The Times-Delphic (02.28.18)

THE TIMES-DELPHIC Wed., Feb. 28, 2018

Volume 137, No. 18

www.timesdelphic.com

A STUDENT gives a poetry performace during “The Vagina Monologues.” There were performances of the piece this past weekend. PHOTO BY CAITLIN CLEMENT | STAFF WRITER

STUDENT SENATE

Senate approves new organizations, discuss concerns Ian Klein Staff Writer ian.klein@drake.edu At its Feb. 22 meeting, the Drake University student senate approved the creation of two new student organizations and discussed the development of senate projects for the rest of the semester.

The meeting began with an address by athletics director Brian

Hardin to the senate. Hardin, who was hired to be the athletics director last November, noted that attendance at Drake athletic events by students is lower than in years past and asked senators to consider ways in which students can be attracted to cheer on the blue and white.

“Ultimately, what we want to try and get to from a student standpoint is we want (athletics) to be the social scene,” Hardin said. “It’s less about coming to

watch the team and be a part of wins and losses, but we really want to make it a social place to hang out on a Friday night.”

Hardin believes the creation of a fan advisory committee, which would include students, is something that will build bridges between the athletics department and the rest of campus. Students would help craft marketing strategies that would entice the student body to attend athletic events.

A REPRESENTATIVE Interfaith Club speak in front of the student senate on Thursday night to request creation of the new group on the campus. PHOTO BY IAN KLEIN | STAFF WRITER

Student Senate approved new Student Fees Allocation Committee (SFAC) bylaws under the recommendation of Student Body Treasurer Trevor Matusik.

The new bylaws will make it more difficult for a campus organization to reallocate funds to create events not specified in the organization’s annual budget.

Matusik said the bylaw changes will require student groups to follow their annual budgets more closely and plan their events further in advance.

Afterwards, the senate passed a motion to approve the creation of a Veterans Association organization at Drake. The senate motion states that the Veterans Association purpose “is to aid veterans in transitioning to academic life” and “will work together to provide an academic, professional and personal support through connection and advocacy.”

Senate then moved on to discuss whether or not to let Interfaith at Drake become a new campus organization. The senate motion read that Interfaith’s goal is “to give people an outlet to discuss their own religious beliefs and their experiences as well as learn about other religions they might not have encountered before.”

Student representatives from the organization said the club is intended to be informational.

Interfaith hopes to discourage faith-based discrimination on

Drake’s campus while promoting a safe space for students to learn about religious traditions.

Some senators brought up concerns about helping fund the organization. According to SFAC bylaws, religious organizations are ineligible for annual funding from the student senate.

School of Journalism and Mass Communication Senator Jake Bullington thought the organization was within the boundaries of the SFAC bylaws.

“I take issue with the assertion that this group is a religious organization,” Bullington said.

“I think it is centered around religion but also about all religions.”

The Senate agreed and approved the motion by a vote of 17-1 with two abstentions.

Interfaith at Drake will move on to SFAC in order to receive annual funding in next year’s senate budget. Annual funding requests from student organizations are due March 1, and SFAC will deliberate on March 2-3.

Student Senate meets weekly on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. in Room 201 of Cowles Library.

CAMPUS NEWS

‘Seventeen’ magazine dubs Drake a ‘cool school’ Publication cites political opportunities as one of main reasons to attend Ashley Flaws Staff Writer ashley.flaws@drake.edu “Seventeen” magazine recently selected Drake University as one of 10 universities around the country to be featured in their “Cool Schools 2018” article in the March/April print issue of the magazine, available on newsstands today.

Drake, along with one other school, was chosen for its abundance of political opportunities. The magazine wrote of Drake, “No university

will bring you closer to the Iowa caucuses. In 2016, students who worked on the Iowa Caucus Project helped organize campaign events and delivered behind-thescenes journalism.”

Rachel Paine Caufield, associate professor of political science at Drake and director of the Iowa Caucus Project, said that 27 political events were held on Drake’s campus during the 2015 caucus cycle. Students had the opportunity to attend the CNN Town Hall and CBS Debate that were filmed at Drake and also got to ask presidential candidates questions on live

television. Students also worked on presidential campaigns and with political parties, sometimes taken on as paid interns by the television networks or campaigns.

