FIJI ISLANDS One student’s study abroad adventure.
PAGE 8 OPINIONS
THE TIMES-DELPHIC THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER FOR DRAKE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
Des Moines, Iowa • Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010 • Vol. 129, No. 9 • www.timesdelphic.com
Young Bulldogs look to rebound from adversity this season
Phi Delta Chi raises awareness for Up ‘Til Dawn by Erika Sevigny
Staff Writer erika.sevigny@drake.edu
FILE PHOTO
Phi Delta Chi began to raise awareness this week for their upcoming philanthropic event, Up ‘Til Dawn, scheduled for Nov. 5. Through informational activities, members of the professional pharmacy fraternity sought to gather volunteers to participate in the November event, which will benefit St. Jude Children’s Cancer hospitals. Up ‘Til Dawn is a nationwide event that brings students and groups together to write letters for friends and family members to solicit donations to St. Jude. Advocacy Committee Co-Chair Ryan Anderson, a second-year pharmacy student, emphasized the costs incurred by this state-of-the art cancer treatment facility and the significant way in which private donations, received through ways such as the letter writing campaign, impacts the success of the organization. “St. Jude is one of the most trustworthy charities, and is the top child cancer research hospital in the country,” Anderson said. “The cause is justified by the immense needs of the organization.” The daily operating cost for St. Jude is $1.5 million, and the majority of this expense is covered by public contributions yielded through events like Up ‘Til Dawn. In addition, St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families do not pay for the treatments that are not covered by
SEE DAWN, PAGE 2
JUNIOR BRITTNYE MCSPARRON averaged 5.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game last season and is back for action this year.
Return after seventh-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference by Eduardo Zamarripa
Staff Writer eduardo.tamezzamarripa@drake.edu
For a winning program that finished 15-15 last season, good for seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Drake Bulldogs could not be more excited for a brand new start. “I think that we are all excited to have a new season with new goals and expectations for ourselves,” said senior Kristin Turk. “We have learned from last season and we are ready to work hard and compete so that we can be a stronger team this year.” The Bulldogs had a great beginning to last season. They raced off to an 11-5 start that included a home win against Sweet Sixteenbound Iowa State University. However, injuries and inconsistent play derailed a promising squad that faltered down the stretch. A stretch of five consecutive losses and another one of three losses to close the season doomed the Bulldogs. “We learned a lot from last year’s season about how important every part of a team really is,” said senior Ellie Ritscher. “We learned how every team is going to meet adversity at some point, and when that happens, the team has to come together and work together through those times.”
It was a season of growth for the young Bulldogs. But after going through some growing pains, there is optimism in what a healthy and mature squad can do in the Valley this season.
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In addition to that, Drake boasts a talented, guard-studded freshman class that’s compiled of Alyssa Marschner, Angela Christianson, Morgan Reid and Carly Grenfell. They will join junior Brittnye McSparron in the backcourt, who is coming off a disappointing injury-filled season. “We have a strong class that is going to get a chance to play right away,” Turk said. “They are talented and have great work ethic. I have
I feel like this season is a great opportunity for Drake women’s basketball.
SEE BULLDOGS, PAGE 6
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>>HOME SCHEDULE • Nov. 1 @ 7:05 p.m. – Upper Iowa • Nov. 6 @ 2:05 p.m. – Quincy • Nov. 18 @ 7:05 p.m. – St. Mary’s (Calif.) • Nov. 30 @ 7:05 p.m. – North Texas • Dec. 9 @ 7:05 p.m. – Wisconsin • Dec. 11 @ 2:05 p.m. – Tennessee Tech • Dec. 20 @ 7:05 p.m. – Iowa • Dec. 22 @ 5:05 p.m. – Air Force
–Senior Ellie Ritscher After all, the Bulldogs return the inside presence of junior center Rachael Hackbarth, the sharpshooting of junior Amber Wollschlager, and the team’s most dangerous offensive weapon, Turk. Hackbarth and Turk are vital to Drake’s success in the Valley this season. Hackbarth can dominate the paint and control the boards, while Turk can light up the scoreboard and fire up her teammates.
Law School hosts bipartisan forum on Iowa politics by Sonya Brauchle
Staff Writer sonya.brauchle@drake.edu
The Drake University Law School held a bipartisan forum Tuesday night regarding the question of, “What’s at Stake? Keeping Politics and Campaign Money Out of the Courtroom.” The discussion, presented by Drake Law Republicans, Drake Law Democrats and Iowans for Fair and Impartial Courts, featured six judicial representatives: Allan Vestal, the dean of Drake Law School, Malia Reddick, Justice Robert Allbee, David Walker, Bob Rafferty and Ryan Koopmans. Since 1962 Iowa has operated on a merit selection system to elect judges to the Iowa Supreme Court. In this election system, voters vote and a nominating com-
mission presents a list of qualified candidates to the governor, who then appoints judges. After one year of judicial service, and then at regular intervals, judges must run in retention elections. The forum focused on the debate between bipartisan merit elections and a federally based system of retention election to nominate and elect judges to the Iowa Supreme Court. Most of the board supported a merit-based election, which Reddick said, “emphasizes qualifications of the judges. Merit selection places emphasis on experience and leaves less of a role for money and name recognition” during elections. Koopmans advocated a federal system that mimics the way the United States Supreme Court nominates and elects judges to the bar. In a federal election system,
Public forum to explore lives of American Muslims by Tad Unruh
Staff Writer tad.unruh@drake.edu
time they make a decision it hurts their independence as judges because they have so much to lose, which may make the court no longer impartial.”
SEE LAW, PAGE 2
SEE FORUM, PAGE 2
photo by CARTER OSWOOD | Staff Photographer
inside
VOLUNTEERS send letters to raise money for St. Jude during Up ‘Til Dawn last year.
Today as a citizen in the fast-paced world of the United States, being a Muslim American is an experience all its own. That unique experience will be explored in a forum titled “What it means to be an American Muslim” today at 7 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium. “We will talk about the balance, the opportunities it provides, the challenges and the advantages of being a Muslim American,” said Professor Mahmoud Hamad, who will be moderating the event. As an assistant professor of politics and international relations at Drake, Hamad hopes to inform students of all things Islam. He will be moderating a distinguished collection of people for this one time event. The forum features Luai Amro, the president of the Islamic Cultural center of Des Moines; M. Zuhdi Jasser, M.D., the president and founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy; Bill Aossey, the president of Midamar Corporation; and Abdirizak Bihi, who is a Somali community activist and social worker.
DRAKE LAW REPUBLICANS discuss the Iowa Supreme Court election and voting systems at a forum held Tuesday night. the governor elects three candidates who are then voted on by the legislature, instead of the governor selecting among three candidates provided by the public. Koopmans argued that under the merit selection system, “Every
photo courtesy of PHI DELTA CHI
NEWS
OPINIONS
FEATURES
SPORTS
Celebrate Drake event offers prizes, food and fun
The Tea Party Movement: Valid or Not?
Trader Joe’s grocery store opens a DSM store
Volleyball star Angela Bys talks to the TD
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