The Times-Delphic

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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER FOR DRAKE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

THE TIMES DELPHIC DES MOINES, IOWA | MONDAY, DEC. 5, 2011 | VOL. 131, NO. 25 | WWW.TIMESDELPHIC.COM

Up in It’s a Madrigal night the air New academic calendar released, J-term is a go

by Lauren Ehrler

Staff Writer lauren.ehrler@drake.edu

by Jessica Ott

Staff Writer jessica.ott@drake.edu

Starting in January 2013, Drake students will have a new way to spend their winter break. Drake faculty and Student Senate have approved plans for a January term, also called a Jterm or January Experience. The J-term is a chance to take a class or travel seminar that will last for around three weeks, although some travel seminars may start earlier. Interested students can register for a course when they register for their fall classes this spring. Not everything is planned for Jterm, however. There are no plans for what student room and board will be like for on-campus classes, and the staff is still trying to find a way to make the campus similar to a regular semester during J-term. A curriculum committee is looking at class ideas, and there will be multiple on- and offcampus opportunities for students. Two main types of courses are available. On-campus courses would give students the opportunity to complete a core course requirement in a matter of week. Travel seminars will give students the opportunity to go to a variety of places from Indian burial grounds in western Iowa to Poland to study international advertising to the Bahamas to become certified in sailing. “The overarching theme would be to provide opportunities for different experiences,” said Dorothy Pisarski, assistant professor of advertising who is on the J-term committee. “These opportunities include smaller classes, which would give students and faculty more chances to learn, as well as allow students to travel abroad or graduate early who wouldn’t have other wise.” Sen. Amanda Laurent said that Drake is reaching out to students, and students should accept the challenge. “I would really encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity because it is a unique experience to Drake and allows students to fulfill Drake’s mission statement,” Laurent said. Similar opportunities are being offered in similar schools across the Midwest, and Drake is finally catching up. “Drake is almost behind on this movement, and I’m happy Drake is making a positive change in its curriculum,” Laurent said. For the most part, current firstyear students were unsure what the program was, but overall felt that it was a good idea. “I have no idea what it is, no one told me anything about it,” first-year Caroline Davidson said. “I guess if it’s optional, it’s a fine idea. I probably wouldn’t do it.” First-year Jennifer Heartley said that J-term gives students different class options. “It’s good for Drake to come up with an alternative so students are less stressed fitting everything in,” Heartley said. First-year Aigner Watkins said that J-term will benefit Drake students. “I think it will be a good program,” Watkins said. “It supplies a smaller study opportunity for people who don’t want to spend all of break at home and want to get credits.” First-year Haley Hicks said she is happy to hear that the program is not required. “It doesn’t sound too bad if it’s

Bylaw change garners discussion

JOEY GALE | photo editor

DRAKE CHOIR STUDENTS performed for guests at the annual Madrigal Dinner in Parents Hall on Saturday and Sunday night. See page 5 for a complete story on the Madrigal Dinner.

New name for a new rec center

Contest calls for student submissions by Taylor Soule

Staff Writer taylor.soule@drake.edu

Construction workers entered Olmsted Center in September with tools in hand and a plan in mind, ready to build Drake University’s newest recreational facility. That facility is almost finished. There is one missing piece of equipment, however: a name. That’s where Drake students can play a pivotal role, said Mike Cigelman, associate director of athletics for facilities and director of recreational services. The student-generated idea deserves a student-generated name, Cigelman said. “We’d like to have as many students involved as possible,” he said. “The primary reason we’re building the facility is because students have expressed a need for more fitness

and weight facilities. We’ve not been able to meet the needs of the student population.” Just over a month away from the Jan. 17, 2012, grand opening, the recreational services department is asking for students’ input via a naming contest for the new facility. To enter the contest, students must email Lisa Murphy, assistant director of recreational services, their names by Thursday at 5 p.m. Her email address is lisa.murphy@drake.edu. Beyond the opportunity to name campus’ newest attraction, students can look forward to numerous perks when the facility opens on the first day of the upcoming spring semester. Besides the convenient location, the facility will soon offer newfangled fitness equipment. Instead of several students watching a single monitor, “all of the cardio machines will have a TV monitor

right on them,” Cigelman said. With nine treadmills, nine ellipticals, bikes, stair climbers, rowing machines, free weights and power racks already ordered, the Drake recreational services staff hopes that a clever name is the finishing touch. “We plan to have a grand opening probably that first day, and we’ll have a big unveiling of the name of the facility,” Cigelman said. “Hopefully, we’ll have the winner there.” Construction is progressing as planned, and the facility will open for the first time at 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 17 for students who are eager to wake up early and try the new equipment. The facility will be open from 6:30-11 p.m. from Monday through Friday. On Saturday, it will be open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on Sun-

