hazing, new phar- way the campus acted in this last week to supmacy school requirements and Board of Stu- port the friends and family of Ben Backstrom dent Communications funding made headline was incredible and solidified my belief in the after headline. character that defines Drake University.

We at the TD strive to bring the best and This is my last issue as the editor-in-chief most accurate coverage to this campus, and I of The Times-Delphic. It has been the honor believe we succeeded at that. Our stories have of my life to serve this role and I will miss my been featured in the Chicago Tribune, the job tremendously. All of our success this year Omaha World Herald and the Huffington Post. comes from the collective efforts of our entire We also redesigned the newspaper, work that staff and our friends and family who have suphas been recognized by the Mizzou Student ported us along the way. Take some time to look Society for News Design. at the masthead at the bottom of this page to Many of these recognized stories have also see all of the people who dedicate countless rocked the very foundation of the university, hours to one of the best student newspapers in bringing negative publicity and heartbreak the country. along the way. It was equally troubling for us in To the people who have shared Meredith the newsroom and challenged us to our core as 124N with me this year: you were the best staff both students and journalists. that any editor could ask for and I will always Personally, writing the stories on the sexual love and admire you. Thank you for one incredassaults and on the death of sophomore Ben ible year. You have lit my journalistic fire once Backstrom were some of the most difficult ex- more and allowed me to believe in the power of periences of my life. In newspapers, the author quality and unbiased news. Living in a counmust remove him or herself from the story and try where the opposite is all too often accepted, give the facts straight. But this is difficult when it gives me confidence that there are people at you work for a newspaper that serves such a Drake who still believe in its importance. small campus and you yourself are a student.

Every police report I read that had the name of someone I knew made my heart sink further and further into my stomach. It’s different from Vasilogambros serves as the editor-in-chief of The a daily paper when these people are just anTimes-Delphic and is a news/Internet journalism other victim. At a college newspaper, they are and politics double-major and can be contacted your peers. You then question your role as a reporter and as a student, and how those compete at matthew.vasilogambros@drake.edu.

I attended a Sangeet, an event benew Indian outfit, speak in Hindi or talk fore some South Asian weddings, this about South Asian politics are all things past weekend. A Sangeet is generally that make me truly enjoy a South Asian an event for women to come together wedding. before the wedding and sing traditional Like the intercollegiate dance compewedding songs, dance, eat and have a tition I attended earlier this year, South good time.

Asian weddings help me feel a sense of It always amazes me how traditions belonging, probably more so than the ANKITA DHUSSA and customs of South Asian weddings competition. Perhaps because I’m more can still be seen in a wedding that is rooted in traditions and customs in genCOLUMNIST happening so far away from where the eral, I truly love South Asian weddings customs originated. I’ve been going to and the symbolism found behind the inat least one South Asian wedding every numerable traditions. year for the last five or so years and I absolutely love them.

I can’t help but compare the craziness of South Asian Interestingly, I’ve never been to a non-South Asian wed- weddings to the movie, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” I’m ding, so although the media tells me to view weddings with pretty sure that any first-generation American can identify the bride wearing a white dress walking down the aisle, with at least one example from that movie. The wedding I’ve never actually seen that in the many weddings I’ve at- craze, which I’m sure is found in all weddings, is not lost in tended. the movie or in South Asian weddings.

Attending South Asian weddings also gives me a chance If ever presented with the opportunity to attend a to experience customs and traditions that I don’t usually South Asian wedding, I highly recommend it. The chance get a chance to experience because I live in the middle of to see adapted customs, but yet a traditional wedding in the Iowa. Obviously there are some traditions that can’t hap- United States is a pretty cool experience. Plus, who doesn’t pen in the states due to various factors, but the creativity love to dance to South Asian music? involved in the adaptations is always interesting to witness.