Along with the variety of opportunities during the caucus cycle every four years at Drake, Caufield said Drake has an abundance of political events and opportunities every year.

“We get a ton of candidates coming through the semester before a caucus, but we also have amazing opportunities all the time, because if you’re even vaguely considering a run for the presidency, you want to spend as

much time as possible in Iowa,” Caufield said. “It’s not just a caucus year; it’s a lot of national political figures come to Iowa whenever they can.”

Drake hosted former presidential candidate Martin O’Malley on campus last week to discuss environmental policies.

Caufield estimated around 50 to 60 Drake students attended the event.

Kathleen Richardson, dean of Drake’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said that Drake also provides a lot of opportunities for journalism students who get to cover political

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happenings on campus or work with the various media outlets that come to Iowa during the caucus season. However, she, too, said that Drake provides yearround political opportunities to students outside of the caucus season.

“Even if the caucuses didn’t exist, this is a great place to be interested either in covering politics or being involved in campaigns because we’re the state capitol,” Richardson said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

02 | news

Feb. 28, 2018

NEWS CAMPUS NEWS

University to host Young African Leaders conference AshleyMarie Dail Contributing Writer ashley.dail@drake.edu In the midst of the summer months when campus is quiet, Drake will be hosting the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders for the third consecutive year. This prestigious program, partnered with Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), allows African leaders and entrepreneurs to visit the United States to learn about leadership and to make connections with local businesses and personnel.

The goal is that the young adults who participate in the program will bring back what they have learned to their communities.

YALI and the Mandela Washington Fellowship are incredibly selective when choosing universities and students. This year, 26 colleges and universities will host the program. In addition to Drake other schools on the list include Dartmouth College and Northwestern University.

Hosting this program is an honor and incredibly prestigious according to both Stephanie Dana Ely, Global Partnerships and Special Programs coordinator, and Marty Martin, Drake University President.

“We are a globally engaged and connected institution, and in the 21st century, you have to be a globally connected institution,” Martin said. “That is something we have made a commitment to.”

Martin explained that hosting this program for the third time it shows Drake is living its globallyconnected standard.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship program has also helped Drake in hosting other programs.

Ely said, “It has helped us incorporate leadership development plans with other things like the (Makarere University Business School exchange) program.”

The MUBS program is an exchange program that Drake and Makarere University, located in Uganda, partner together to allow the opportunity for students to see other countries with fellow students.

Drake is also home to a number of African students and the Mandela Washington Fellowship is beneficial to these students as well. Nyasha “Nya” Makaza, a senior from Zimbabwe and president of the African Students Association, was thrilled to make connections with the YALI scholars.

“I think this program is incredible, and just the opportunity to make contacts, connections and to have this experience is really incredible.

It is really important for African entrepreneurs,” Makaza said.

When Drake hosted the program in years past, Makaza has been similar to a student ambassador to those participating in the program. She recalls

one year meeting a man from Zimbabwe and was able to speak with him in the Shona language, an opportunity she often doesn’t come across studying at Drake.

While the YALI scholars are here this summer, they will be able to explore Des Moines with the help of students like Makaza.

In years past, they have gone to concerts, to the Downtown Farmers Market and to eat

dinners with business owners in Des Moines.

This year Drake has run into a happy scheduling problem. More and more families and business personnel want to host scholars and have them over for dinner and to speak with them.

MEMBERS of the Young African Leaders Conference from 2017 pose in front of a Drake University sign. PHOTO COURTESY OF DRAKE COMMUNICATIONS

CAMPUS NEWS

Fraternity and sorority members learn special skills in training Madi Koetting Contributing Writer madi.koetting@drake.edu Members from each Fraternity and Sorority Life chapter risk management committee participated in Health, Inclusion and Relationship Officer (HIRO) training the weekend of Feb. 16.

Two to three members of each sorority and fraternity participated in this two-day training event, and members were led by Kerry King, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Tess Cody, Violence Prevention

Coordinator at Drake.

During both sessions, topics such as relationship violence, sexual assault and other personal hardships were brought up.

Students worked in small groups in order to discuss how to handle these topics and learn how to best help their peers who have experienced these situations.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect from the HIRO training, but I thought it was extremely helpful in learning how to help our peers who have experienced these types of personal struggles,” sophomore Leslie Cooper said.

