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Monday May 06, 2013

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Campus News

Underground leak postpones cooling system Emily Gregor

Staff Writer emily.gregor@drake.edu

Last week, spring had sprung on Drake University’s campus.

The students could be seen throwing Frisbee discs in Helmick Commons, doing their homework on the picnic tables outside, and conversing casually under the shady trees by the library.

“I’m totally fine with the heat outside, it’s spring and it’s finally happening after the long weeks of the rain and snow that we’ve had,” first-year student Nick Baker said.

Despite the joys of moving past the dreary winter weather, the buildings on campus had skipped spring altogether and moved

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straight to summer causing discomfort for students and faculty members alike.

“I think it is something that really needs to be looked into,” sophomore Emily Gonser said. “It makes for a very uncomfortable learning environment.”

In addition to overall feelings of discomfort, the heat has taken a toll on productivity and motivation, an already challenging feat as the school year comes to a close.

“It’s hard to stay concentrated and focus on anything else going on,” Gonser said.

This obvious issue unfortunately doesn’t have an obvious solution. The heating and cooling systems are more complicated than they seem, and Director of

Facilities Mark Chambers explained how they work.

“Operating an HVAC system this large is a bit more complicated than switching the thermostat from heating to cooling,” Chambers said.

Chambers said that there are two cooling systems on campus, one west and one east, with the 28th Street plaza being the dividing line, and they are based on chilled water piped underground through campus.

“During start up operations a few weeks ago, we discovered an underground leak outside Olin, the west loop,” Chambers said.

His description explained why the cooling problems are happening in the first place, and he said

that the leak was excavated and is being repaired. Since they couldn’t finish filling the system until the leak is repaired, however, campus isn’t able to cool off.

There’s also another technicality with the system currently in place.

“The system was set up that heating and cooling cannot run at the same time and there is a ‘switch over’ period of about two to three days, assuming no leaks,” Chambers said.

Even though the logic makes sense, that hasn’t stopped students from showing signs of distress at the heat. For one of firstyear student Laurel Haxton’s classes, the heat was so unbearable, her professor ended up dis-

missing class early.

“Everyone is miserable,” she said. “The professors are miserable, the Sodexo workers, and even the little mice in Stalnaker are miserable.”

Students are also having a hard time getting comfortable when they are trying to settle down for some shut-eye. Haxton stressed that one cannot keep their door open at night, and since she has allergies, keeping the window open sounds far from appealing, causing her nights to be anything but restful.

“Honestly, I’d rather wear a sweatshirt than die of heat exhaustion,” she said.

Photo of the Day A LONG JUMP COMPETITOR lands in the sand during last weekend’s Drake Relays JOEL VENZKE | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Monday Retirement Reception in Honor of Sue Wright 3-4:30 p.m.

Levitt Hall

Tuesday Figmentation 12-4 p.m.

Anderson Gallery Softball v. Iowa State 7 p.m.

Ron Buel Field Drake Symphony Orchestra Concert 7:30-9 p.m.

Sheslow Auditorium

Wednesday Figmentation 12-4 p.m.

Anderson Gallery Junior Recital, Kristin Madison, flute 7:30-9 p.m.

Sheslow Auditorium

Thursday Figmentation 12-8 p.m.

Anderson Gallery Drake Concert Band and Drake Wind Ensemble 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Performing Arts Hall, Harmon Fine Arts Center Video Screening: “Roots and Routes: Exploring Diversity” 6:30-8 p.m.

Olin 206

Friday Men’s and Women’s Track and Field v. MVC Outdoor Championship TBA Drake Stadium Figmentation 12-4 p.m.

Anderson Gallery

Inside Features Three students accepted into prestigious program PAGE 2

Sports The freshman five talk tennis, school and friendship.

PAGE 3

Campus News

Single-ply toilet paper unsatisfactory Austin Cannon

Staff Writer austin.cannon@drake.edu

While not as extreme as sandpaper, Drake University’s thin, single-ply toilet paper has received its fair share of complaints across campus.

Ekta Haria, Drake Student Senate’s student services committee chair, received many complaints early in the fall semester on the Student Services Facebook page.

“The first week, there were so many complaints about it,” Haria said.

Haria talked to the manager of Facility Services and was told thicker toilet paper would lead to Drake’s toilets clogging more frequently and it would be too costly to upgrade the entire sewage system.

Toilet paper issues have often surfaced during Haria’s time on Senate, but they have since died down.