Each region in South Asia has different customs, but Dhussa is a first-year radio/TV and international relations major perhaps the factor that joins South Asian weddings abroad and can be contacted at ankita.dhussa@drake.edu. is the sense of community. The chance to bust out that

LETTER TO THE EDITOR I just want to praise The Times-Delphic for the coverage on the tragic death of Benjamin Backstrom. I am a Norwalk native and went to high school with Benjamin, and I was horrified to hear about his death. I didn’t have much interaction with him during his years in high school or at Drake, but I was very interested in the story and wanted more details. Though there is very little information on the incident, I am very glad The Times-Delphic chose to cover all other events and information associated with his death. The coverage about the candlelight vigils and memorial services were filled with student quotes and photos. These details added to the

THE TIMES-DELPHIC THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER FOR DRAKE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884 MATT VASILOGAMBROS, Editor-in-Chief times.delphic@drake.edu LIZZIE PINE, Managing Editor tdeditorials@drake.edu JACKIE WALLENTIN, News Editor tdnews@drake.edu

JILL VAN WYKE, Faculty Advisor jill.vanwyke@drake.edu HOLLY WORTHY, Copy Editor holly.worthy@drake.edu

KENSIE SMITH, Features Editor tdfeatures@drake.edu

MATT MORAN, Copy Editor matthew.moran@drake.edu

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KYLE GLASER, Digital Editor tdweb@drake.edu

emotional impact his death had on students, friends and family. Any Drake student would agree that those articles emphasized and supported a sense of unity, and that when a peer is lost, we all are affected. I do feel it is crucial that when more details are revealed in regards to his death that The Times-Delphic reports it to the students. I have heard many rumors already and feel that it is fair to friends, family, peers and the community that we know the truth about what happened.

Nick Sellers nicholas.sellers@drake.edu

The Times-Delphic is a student newspaper published semi-weekly during the regular academic year and is produced by undergraduate students at Drake University. The opinions of staff editorials reflect the institutional opinion of the newspaper based on current staff opinions and the newspaper’s traditions. These opinions do not necessarily reflect those of individual employees of the paper, Drake University or members of the student body. All other opinions appearing throughout the paper are those of the author or artist named within the column or cartoon. The newsroom and business office of The Times-Delphic are located in Meredith Hall, Room 124. The Times-Delphic is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press. The editor-in-chief sits on the Board of Student Communications.

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FEATURES

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

FEATURES

THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010

DON’T. MISS. THIS.

PAGE 4

Drake Theatre’s “Working,” 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Thur.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sunday, First Unitarian Church, 1800 Bell Ave.

Taking care of business A look at some of the best and worst summer jobs

>>Get a

step ahead

Stay a step ahead of the competition and make sure to have all the right tools when applying for your summer job

1. Resume Keep your qualifications to one page. Include experience, education, involvement and skills that are applicable to the job. Alter your resume depending on what each company is looking for.

2. Cover letter Keep the introduction to the application concise.

Indicate how you heard about the position, why you are interested and what makes you qualified. Don’t repeat what’s already listed in your resume.

3. Reference sheet If your resume sheet is filled, put three to four current people of professional reference on a separate sheet. Keep the header the same between your resume and reference sheet, so they coordinate. Make sure and notify your references that you are using them as potential contacts for recommendation.

4. Business Card Have a clean-looking card that shares your contact information, including phone number, email and Web site (if you have one). If possible, have the colors on the resume and card coordinate.

5. LinkedIn Manage your contacts and network with potential and past employers on LinkedIn.com. Keep your working status updated and ask for recommendations from co-workers and bosses. Make sure the profile picture is a plain headshot, with little background distraction.

The bell rings and school’s out for summer. This means tanning, baseball and no responsibility for Drake University students. But wait—schedules without lectures and finals also means more time to work.

It’s the jobs seen posted on online job boards or hanging with pull-off tags that are left for students to grab. The lucky ones get that rare break—the job that fits with their passions, like fashion, sports or journalism—but usually work for students is undesirable. The downright dirty jobs of dishing out fries, washing plates and husking corn are left for young adults strapped for cash.

The average cost of undergraduate tuition at a private four-year university is $26,273, according to the College Board.

This is up 4.4 percent from 2009 and many students will have to pay that price with a part-time, minimum-wage job.

Despite the U.S. unemployment rate at 9.7 percent as of March 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are still jobs outside of the college campus bubble.

The lowest paying job, according to the CareerBuilder web site, is food preparation, serving workers with an average hourly wage of $8.03.

Byron Spears, a junior politics and history double major, said he would rather work in a fast-food kitchen than at his last summer job again. As a night staffer at a juvenile detention center he was required to sit on watch from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. He had to perform a variety of unwelcome tasks.