This training was mandatory

for members who signed up for positions in their chapter that deal with risk management issues.

The concept of HIRO training was to designate members as ‘HIROs’ who are equipped with the knowledge to handle sensitive topics that can arise in college.

Members said after the training that they had a better sense of how to handle the taboo subjects that swarm everyday life.

“I’m extremely glad that this program is apart of Greek life at Drake. This training recognized that there are people who are experiencing hardship and

we can help them within our organization,” first year Abby Wentling said.

The HIRO training got people thinking deeper about difficult subjects, and it motivated them to be active bystanders rather than waiting for somebody else to solve the problems that may occur in their sorority or fraternity.

“This training helped me a lot with my role on the Watchcare Committee because it has prepared me in knowing how to handle sensitive topics and be one of many outlets to the women in this sorority,” Wentling said.

Overall, the training

accomplished its goal in equipping fraternity and sorority life members and students at Drake with a better overall understanding of how to handle issues of risk and look out for their peers.

CAMPUS NEWS

Political students agree with magazine’s analysis of political options CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “There are a lot of opportunities up at the legislature for students who are interested in working up there or working for government agencies.”

Josh Hughes, a junior law, politics and society major, is one student who has taken advantage

of Drake’s proximity to the state Capitol. Hughes started Drake in the fall of 2015 when events surrounding the caucus were being held on campus, and he got a job right away working for a congressional candidate at the time. From there, he was able to secure an internship with the Capitol for the spring 2016

semester and has been working at the Capitol for the past two years. He is currently a parttime student at Drake while he works as a paid legislative clerk for a state representative at the Capitol.

Hughes said he wouldn’t have been able to have all of these opportunities if he hadn’t come

to Drake.

“The politics per capita can’t be beat anywhere at any other school in the country,” Hughes said. “For example, a school like George Washington University in Washington, D.C. or Georgetown or something like that has more politics. They also have fewer opportunities to get students

MAGAZINES ARE DISPLAYED in Meredith Hall. One particular magazine, “Seventeen,” chose Drake as a “cool school” to go to, especially for political matters.

PHOTO BY JACOB REYNOLDS | NEWS EDITOR

involved, but Drake has as much politics, at least, and political opportunities and fewer students … The opportunities here are unlike any other in the country.”

Drake’s reputation as a hotspot for politics is one of the factors that attracted Hughes to the school. With “Seventeen’s” recent designation of Drake as a “cool school” for politics, Caufield hopes that more students will be attracted to Drake in the future, particularly the young female audience the magazine targets.

“I hope that there are a whole bunch of civically engaged, interested, dynamic, smart, curious young women across the country … who are looking at this and taking a look at Drake and saying, ‘That might be a place that would be really good for me.’ And I think it would be really good for them,” Caufield said.

While “Seventeen’s” description of Drake may attract prospective students in the future, current Drake students already know how special Drake is.

“It’s clear, far and above the rest when you consider where politics lives,” Hughes said. “It lives in Iowa, and in Iowa, it lives at Drake.”

news | 03

Feb. 28, 2018

NEWS NATIONAL NEWS

Rare Diseases Day highlights problems individuals face Allyn Benkowich Contributing Writer allyn.benkowich@drake.edu Rare diseases and disorders are uncommon, but there is actually an entire day dedicated to them. There are about 7,000 rare diseases and disorders affecting roughly 30 million Americans, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

The last day in February every year is dedicated to raising awareness for those with rare disorders and how they are affected by them.

At Drake, invisible illnesses and rare disorders affect some students and staff members.

Anna Beck, a firstyear student, lives with

costochondritis, a condition that causes inflammation of her cartilage on and near her ribcage.

She says living with the disease takes a toll, as there is not much support because nobody can see her illness.

“A lot of my classmates didn’t know what was going on, they just knew that there was something that was wrong, that I was missing,” Beck said.

The disorder changed her life and luckily she was able to find support through music and her teachers. Beck says she advocates for awareness because she does not want anyone else feeling the way she did before she had that support.

“Having that mentor or person to look up to would have been really helpful but I could not

find that anywhere,” Beck said.

“If I can just be that person for someone else, something good can come out of it.”