“It’s sort of been a big issue because it had been brought up a lot even in my last year when I was on Senate and even this year. It’s just that now that students were able to get that answer, they really can’t do anything,” Haria said.

First-year information systems major Coleby Hanisch, however, still feels sour towards the bathroom tissue.

“I think that it’s dumb that Drake uses one-ply toilet paper because when I am cleaning up my business I have to use like 30 sheets of one-ply and I feel like I’d only have to use 10, maybe 15, of 2-ply,” Hanisch said. “We want comfort while doing our business.

This provides scratchiness, like sandpaper.”

Hanisch, 18, describes Drake students’ attitude towards the toilet paper as “absolute scorn.” He also stated he would fully support a change to an upgraded product.

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“I think that they should invest in it very thoroughly,” Hanisch said.

Drake is not the only Midwestern university that employs single-ply toilet paper. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) does too.

Alex Kidwell, a first-year marketing major has issues with UNL’s toilet paper.

“It’s a real struggle to go to the restroom with the worry of the toilet paper ripping. None of us want that,” Kidwell, 19, said via email. “The toilet paper is one-ply.

Wiping with printer paper may be more effective and comforting.”

While he doesn’t believe it’s a major campus issue, Kidwell’s fellow UNL students enjoy returning home for their bathroom comfort.

“It is not a big deal, but I know a lot of people enjoy going home to use their own, high-quality toilet paper,” Kidwell said.

Drake uses single-ply Georgia Pacific coreless toilet paper, designed to limit waste and clogging of the sewage system. During an average week, Drake students, faculty, employees and visitors, campus-wide, go through close to 1,300 rolls.

Assistant Director of Custodial and Grounds John Selin explains that the environmental aspects, including less waste, of the toilet paper were also taken into account.

“It was decided upon that, you know, we wanted to be a green university as much as possible,” Selin said.

The current toilet paper is also more efficient. With each roll equaling around 1,000 sheets, custodial staff doesn’t have to replace them as often. Each dispenser holds enough tissue to last an entire weekend, when almost all custodians are off-duty. The rolls are also coreless, allowing for extra paper.

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Nancy Macedo, custodial manager, stated that the biggest problem is when students don’t use the paper for its intended purposes.

“We can go through over 1,200 rolls of tissue, where it hurts us is when we’re playing the pranks,” Macedo said.

Macedo was referring to a couple weeks previous, when two and a half cases, 82 rolls, of toilet paper were used to cover trees in the yards of fraternity and sorority houses on 34th Street.

Over the last year, Facility Services, which falls under the Sodexo umbrella, has investigated a possible change to two-ply bathroom tissue.

Because contracts with Sodexo fall under her purview, Vice President of Business and Finance Deborah Newsom would make the final decision.

“We’re still pursing what we’re going to do with that. There hasn’t been a final decision made,” Selin said.

Contrary to what Haria was told, Selin and Maecado said that only the few buildings with older sewage systems, like Ross Hall,

might struggle with more substantial toilet paper. They have yet to encounter any issues with students using their own thicker toilet paper in campus toilets.

The two main concerns facing a switch to two-ply are the environmental impact and cost.

“In order to be sustainable, you have to have a certain amount of postconsumer fiber in the toilet paper,” Selin said.

Postconsumer fiber, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, is a paper product that has been used and discarded by the consumer. Selin wasn’t sure if two-ply toilet paper would meet the same environmental requirements as the single-ply.

For the 2011-2012 academic year, the university spent $37,216.18 on toilet paper costs.

Selin speculated that an upgrade to two-ply could result in a $1015,000 spike in cost.

“I think there is a possibility that it could get changed. I think it’s just a matter of everybody okaying that there would be a possible cost difference,” Selin said.

DRAKE UNIVERSITY spends about $37,000 on toilet paper. Switching to two-ply would increase the cost about $10,000. LUKE NANKIVELL | PHOTO EDITOR

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THE TIMES-DELPHIC

Vol. 132 | No. 44 | May 06, 2013

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

Page 2 | MAY 06, 2013

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

Features Take a Look

On Campus

Growing program

‘Overcommitting’ common

Students teach in Japan

Courtney Fishman

Staff Writer courtney.fishman@drake.edu

It’s been described as an expectation.

Others refer to it as a culture. But regardless of the name, Drake University students feel pressured to get involved.

As a result of the competitive job market, students strive to out-busy one another. This trend also stems from high school involvement, and already busy students are eager to get involved at Drake.