“If any of the kids peed in bed, guess who got to change the sheet and clean them up?” Spears said.

Bad jobs can serve as a great party conversation starter. Lyn Schneider, a senior public relations and politics double major, can casually throw in that she worked in a factory on bombs.

“I tied knots on bomb cartridges for eight hours a day,” Schneider said. “But this year, over Christmas break, I got to move up in the world. I got to rub the lids with a toothbrush on returned bomb cartridges from Iraq.”

Schneider said she needed money the summer before she studied abroad and after her other lifeguarding job.

The job of passing out samples at a grocery store is also often a focus of underpaid students. Norah Carroll, a junior magazine and English double major, got a temporary agency job serving samples at Sam’s Club the summer before college. The agencies will contract employees for a limited time—which was just fine with Carroll.

“I wasn’t very good at it, though, because I don’t really eat meat and I was serving meat,” Carroll said. “People kept asking me what it was and I had no idea. So, they moved me up to shampoos and my job was to sit on a stool for six hours and answer questions about Pantene shampoo, if people asked me—which they didn’t.”

From a student perspective, the best jobs are usually the highest paid. This year’s highest paid student part-time job, according to the company Studentpayouts.com, is working with technology as a computer lab assistant. It might not be glamorous, but fixing printers and rewriting HTML pays an average of $21.78 per hour.

photo courtesy of DAN BEHRENS

DAN BEHRENS guides groups of high school students along a river near Canada.

Clerking as an administrative assistant and instructing aerobics are also well-paid enterprises.

Exercise enthusiast Kelly Kretschmer, a sophomore vocal performance major, advises contacting the Bell Center about opportunities to instruct exercise classes.

Kretschmer said she gets to work up a sweat teaching step aerobics twice a week while getting paid.

Like Kretschmer’s job, employment opportunities that combine salary and enthusiasm are the most sought after.

Dan Behrens was lucky enough to find a job through his love of the outdoors. The junior health sciences major guides groups of high school students on five-night trips along different waterways in Minnesota, near the Canadian border.

Deb Wiley, assistant director of Drake human resources, encourages students to equally weigh all employment opportunities, on and off campus.

“On-campus jobs are great if a student needs, or wants, to take classes at Drake,” Wiley said. “With the on-campus jobs during the summer a student can work up to 40 hours per week, so it will feel like a regular full-time job.”

Eric Gudmundson, a senior public relations major, loved his on-campus job as an orientation leader so much that he attempted to obtain the position, only allowed for current students, again.

“Being an orientation leader was super flexible, so you don’t think of it as a paying job,” Gudmundson said. “It’s different than any other type of job, because you get to work with co-workers, administration, parents and students.”

Internships are also a beneficial use of time in the summer. With the economy in a standstill and hiring in a lull, many companies are cutting paid interns in exchange for free labor.

Outside the door to Car– BYRON SPEARS, lyn Crowe’s office is a list of worked at juvenile detention center opportunities everywhere from Washington D.C. to California. Crowe, internship coordinator and adBehrens said he likes taking a vacation junct journalism professor, will offer advice from the hubbub of college. The break is to all students who contact her. forced as his main campground base is an “The biggest tip I have for looking for hour away from cell phone service. an internship is to start at your network of “I love being in such an isolated place professors, advisors and speak with them because it helps you appreciate the simple what advice they might have,” Crowe said. things in life,” Behrens said. “Everything “Spread the word to get the game goyou do is an adventure and you never know ing.” what will happen on any given trip.”

Crowe suggested many resources for He has stories to tell about bears steal- students to figure out that looming issue of ing food, sleeping in severe storms and ca- finding a summer job. noes tipping over in the middles of rushing “LinkedIn is a great resource for netrivers. working,” Crowe recommended. “I defi“It is a rewarding, challenging and nitely advise getting and keeping up a prounique job experience that I will be doing file.” again for the third straight summer,” BehGo to www.drake.edu/hr for a complete rens said. listing of on-campus jobs. Because there Tents, mosquitoes and dirt aren’t for are few students on campus in the summer, everyone and to make bank, students don’t on-campus positions can be limited. Profeseven need to venture off Drake campus. sional and Career Development Services There are many options to pad those pock- have an online database, called Career ets with green at a number of on-campus bluePrint, which employers use to post offjobs. campus jobs and internships. n

“

If any of the kids peed in bed, guess who got to change the sheets and clean them up?