Lindsay Gilbert is an adjunct instructor at Drake who has been affected by a rare disorder since her diagnosis in November 2015.

She has a condition called Mal de Débarquement Syndrome. The disorder affects Gilbert’s daily life.

She said she often experiences memory loss, inability to come up with words, extreme fatigue and it affects her perception.

Gilbert discussed the hardships of the disorder being so rare.

“The one issue is, as soon as you say that you have something, everybody always associates it with what they know,” Gilbert said. “That’s one of the things

I unfortunately deal with with healthcare professionals is they clump all of this stuff together.”

Both Gilbert and Beck are familiar with self-diagnosis.

Gilbert knows others who have self-diagnosed their condition because doctors often cannot diagnose rare diseases quickly.

Although her condition is not considered rare, Beck also had to self-diagnose and take her knowledge to her doctors.

According to shire.com, patients see an average of 7.3 physicians in an average of 4.8 years before receiving a diagnosis.

The two both said Drake is very accomodating for their illnesses.

“I think that we’re very accomodating,” Gilbert said.

“I haven’t worked much with disability resources but my

understanding is Michelle (Laughlin) is extremely accommodating to students.”

Michelle Laughlin is the Student Disability Services Coordinator at Drake. She said that she has never experienced an issue with professors accommodating students’ illnesses. In regard to invisible disorders Laughlin said, “Most of the students that have medical conditions, most of them do struggle with the hidden part of it,” Laughlin said.

CAMPUS NEWS

Students to travel to Uganda, learn about local culture Rachel Southgate Contributing Writer rachel.southgate@drake.edu

College students at Drake University have the opportunity to study abroad in Uganda during Drake’s May-term receiving credit towards graduation requirements.

Participating students meet Ugandan leaders, learn about rural life and health care, go on a safari and visit the source of the Nile River, according to flyers posted around campus.

Julie Uram, a Drake double major in sustainability and resilience, and rhetoric, media, and social change, went to Uganda with Drake this past May. The title of the class taken in Uganda is Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is an academic seminar based around business, history and honors, Uram said.

“The use of the word sustainability for the class actually meant business sustainability, not environmental,” Uram said. “This gave me a unique perspective (on sustainability) that is different from the normal science classes I take at Drake.”

Hannah Hansen, a marketing and psychology double major at Drake, also studied abroad in Uganda this past May. She said she enjoyed how immersed in the culture they were and how they really got to know the people.

“The overarching theme of the program is sustainable development, but it can be tailored to whatever you want. We didn’t ever have classes because it was more about going out and meeting different people,” Hansen said.

Uram said every student in the class was expected to come up with a one-day, research or service project that was ideally related to their area of interest.

“I got to participate in gathering data for a water quality improvement project started by Drake students on earlier trips.

My work was really a part of something bigger,” Uram said.

Hansen said she did marketing strategy research for the health center for her project.

“The biggest part of the trip was various lessons around sustainable business development,” Uram said.

“Each day we usually had a morning or afternoon activity that were interactive lessons that

addressed all areas of sustainable development.”

Uram said she felt she learned an equal amount from the scheduled academic courses by Drake and from interacting with her peers and being critical of their experiences.

Michaela Spielberger, a digital media production and anthropology/sociology double major at Drake, will be studying abroad in Uganda during May term this year.

“This trip is perfect for me because I’m really interested in going to Africa. It’s always been the dream place to travel to for me,” Spielberger said.

Spielberger said the Uganda trip seems like a great way to branch out and safely travel Africa. She said she is looking forward to connecting on a personal level with people in a community that is very different than hers and those she has been exposed to.

“It’s definitely the trip of a lifetime because you learn so many things not only about Uganda, but a lot about yourself as well,” Hansen said.

The 2018 dates for studying abroad in Uganda are May 21 through June 12. Participating

students will receive six credit hours that may be used to fulfill the engaged citizen or the global and cultural understanding

graduation requirement, according to flyers posted around campus.