This is true for first-year student Josh Duden, 19, of Shawnee, Kan., who participated in a range of 13 to 18 student organizations in high school each year.

“Since fifth grade I started getting super involved and it just got worse,” Duden said.

At Drake, Duden is the president of Stalnaker Hall, voting president for the Residence Hall Association, first-year marketing representative for the Student Activities Board, a member of the first-year interest committee and campus advancement committee of Student Senate, a member of the student alumni association, outreach chair for Sigma Phi Epsilon and vice president of marketing for the Interfraternity Council.

“One of the strange things I found here at Drake is that once I had one leadership opportunity it was really, really easy to find more leadership opportunities,” Duden said.

Duden, a politics, LPS and international relations triple major, started in two organizations, and the list grew from there.

“A lot of the time I feel like I am just the right balance because I always have something to do and there is always something going on,” Duden said. “I think it fulfills this Drake expectation but also this expectation that I’ve had for myself.”

Sophomore Grace Wenzel, 20, of Ottawa, Ill., notices the Drake expectation as well.

“When I came to college I didn’t want to be ‘that girl,’” Wenzel said. “You know to be crazy over involved, but I think it’s just the culture almost. It’s the climate of Drake to be involved in as many activities as possible.”

Wenzel scaled back to focus on organizations related to her majors: radio/TV broadcasting and English.

This summer will be her second sum-

CHERRI CATHI shows off her work during a calligraphy workshop. COURTESY OF JODI DOBINSKY Larissa Wurm

Staff Writer larissa.wurm@drake.edu

Upon graduation, three of Drake’s student will be heading to Japan as part of a prestigious teaching program.

Seniors Cherri Cathi, an international relations major, Jennifer Cerna, a psychology and neuroscience major, and Jodi Dobinsky, an international relations major with a minor in anthropology, have been accepted into the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program.

JET is an internationally competitive program that allows graduates to travel to Japan and teach English in their schools. The goal is to promote “grassroots international exchange between nations.”

“We want to take the experiences we got in Japan back with us and promote the culture in the United States,” Dobinsky said.

Dobinsky applied as part of continuing efforts to go to Japan after natural disasters affecting the area ruined previous travel plans, but also thought she would like the program because she enjoys teaching.

Cerna lived in Japan, and that is one of the motivating factors for her applying to the program.

“I was looking for some graduation options,” Cerna said. “I heard about (the program) my sophomore year and my friends had been talking about it.”

Cathi travelled to Japan previously and is eager to go back.

“I studied abroad in Japan for a year,” Cathi said. “I really wanted to go back and be immersed in the culture.”

“Post-graduate participation in the JET program is one of the many areas in which we have focused our attention in the past couple of years,” said Mary McCarthy, professor of politics and international relations. “This is due to the fact that the JET program is an excellent opportunity for any student interested in Japan and/or teaching and working abroad.”

Each of the students has had some experience teaching in the past, whether it was tutoring or teaching in workshops.

The application process to get into the program is long one.

“We sent our applications in November,” Dobinski said. “Then we wait until about February, where we learn if we were put on the short-list or not. If we are placed on the short-list, we wait to find

out what city we are placed in. Currently, we are still waiting to find out where we’ll be.”

McCarthy has been making a big effort to make sure the success of these three students is known among campus.

“For me, this accomplishment attests to the commitment and hard work of the three students in relation to the study of Japan and Japanese, the growing strength of our Japan/East Asia program here at Drake, and the efforts of the faculty,” McCarthy said.

“Professor McCarthy is really excited about us getting into JET, and she is getting us really excited about it too,” Dobinski said.

Because of the prestige and competitiveness of the program, participants gain a number of skills to help them in their careers.

“Participants of the program develop the skills, such as communication, teaching, language, and adaptability, and gain the experience that make them assets in any work environment,” McCarthy said.

“JET alum have gone on to exciting careers in many different fields, including diplomacy, media, education and business.”

Dobinsky hopes to get into foreign services after she finishes the JET program.

Cathi wants to go into non-profit work in Japan and eventually work there as a foreign ambassador.

“It’ll teach me how to be more flexible and adaptable,” Cerna said. “I don’t want to get too comfortable in one place, I’m used to moving around.”

After JET, Cerna hopes to get her masters in social work.

“I want everyone to know how much we’ve accomplished as a program, with Cherri, Jennifer and Jodi as the representatives of this success,” McCarthy said. “I want students throughout Drake to be aware of our great Japan and East Asia program and that this amazing opportunity of JET exists for you after graduation.”