”

Staying in Des Moines this summer?

Music fest hits downtown

by NICOLE WILKE

Staff Writer nicole.wilke@drake.edu

Since April 19, more and more bands have been progressively released as acts to perform at this summer’s third annual 80/35 Music Festival in downtown Des Moines.

The festival, named after the intersection of interstates 80 and 35, has drawn more than 30,000 attendees over the Fourth of July weekend for two days of live music in Western Gateway Park. The festival is organized by the volunteers of the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC), a nonprofit movement committed to building a stronger and more diverse live music economy.

The big-name headliners that will play include Spoon and Slightly Stoopid on July 3, and Modest Mouse and Railroad Earth on July 4. Other acts include The Walkmen, Avi Buffalo, Earl Greyhound, Cashes Rivers, The Heavy and Dar Williams. All of the acts

TOP TUNES

1 MODEST MOUSE

Indie rock band, was nominated for a Grammy in 2004. Will perform July 4.

will be announced by 80/35 by mid-May. Tickets are available through midwestix. com and cost $60 for a two-day pass, and $35 for a one-day pass. Tickets are also sold the day of the concerts for $40. VIP tickets are on sale for $175 and include a two-day festival ticket, free and discounted food and beverages, a preferred viewing area near the main stage, access to separate restrooms and select free merchandise.

Spoon is an indie-rock band from Austin, Texas, that was formed in 1994. Since then, they’ve had three albums debut in the Billboard 200. In 2009, Metacritic ranked Spoon as the Top Overall Artist of the Decade, based on the band’s success between 2000 and 2009.

Slightly Stoopid hails from Ocean Beach, Calif., and boasts music that’s a blend of reggae, punk and ska. The band was discovered

by Sublime front man Bradley Nowell in 1995 and has released six studio records, crisscrossing the country on an almost-constant tour schedule. n

You won’t want to mis these bands performing at 80/35 music festival

2 SPOON

From Austin, Texas They have released seven albums and were featured in “500 Days of Summer”

3 THE WALKMEN

Indie rock group, incorporates piano beats and vintage instruments.

photo courtesy of desmoinesmc.com

PAGE 5

THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010

FEATURES

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

Should we stay or should we go?

Living, working, playing in Des Moines this summer

by CHARLES GARMAN

Staff Writer charles.garman@drake.edu

It’s early May here at Drake University. The sun has reappeared, students are looking down the barrel of finals week and beyond, known to underclassmen as summer. These three glorious months hold unlimited potential for fun times, good friends and clear skies. Where the staples of a great summer are located, however, tend to vary.

While many students eagerly anticipate heading home for the summer, a fair amount of young professionals find places in Des Moines for the summer. Therein lays the dilemma: Should we stay or should we go?

In most cases the decision is out of students’ hands, depending more on employment status and budget than personal preference. Like miners once crossing the country westward in search of gold, much of our generation will go wherever jobs and internships are available.

There are several factors to consider before deciding whether to stay or leave for home. First, is there a job in the destination of choice? Drake offers leads on Des Moines jobs and internships, but with a week of school remaining, are those positions still open?

Bryant Moeller, a sophomore, said he would just like to be employed.

“I’ll pretty much go wherever I can find work,” he said.

No matter how much Drake students love opportunities, not many parents would be excited at the idea of their pride and joy just “hanging out” for a summer, unsupervised but not quite independent.

Should you decide to stay in Des Moines, the process of finding housing for a summer or beyond is not exactly a brief and simple process. Cheap housing can be found— not as cheap as living at home, of course—and most students can find enough to do to keep occupied during downtime.

At the very least, there’s more to do here than in many students’ hometowns. Living independently, doing laundry and cooking are all part of the “growing up” life stage. On the decision to go home side of the argument, finding employment there could be just as hard.

So what about old friends back home? New memories will be made no matter where the summer is spent. Friends from high school went off to college or the workforce too, likely facing the same living choices. It’s not realistic to expect all of the old crew to be home for the summer or to expect all your Drake friends to stay in the 515.