STUDENTS ENJOY THE ATMOSPHERE of Uganda during a May-term the previous school year. PHOTO SUBMITTED BY JULIE URAM

04 | opinions

Feb. 28, 2018

OPINIONS ARTICLE TAG

Stop treating student activists like celebrities

Parker Klyn Opinions Editor parker.klyn@drake.edu @parkerklyn The Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in is one of the great tragedies in modern American history. To have to live with the fact that 17 people, including 14 students, were killed due to relaxed gun legislation, poor safety nets for people at risk, and procedural errors by governmental agencies is devastating. It’s even more difficult when one considers the millions of people that seem stuck

on the idea that the status quo is okay, and that nothing needs to be changed.

That’s why the emergence of students who survived the shooting is inspiring.

Nobody would have blamed many of these kids for wallowing in depression after the shooting; the devastation they experienced is unimaginable. But that hasn’t been the case for many.

We’ve seen Emma Gonzalez lead a fiery, emotional chant of “We call B.S.” against the NRA and politicians who have dug their heels in against gun legislation.

David Hogg has withstood disgusting implications that he’s a crisis actor or CNN stooge to found a gun control advocacy group and leading the Never Again movement. Hogg’s sister Lauren called out Melania Trump’s anticyberbullying statements, asking her to talk to step-son Donald Trump Jr., who liked a Tweet implying the aforementioned conspiracy theory. Samantha Fuentes, who was wounded in the shooting, criticized President Trump’s hypocrisy in attempting

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to console victims while doing nothing to prevent it from happening in the future.

This only scratches the surface of their work. They are already among the most high-profile activists in the United States, proving that it is possible to just be completely fed up to the point of needing to do something about the issue, no matter what it takes. They’re focusing on voting, which is, in my opinion, the most important thing to do; vote people in who will actually change the world for the better.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen the beginnings of a disturbing trend that I want to help quash before it happens. Because these students are so passionate, inspiring and intelligent, many people have begun to defer to them for judgment on certain issues.

They treat the students as infallible, anointed pre-martyrs that will change the world on their own. Even worse, a cult of personality has rallied around these students.

Every time they tweet, hundreds of people fall over

themselves to compliment the students’ bravery, which, in a vacuum, is admirable, until you start to see names repeating the same tweet over and over.

BuzzFeed and Bustle have both posted articles detailing “clap backs” (slang for witty responses) that the students have made to negative attention thrown their way. They treat these students like celebrities sparring over petty disagreements or rappers dissing each other.

These kids are not celebrities.

They don’t exist to entertain people. They are people working harder at being activists than most people work at their jobs.

By breathlessly supporting them to the point that you’re spending more time proving that you love these kids than doing actual activist work, you’re proving that you care more about social media appearances than making a change.

It’s also okay to disagree with them occasionally. Fuentes, for all she’s been through, is lucky to even be alive, but publicly criticizing the security officer who

wouldn’t confront the shooter didn’t sit well with me. I can’t say for sure whether or not I would have gone in. I’d like to think I would, but I can’t be sure.

But that’s okay; I still agree with Fuentes on the items that really matter, like Trump being an insincere enabler. The kids are stunning, but they’re not infallible deities.

And, on that note, at the end of the day they’re still kids, for the most part. They might be galvanizing and heartbreaking and hilarious and beautiful, but they’re kids.

Let them do the best they can to change the world for the better, and instead of falling over yourselves with praise of them, do your best to mirror their actions.

We all want to work toward a safer world. The kids don’t need your affirmations to know that’s the right thing to do.

The Times-Delphic is a student newspaper published 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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opinions | 05

Feb. 28, 2018

OPINIONS CONCERT REVIEW

The Mowgli’s exceed high expectations in Minneapolis

Natalie Larimer Contributing Writer natalie.larimer@drake.edu

This past Friday night, the 23rd of February, I was able to travel up to Minneapolis to see one of my all-time favorite bands, The Mowgli’s, an alternative rock band from LA. I like to describe them as an unstoppable force of positive energy that cannot be stifled by the saddest of things.

This is the first time I have seen them, despite me actually having a tattoo of one of their album covers. Their concert not only lived up to expectations, but it quickly became one of the best nights of my life.

A band from New York City called Mainland opened for The Mowgli’s and they absolutely killed it. Their lead singer, Jordan Topf, has such an addicting voice that is accented by their unique guitar riffs lead by guitarist Corey Mullee. These two along with bassist Alex Pitta are the only full time members of the band, but they were joined by a drummer (who’s signature on my record is illegible so I cannot tell you his name) for the tour. Their energy was electric and even though I did not know most of their songs (since Spotify really underrepresents them), the audience and I all got really into their music and made it incredibly fun. All of the members got really into the music and made their stage presence feel like we were all just friends dancing together.