In the past, Drake has only had one, if any, person get accepted into the program each year.

“It’s a good opportunity,” Cathi said.

“You don’t have to speak Japanese. Everyone can apply.”

“There’s a really tight knit Japanese community on campus,” Dobinsky said.

“We work hard, especially with the study abroad programs, and we try to make the program better.”

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mer as an orientation leader. Wenzel is also residence assistant, a producer of Dogtube, director of new member programming for Delta Gamma, a student ambassador and an intern at KCCI News Channel 8.

One challenge with high involvement is time management.

“I think that happens a lot that students get involved and then school takes a back burner,” Wenzel said. “I know it’s been like that for me, so I don’t know if that’s the healthiest thing.”

Director of Campus Programming Latasha Stiger agrees that students tend to get overcommitted.

“People need to make sure and understand what it means to truly be committed to organizations,” Stiger said. You don’t have to be in five to be a great leader. You can be in one organization and give it your all, and that’s all you need to do.”

So what are the benefits of being so involved?

“I think sometimes, for some students, they learn a little bit more about themselves,” said Dean of Students Sentwali Bakari. “They learn the ability to take on challenges and deal with stress and anxiety.”

Bakari said getting involved helps Drake’s retention rates.

“If they are doing something in addition to their academic class work they develop a sense of connection and belonging to the institution, and selfishly we feel it enhances retention,” Bakari said.

Bakari said that first-year students involved in a social fraternity or sorority have a retention rate of approximately 90 percent. The average retention rate for Drake is 71 percent.

In a 2007-2008 survey of student leadership, Drake ranked high as well.

“From the respondents we did find out that 92 percent of the students that took the survey was involved in at least one activity on campus,” Stiger said.

Drake’s active culture is what drew Student Body President Amanda Laurent, 22 of Minnetonka, Minn., to Drake, but she too has watched the competition in action.

“There’s good peer pressure and bad peer pressure,” Laurent said. “It’s almost a competition of who’s busier and that’s not how it should be. I think students need to look at quality over quantity.”

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SPORTS

Page 3 | MAY 6, 2013

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

Sports Women’s Tennis

Get to know the women’s tennis freshmen Emily Gregor

Staff Writer emily.gregor@drake.edu

Drake women’s tennis welcomed five freshmen in 2012. Five new faces, five new styles of play, five new personalities, five new tennis backgrounds. Though two 2012-13 Bulldog freshmen hail from Europe and three from the U.S., the five have formed a bond anchored in a love of the game and a love of the team. The Times-Delphic sat down with freshmen Jordan Eggleston, Lea Kozulic, Maddie Johnson, Evy Van Genechten and Mariel Ante to discuss their transitions to life at Drake, their laughter-filled bond, and their tennis idols.

Times-Delphic: How were your transitions to Drake University?

Jordan Eggleston: It was really good, I thought. It was great being myself and being able to have responsibility for everything I do. I thought it was really great being a part of the team. I had to get used to the cold. I was so used the warmth and the palm trees.

Everyone in Iowa is so nice.

Lea Kozulic: My transition was really hard because I was really close to my family and friends, and life here is very different than life in Europe.

Maddie Johnson: Obviously, the transition to college is hard, but I think being on the team really made it easier because you come here, and you already have eight friends. Being on the team really helps. It was hard to get used to being away from my parents and my dog.

Evy Van Genechten: If she gets to say her dog, I say my dog too.

My transition went really great, as far as the team. I expected everyone to be just like this. Also, the people already on the team did a great job making everyone feel comfortable.

Mariel Ante: For me, it was sort of a big change. I thought it was pretty scary at first, but it was just managing time and being able to prioritize things and just work well with everyone else.

TD: How would you describe your bond as a freshman class?

JE: We get along very well. We make each other laugh, and it’s fun learning from the girls who are foreign because you can learn about their culture. We are always there for each other, and we always help each other out.

LK: We all have different personalities, but that’s a good thing because we all learn from each other. We definitely have someone else who is going through the same things we are.

MJ: I think our bond is very good. We all have different personalities. We all mesh well, and we all bring something different to the team. It’s nice having four other freshmen with you because you’re not doing everything alone.

MA: We are pretty different in so many ways, but we can have fun with just about anything, and we do the weirdest things together, and we laugh at the same things.

We complain about the same things.

EVG: We just as a team feel pretty good. I think just we can just hangout as a team without even having to play tennis.