There are both pros and cons to staying around Drake. No parents will be here to force students out of bed at noon on a Saturday to mow the lawn here in Des Moines, but don’t expect to have breakfast waiting. n

>> Decide to stay in the 515? Get active! >Ride: Gears & Grinds When: May 23, 10:30 a.m.

Where: Start at Java Joes – 214 4th St.

>Run: Dam to Dam 5k & 20k When: June 10, Where: 5k starts downtown, 20k starts Saylorville Dam Check out: www.damtodam.com

>Tri: Hy-vee Triathalon When: June 13, times vary Where: Swim starts at Blue Heron Lake in Raccoon River Park

>>What’s going on?

campus calendar TODAY TYE DYE

FRIDAY JAZZ

In memory of Ben Backstrom, T-shirt, dye, rubber bands, all included in $1 fee WHERE GK Courtyard

Sax and the City, live saxophone and lunch

WHEN 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

WHEN: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

RECITAL

WHERE Cafe Baratta’s, State Historical Museum 600 E. Locust St.

THEATER

Student Chamber performance

How I Became a Pirate, new musical, $12 student tickets

WHERE Sheslow Auditorium WHERE Olmsted Pomerantz WHEN Stage 8 p.m.

– 9:30 p.m.

WHEN 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

WHERE Des Moines Playhouse 831WHERE 42nd St. WHEN Sheslow Auditorium 7 p.m.

WHEN 5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

SATURDAY RUN

Project Hope 5k, sponsored by Lambda Kappa Sigma WHERE Grey’s Lake 1700 & 2101 Fleur Dr. WHEN: 9 a.m.

CONCERT

Faculty brass quintet, free performance

WHERE Sheslow Auditorium WHEN WHEN: 8 a.m.

9 p.m.

7 p.m. -–8:30 p.m.

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

ADVERTISEMENT

THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010

PAGE 6

PAGE 7

SPORTS

THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010

SPORTS

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

FOR BREAKING SPORTS NEWS WWW.TWITTER.COM/TDSPORTSNEWS

7

STELLAR STATS

Drake softball’s longest winning streak so far in the 2010 season.

SOFTBALL

Bulldogs prep for Valley tourney Drake looks to score early, often as it hosts MVC Championships

by DAVID JOHNSON

Staff Writer david.e.johnson@drake.edu

The Drake University softball team dropped the rubber match of a three-game weekend series against Evansville on Sunday afternoon.

Drake was unable to get the offense going against Evansville pitcher Kendall Kautz. The Bulldogs managed only four hits and left five runners on base during the 2-0 defeat.

Jenna DeLong (15-10) suffered another disappointing defeat as she also allowed only four hits to the Purple Aces during six innings of work. DeLong fanned seven hitters in the game.

The Purple Aces scored their lone two runs during the third inning after back-to-back doubles.

Drake junior first baseman Molly McClelland led the limited Bulldog attack with two hits for the game.

Senior Bridget Shields contributed a single, and junior Erin Mollohan ripped a double for the other Bulldog hits.

The Bulldogs split a doubleheader with the Purple Aces on Saturday, dropping game one 5-4 before picking up a victory in a 1-0 pitchers’ duel.

Drake sits at 30-18 and 11-11 in the Missouri Valley, good enough for a tie for fifth place. Drake hosts first-place Southern Illinois this weekend. The Salukis are 34-17 and 18-4 in the Valley as of Tuesday.

The pitching staff has been key for the Bulldogs all season and it will be again when Southern Illinois visits Des Moines. Of the 30 victories, 12 have been shutouts. Drake is 10-3 when allowing one run, but 2-12 when giving up three runs or more. The Bulldogs are also 26-2 in games in which they score the first run, but 4-16 when they do not.

Drake will also play host to the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. The Bulldogs get a chance to make run at the NCAA tournament by winning the conference tourney on their home turf.

The top three teams in the Valley are extremely competitive and all figure to have a shot at the title, starting with the Salukis. Illinois State trails at 16-5 and Creighton right behind at 16-6.