After the show, I talked to

Jordan for a few minutes about our record collections, which was really fun. I bought their EP Shiner (2014), which is a 10 inch vinyl, and Jordan asked if it was the first one of that size in my collection, so I told him that it is my second behind Pronoun’s EP There’s No One New Around You (2016). Their self-titled single from 2016 is the first 7 inch for my collection, and I was able to get both that and their EP signed by them all.

Then The Mowgli’s were up.

First off, their drummer, Andy Warren, was playing through food poisoning that he got from the terrible idea of eating sushi from Whole Foods Market.

Honestly that is his fault, but he played impeccably regardless and made it through the show without throwing up. As they set up, they played music by Culpriit, an indie-electro duo that Mowgli’s front-man Colin Dieden is a member of. It was really great to see other people in the audience dancing and singing along with their song “Driveway.” It made me even more pumped for the Mowgli’s to come on.

As soon as they were on stage, everything got about 100% better.

They opened with one of their best songs, “Bad Dream,” which is from their 2015 album Kids In

Love. It kicked off one of the best set-lists I have ever heard. During their new single “Real Good Life”, which is what the tour is named after, Dave Appelbaum on keys absolutely nailed his synth solo, something I was really hoping would happen. This got Matt Di Panni on bass to start opening up a bit on stage and he started dancing with Colin while staring down Andy on drums.

On top of their spectacular setlist, they also aided one of their friends in the audience with a gender reveal of her baby. They introduced her and talked about how crazy it is that she is creating a human life and decided to come to a Mowgli’s show, and then announced that it was a baby girl.

They blasted pink confetti into the crowd and dedicated a song to the expecting mother and her baby. It was so heartwarming and I thought the night could not possibly get better, but then it got better.

After their song “Alone Sometimes,” lead singer Katie Earl said “I just got word that someone just got engaged in the audience.” They pulled a couple up on stage who literally just got engaged right after their song.

The couple stood up there for a bit and talked with the band and audience and then went back to

the crowd as Colin talked about how he should find someone to propose to as well. That prompted lead guitarist Josh Hogan (who is actually married to Katie Earl) to “propose” to Colin. Katie stopped them and they continued playing songs.

The only way things could get more amazing would be if I was able to meet the band, and then an opportunity presented itself.

After the show Colin and Josh were packing up the stage so I went up and showed them my tattoo, which got Colin to hug me and take a picture of it. Josh told me about how one of his friends originally drew the drum set (which is what my tattoo is)

and that they love it that I have it permanently inked onto my arm.

We had a great conversation.

My devotion to this band should be an indicator of how wonderful they are. Almost all of their songs are about love and they make you so happy that I believe it to be impossible to remain in a bad mood after listening to them. So next time you are in a funk, throw on their song “San Francisco” and turn it up to 11, I guarantee you will not even remember why you were upset.

THE MOWGLI’S, a band from Los Angeles County, California, make alternative rock music with a glossy pop sheen. They are in the midst of their Real Good Life tour. PHOTOS BY NATALIE LARIMER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Drake men’s basketball finally has hope for the future

Katie Moon Contributing Writer katie.moon@drake.edu

Ten years ago, most of the current students at Drake University weren’t even in their teens. They were nowhere near deciding where you wanted to go to college. That academic year, Drake’s men’s basketball team went 28-5 overall and 15-3 in the conference. That was a historic season, reminding dedicated fans of the glory days of the late 1960s and early ‘70s.

It has been 10 years since these same dedicated fans and a generation of new ones have had hope. Currently, our men’s basketball team is 16-14 overall and 10-7 in the conference. While these records aren’t as good as in the 2007-2008 season, they are significantly better than the past few years.

As someone who grew up around Drake and Drake Athletics, I have seen and experienced a lot. I’m not going to lie, there have been times that being a fan has been hard. At the same time, I could say that I would almost fight to the death

to defend my Drake Bulldogs amongst my classmates who supported Iowa, Iowa State or UNI. So, why the sudden change?