SEE BELL, PAGE 2

JOEY GALE | photo editor

THE RECREATION CENTER in lower Olmsted will soon be finished and filled with equipment for students.

SECURITY REPORTS

4:17 p.m. Nov. 17

Security was advised that a male Drake student that lives in Carpenter Residence Hall was in possession of marijuana. Security personnel responded to the scene and made contact with the identified male suspect. Upon arrival and inspection of the room, marijuana was located in the student’s desk drawer. Des Moines Police was notified and responded to the scene. The suspect was arrested.

9:52 p.m. Nov. 18

Security was advised that there were multiple people on the roof top of Herriott Residence Hall. Security responded to the scene and located three males and one female on the roof top. All four individuals were Drake students. They were advised they were in an unauthorized area and in violation of school policy. Security notified the dean of students of this policy violation.

SEE J-TERM, PAGE 2

inside

CHECK OUT SECURITY REPORTS, PAGE 2

This semester of Student Senate meetings is winding down. This week marks the last regularly scheduled session on Thursday, but Student Body President Greg Larson announced that Senate will meet in a Strategic Meeting session on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Pomerantz Stage. “It’s a much more high traffic area,” Larson said. “Hopefully there will be dialogue between us and guests.” Larson said the meeting will not be formally advertised, but said he hopes that students will still attend. “There are no posters in place, but hopefully our social media will get some traction.” Last Thursday’s session began with a presentation on the Board of Student Communication’s budget from Sen. Sean Walsh and Sen. Stephen Slade. All organizations funded by the BSC — Drake Broadcasting System, The Times-Delphic, Periphery, Drake University Independent Newspaper and Drake Magazine — were all currently on or under budget. The Board of Student Communications Funding Bylaw Amendment was served previous notice and will be voted on before the semester ends. The BSC currently receives 27 percent of the annual Student Activity Fee, but the amendment would shift BSC funding to a set dollar amount. Christians United for Israel passed with enough votes to become an official student organization, but not without discussion from senators. Sen. Kayleigh Koester felt it was OK for the group to advocate an issue but found the group’s stated purpose to be contradictory. “The motion in itself is unclear,” Koester said. “If you are a group that advocates an issue, you are not an organization that is seeking to promote a fair and balanced framework.” Sen. Carly Kinzler disagreed and said that it is possible for a group to advocate an issue while still sharing both sides. “I don’t think we have the right to change what their organization stands for,” Kinzler said. The Diversity Interest Senator Committee Bylaw Amendment, which has been discussed several times throughout the semester, also passed with enough senator support, but not all were in favor. Currently, Diversity Interest Senators are included in Student Services, Campus Advancement and Student Fees Allocation committees. They said they felt that their time could be better spent reaching out to students rather than serving on these committees. Koester said that she didn’t believe it was fair to take away responsibilities from the Diversity Interest Senators from the bylaws without adding some. Sen. Sam Pritchard disagreed. “I don’t think that there is any time to my knowledge that the Diversity Interest Senators have brought about a diversity interest concern to the Student Services Committee or Campus Advancement Committee,” Pritchard said. “So on paper we might remove responsibilities, but those are not responsibilities that are practiced currently.” Sen. Dana Hansen also expressed concerned that the need for Diversity Interest Senators on the committees might return in the future. “There is a reason why they were put on the committee in the first place,” Hansen said. “I’m just ner-

SEE SENATE, PAGE 2

NEWS

OPINIONS

FEATURES

SPORTS

A new clothing line will be featured at the Book Store

Sex Questions? Jane Hoe is back to get down and dirty

Madrigal Dinner transformed Olmsted

Mens basketball edges Air Force 62-60

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