Drake should definitely be able to hold its own against those teams, however. In the most recent Ratings Percentage Index rankings, all four teams were ranked in the top 100, with the Bulldogs at No. 66. Illinois State is ranked the highest at No. 37, with Southern Illinois holding No. 57 and Creighton at No. 99.

Drake defeated Illinois State twice this season, while falling to Creighton twice. n

AROUND

the

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

VALLEY 1. Southern Illinois

18-4

photo by SARAH ANDREWS| Photo/Design Editor

Illinois State Creighton Missouri State Drake Northern Iowa Wichita State Evansville Bradley Indiana State

DRAKE SOFTBALL sat fifth in Missouri valley Conference rankings with an 11-11 record before its double-header against Kansas Wednesday.

16-5 16-6 12-10 11-11 11-11 9-12 9-14 5-18 3-19 as of 5/5/10

Call to action for Drake students Become a global citizen, watch the World Cup The World Cup: the best sporting event in the world. Not even close. So far ahead that it’s actually kind of funny how head and shoulders it is above anything else. The Olympics you say? That’s completely different; it is a series of events and it still fails to attract all the glamour that soccer does.

These are professional soccer players, and not only that, but the elite soccer players that each and every country has to offer.

The World Cup is competition at its finest; globalization at its peak. It is such a perfect event, such a special event it can only come around every four years. You think March Madness is heartbreaking? Try going through two and a half years of qualifying stage after qualifying stage to reach the big stage. Only 32 teams make it. Only 32 teams that deserve it, make it. There is no bubble here or anything to complain about. No time is wasted throwing around terms like “bracketology” or “pretender” and “contender.” No, that would taint the magnitude and the aura of this unique event.

But as prestigious as this event is in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, it has failed to reach the sport-driven culture of the United States. Why is that? Is the complexity of the game in its entirety too much to handle? Or maybe it’s because the U.S. will never be the

best team in the world. Maythis year. Improbable? Yes. be the U.S. can’t handle that Impossible? No. That’s why despite being such an ecoif they did, however, it would nomic powerhouse, that debe unlikely and it would respite them dominating nearquire great individual efforts. ly every sport in the world, But even if it happened they when it comes to soccer, the could never garner the respect U.S. will never dominate. that Brazil or Argentina have.

EDUARDO TAMEZ Americans can’t handle beNo, in international soccer it ing the underdog, which is does not take one year or one COLUMNIST quite ironic, because that event to define who you are. seems to be what fuels every It takes decades of excellence other sport in the United States. and prestige to make a name. You can’t just Everyone fell in love with George Mason trade for a player or sign a hall of famer who four years ago. Same with Butler. Heck, I’m can’t make up his mind on whether to retire or sure a lot of people remember what they not. No, in international soccer you win with were doing when Appalachian State defeat- what you have. You nurture talent; with youth ed Michigan a couple years ago. You know systems, with soccer leagues, with increased Michigan? That prestigious college football talent and competition at your domestic socprogram that people call Big Blue. Yeah, they cer league. It’s a lengthy process and, quite lost against a Division II school. I mean, that’s frankly, America seems impatient. That’s the not supposed to happen. But we loved it; we beauty of international soccer. And it would all did (except Michigan fans, of course). So be the same for basketball or baseball, but why can’t America embrace that the United their international events are not nearly as States will never be the best soccer team in the popular or globalized. So this ‘win with what world? Why can’t they embrace not being the you have’ phenomenon only happens in interbest? national soccer.

I’m sure they could win the World Cup. Because of this impatience, soccer has sort It wouldn’t be so crazy. It would be like the of been shunned across the United States.

Milwaukee Bucks winning it all in the NBA Yeah, its popularity is growing, but it will nev-

er reach the level of popularity of basketball, football or baseball. We all loved when Drake made it to the NCAA tournament for basketball in 2008. Big deal. They lost in the first round. I bet you didn’t know that Drake made it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament for soccer this year. Why didn’t we get all crazy for that? Drake has about 5,000 students and it was one of the best eight soccer teams in the United States? That’s unbelievable. And it’s a shame that soccer success is not measured the same as basketball or any other sport.

Please do me a favor. This summer, watch the World Cup. Every game if you can. You have to understand the tradition and prestige the event carries for everyone in the world.

The United States plays Algeria, Slovakia and England. Watch them. Watch your country.