TD: What are your goals as a team over the next three years?

All: Winning the MVC. TD: What are your individual goals?

JE: I want a house on the beach in California, and I want to travel the world, everywhere and go to the Olympics. I’d also like to be a college tennis coach.

LK: My current goal is to get my college degree and help Drake tennis get the MVC conference title.

MJ: My goal is to be happy in life. I want to graduate with a good GPA, and I’d like to travel. I’ve never been out of the country. Europe, England, France, Belgium, just to experience their cultures, pretty much anywhere.

MA: Academic-wise, I want to graduate, at least, maybe go to medical school. Tennis wise, we’ll see where it goes. I want to get married … have some kids … I want a pug.

EVG: I just want to play in more

DRAKE WOMEN’S TENNIS FRESHMEN Evy Van Genechten, Mariel Ante, Lea Kozulic, Jordan Eggleston and Maddie Johnson pose at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center. TAYLOR SOULE | SPORTS EDITOR international tournaments.

TD: What is your favorite part about playing tennis?

JE: Scholarships, free tennis clothes.

LK: My favorite part is winning. You’re developing as a person.

MJ: It’s really tough physically

and mentally. You make friends, and I think tennis is a great sport.

It’s one of the hardest ones out there.

All: The grunts.

MA: Whacking the ball. The cheers. Doing crazy shots.

EVG: Just the competition, the adrenaline.

TD: Who’s your favorite professional tennis player?

JE: John Isner.

LK: Goran Ivanisevic.

MJ: Roger Federer.

MA: I love Novak Djokovic.

EVG: Of course, my idols are Kim Clijsters and Justin Henin.

Column

Intramural softball offers cameraderie This week is the last week of intramu- there are still some teams that take softrals. As the softball season is readying its ball very seriously, but they seem to be in end, I started to reflect on the uniqueness the minority. of our final intramural sport of the year.

My first theory is the location of the On the first week of softball, I made my games — outside. After months of horway to the field, part of me dreaded the rendous winter weather, any excuse to first game I was going to work. The match get outside is welcome. Even if the temup was Sigma Chi versus SigEp. Now, I peratures are in the 40s, competitors still personally have no qualms with either love to be outside. teams but fraternities have a tendency to The next theory is the pace of softbe very competitive in every sport. I was ball game. Basketball, soccer and even tired and hungry and to be honest, I did football could be considered fast-paced not want to work a competitive game. compared to softball. The only serious When these two running athletes do is teams meet on the socon the base path. This cer field they are out for leaves the rest the team blood. The SigEp versus standing around and Sigma Chi soccer games making jokes about the are legendary for their base runners’ lack of tough competition, but speed due to a growing softball was a different beer belly. story. Both teams were My last theory is laughing and having that softball is truly fun. Everyone on either a team sport. Techniteam knew each other cally, all of intramurals’ and cracked jokes with big sports are team Joanie Barry me and the other offisports, but one player cials the entire game. can change the dynamColumnist That game was one ic of the whole game. of my favorite days In softball, one good working intramurals hitter cannot make up in the past three years. That includes the for an outfield of bad fielders. Each team day the Pikes snuck a puppy into the Bell member is dependent on the other, which Center. builds camaraderie.

Then, I started to think back to last I’ve decided to skip my rule reminder softball season. This was not the first of the week because, let’s be honest, if time I officiated a softball game that you don’t know the rules by now, I can’t could have doubled for a comedy act. I of- help you. Instead, I wanted to say a quick ficiated plenty of teams that, if they were thank you to the senior supervisors. This playing any other sport, would have been year we say goodbye to Spenser Kocka brutal bloodbath. Instead, competitors ler, Kari Budnik, Julie Baldassarra, Tyler look at softball season in a different way, Gilmore and Adrea Holler. and I have some theories behind this softI personally want to thank them for ball mentality. everything they have done. Each of them Before I begin, I will point out that has been a model for me as a supervisor.

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Gilmore and Kockler have always encouraged me to stay confident and get respect from our players. Budnik and Holler’s knowledge of all intramural sports are the standard for all intramural officials and supervisors. Last but not least, Baldassarra’s sarcastic and witty sense of humor reminds everyone that intramurals is a place for fun no matter how tense games get. I cannot describe how much I,

and the rest of the intramural staff, will miss them. They have become more than our coworkers they are our friends.

Barry is a junior radio-television and secondary education double major and can be reached at joan.barry@drake.edu

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