Cheer for your country. You have no idea how hard it is to make it to the World Cup, let alone succeed. I’ll be honest with you; I would be surprised if the United States made it past the round of 16. But I bet that’s what a lot of people said about Butler this year. So, remember that and for once, as a country, embrace soccer and embrace being the underdog. n

WORLD CUP guide PLAYERS to

WATCH

vs.

PARAGUAY

GAMES toWATCH

Tamez is a first-year journalism major and can be contacted at eduardo.tamezzamarripa@drake.edu.

June 14

ITALY

The defending champs will clash against a South American power-house in a very intriguing matchup.

CRISTIANO RONALDO, PORTUGAL Portugal struggled to qualify. In order to go deep in the World Cup, Ronaldo has to carry this team on his back.

He is out to prove that he is the best player in the world, something that he has not been able to do playing for his country.

KAKA, BRAZIL

vs.

vs.

LIONEL MESSI, ARGENTINA SOUTH AFRICA

June 11

MEXICO

Opening match of the World Cup that will go a long way in determining the future of Group A. A host nation has never failed to advance to the second

HONDURAS

June 16

CHILE

Few teams will display more offensive prowess than these two teams. Both are more concerned about scoring than getting scored on. It will be a fun match.

In a team so full of stars, no one can impact a game as much as Kaka. They will need him to form a dangerous duo with Luis Fabiano

WAYNE ROONEY, ENGLAND Hopefully, he will be in full form for the World Cup. England will need him if it’s planning on finally making a serious run for the championship.

vs.

UNITED STATES

June 12

vs.

ENGLAND

The most interesting match in Group B, it will be fun to watch what the U.S. can do against England.

PORTUGAL

June 25

BRAZIL

Arguably the best match of round one. It’ll essentially be Ronaldo against Kaka, Robinho and Ronaldinho.

SPORTS

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010

PAGE 8

TRACK & FIELD

photo by NICOLE BRAUNSDORF| Staff Photographer

SOPHOMORE DEREK CAMPBELL leads his teammate, junior Luke Schafer, in a distance race this spring. The men’s side delivered strong performances at the Iowa Musco Invite.

photo by NICOLE BRAUNSDORF| Staff Photographer

FRESHMAN LONDON JAMES will experience the rush of the end of the season for the first time this year, with the MVC championships coming up on the Thursday of finals week.

Drake looks to coast into final meets With the hard work behind, athletes put polish on skills

by DOMINIC JOHNSON Staff Writer dominic.johnson@drake.edu

The Drake track and field team is hoping to turn the momentum gained from solid results at the Iowa Musco Twilight Invitational into a successful showing at the Missouri Valley Conference championships starting May 13.

At last weekend’s invite in Iowa City, the Drake teams were able to post some of their most impressive results of the season.

The men’s team was led by freshman Dan Karys and senior Jeff Grassmeyer. Karys took third in the triple jump with a distance of 45 feet, 3.5 inches. Grassmeyer finished fourth in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 3 minutes, 51.40 seconds.

Sophomore Shaun James, senior Josh Bangert and freshman

Kevin Harp also earned top five finishes in their events.

The women’s side was led by a multitude of strong performances.

On the track, senior Nicole Braunsdorf placed third in the 1,500 while junior Casey McDermott finished third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

The Bulldogs had even more success in the field events, as senior Deidra Dirth finished second in discus while junior Cambria Pardner finished second in the triple jump.

Junior Tyse Samani, freshman Sarah Yeager, freshman Marissa Smith and junior Ari Curtis also finished in the top six in their events.

The team will split up between the Oregon Twilight and Nebraska Open meets. These meets will be the final meets of the season before the Valley championships, but the extra meets aren’t the hardest part of preparing for the championships. In true student-athlete fashion, finals week will pose the biggest hurdle for the track teams.

“Having finals right before conference is by far the most stressful part about the season,” Curtis said. “Between studying for finals, preparing for the meet and moving out of the dorms,

everything happens all at once.”

To balance the stress of finals, both the men’s and women’s track teams will be tapering down their practices so their bodies are fresh and prepared for conference.

Sophomore distance runner Colin Hagan said that his goal is to stay relaxed and get enough rest before conference.

“Right now all the hard work is done,” he said. “I just have to add the finishing touches.”

Hagan is hoping that the finishing touches will help lead the Drake team to placing at the top of the conference.

“I don’t care about anything other than placing in a position that scores points for the team,” said Hagan.

Curtis said that this team has a much better chance than recent teams in memory to be the best in the Valley. She is proud of how far the team has come this year and believes that great things will be coming at this year’s championships and into the future.

“Our team is more positive, more enthusiastic and thus more successful,” she said.

The Missouri Valley Conference championships take place at Illinois State in Normal, Ill. The meet will start on May 13 and finish on May 17. n

MEN’S SOCCER

Bulldogs face Menace in first spring match Drake takes the field against local Des Moines team

by MATT MORAN

Copy Editor matthew.moran@drake.edu

The Drake men’s soccer team will take on perennial Premier Developmental League power Des Moines Menace on Saturday in an exhibition match at Valley Stadium in West Des Moines. It is the Bulldogs first match since its Cinderella run to the Elite Eight last season, where they were ousted by North Carolina, 2-1.

After the season ended, Drake had little time for rest. The Bulldogs began indoor training to deal with the snow in the winter months. Since then, Drake has moved into outdoor spring practice in preparation for Saturday’s game.

“After Spring Break, we had our first (outdoor) practice,” sophomore Jordan Stanley said. “We practice about two or three nights a week.”

Drake graduates eight seniors and some of the younger players who played behind them will get their first chance to impress the coaches in game action.

Drake soccer players have had a history of spending the summer months with the Menace in order to train for the next season and beyond.

Senior Garrett Webb played for the Menace last summer en route to being named a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy this past season.

The Hermann Trophy is considered the highest individual honor in collegiate soccer. Webb will play for the Menace again this summer, along with other Drake players. Originally Webb planned to play for the Menace on Saturday, but it appears that he and the other seniors will wait until the summer to join the team.

Should he play, however, the Bulldogs will be ready to battle against the team’s former superstar.

“It will be fun going against ‘G-Webb’,” said freshman David Parato. “I was on the second team this year, so I have been playing against him all year.”

The Menace has been a mainstay at the top of the PDL the past decade. The PDL serves as an entry level to the United Soccer Leagues, where most teams from Major League Soccer obtain their talent. According to the team’s website, the PDL is equivalent to Single-A minor league baseball.

Last season the Menace finished first in the Heartland Division. The team advanced to the Elite Eight out of the 68-team league.

The Menace won the PDL national title in 2005 and advanced to the semifinals in 2002.

Head Coach Laurie Calloway returns as head

photo by SARAH ANDREWS| Photo/Design Editor

photo courtesy of DES MOINES MENACE and IRVIN PHOTOGRAPHY

SENIOR GARRETT WEBB has taken the field sporting both a Bulldog and a Menace jersey in past years. Come out Saturday to find out which side he’ll take in the exhibition match at Valley Stadium in West Des Moines. coach after guiding the team to an undefeated regular season in 2002.

“Calloway has been to our practices and seen us play a couple of times,” Parato said. “(Head) Coach (Sean) Holmes is taking the game seriously.”

Sophomore Matt Prather also said he looks forward to the challenge of facing a professional team.

“It’s our first test,” he said. “Playing against older guys, it will be more physical.”

Parato said that the game has generated a lot of hype and looks forward to playing in front of a packed stadium.

The Menace has had an impressive attendance history, sometimes drawing more than 4,000 fans for a game. Parato believes both teams’ success last season will draw a large crowd.

“It’s Des Moines’ top professional team against Des Moines’ top college team,” he said.

Stanley interrupted Parato to elaborate on his statement.

“You mean Iowa’s top college team,” he said.

Sophomore Michael Thaden said that he will be joining the Menace later this summer, but will be playing for the Bulldogs on Satur-

day. He said that the Drake coaches are excited to compete against such a talented team and hopes that they will reap the benefits next season.

“Hopefully it will help draw more fans to games,” he said. “It’s nice playing in front of your friends.”

After the best season in school history, attendance numbers are sure to rise, along with expectations. Stanley said he has already seen a difference this spring.

“Spring games usually don’t mean anything,” he said. “This feels like it means something.” n