The long-time season ticket holders have a few theories and connections between 10 years ago and now. Here are just a few of them.

The first similarity between the seasons is the new faces. In the 2007-2008 season, Drake welcomed a new athletic director and men’s basketball coach.

Sound familiar?

This year, Drake Athletics hired Brian Hardin as the new athletic director. He’s young and passionate about getting as many fans involved as possible with all aspects of Drake Athletics.

In addition, Niko Medved was hired as the new head coach. He is even younger than our new athletic director, therefore having insight to the latest forms of basketball.

The second revolves around one player: Reed Timmer.

Josh Young broke Red Murrell’s record of most career points his senior year in the February of 2010, a record that hadn’t been touched since 1955.

Young’s record was recently surpassed by Timmer, who currently has 1,882 career points.

Timmer also has the higher average of points per game, field goal percentage, three-point percentage and assists per game.

This means that Timmer is in the conversation for the best player in Drake men’s basketball history.

Another player that truly stands out is Nick McGlynn. The improvement he has made just since last year is remarkable.

He has increased his number of assists, blocks, steals and points.

While his percentages are down, McGlynn is taking more risks and more shots, obviously paying off due to the fact that his total points from this season are more than double what he scored last season.

Other contributors, like the sharpshooting Graham Woodward, defensive stalwart Ore Arogundade, or jack-of-all-

trades C.J. Rivers, have set the tone for this team.

Above all, the biggest change in the Drake men’s basketball program is their excitement.

If anyone feels the most passionate about what they do, it would be McGlynn. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and it rubs off on the rest of the team.

Their enthusiasm as a whole is contagious. They not only hype each other up, they are sure to

“get the crowd going” as well.

Their appreciation of the fans and their fellow students is admirable.

To the team: thank you for giving the old fans hope and good luck during Arch Madness in St. Louis!

DRAKE MEN’S BASKETBALL is in the midst of their first winning season in six years. Their 10-8 conference record is their best since they made the NCAA tournament in 2008. PHOTO BY CASSANDRA BAUER | PHOTO EDITOR

06 | opinions

Feb. 28, 2018

OPINIONS ALBUM REVIEW

6ix9ine’s debut mixtape is overwhelming and over-saturated

“DAY69” is the debut mixtape from New York rapper 6ix9ine (real name Daniel Hernandez). The album’s lead single, “Gummo”, peaked at no. 12 on the Billboard charts. The record features contributions from Offset, Tory Lanez, and others. PHOTO TAKEN FROM UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP

Parker Klyn Opinions Editor parker.klyn@drake.edu @parkerklyn It’s unfortunate that this particular opinions section isn’t printed in color, because blackand-white doesn’t come close to showing the intense, vivid saturation of Daniel Hernandez, also known as 6ix9ine. The New York rapper is a modern-day rainbow warrior, with the full color spectrum in both his dyed hair and his tooth caps. It’s an assault on the eyes.

Similarly, his music overwhelms to the point of frustration. There’s so much baggage that goes along with listening to someone like this; aside from the fact that his fans are notorious for brawling at shows and festivals, 6ix9ine has shown that he’s the real deal in terms of the crime he raps about.

As a minor, he served jail time for assault and dealing heroin, and at the age of 18, he was convicted of using a child in a sexual performance. This child was 13 years old.

While Hernandez maintains that he didn’t know her age, and he has served his time, it’s still difficult to listen to music from somebody who has done these things – and offered little to no remorse. In addition – this isn’t a crime, but it’s still deeply off-putting – 6ix9ine, who is Hispanic, insists on using the N-word in his music.

That controversy why it’s confounding to me how 6ix9ine got so popular. Nearly a week after its release, “Day69”, 6ix9ine’s

debut mixtape, sits only behind the “Black Panther” soundtrack on the Apple Music charts. His single “Gummo” peaked at no.

12 on the Billboard charts. He’s gotten features from established hip-hop stars like Offset, Young Thug, Tory Lanez and A Boogie Wit A Hoodie. 6ix9ine is, without question, one of the hottest acts in hip-hop.

When I heard him for the first time, I thought I partially understood why. There’s not a single peer of his that raps with more energy, fire or hype. He’s screaming, his voice is cracking, and the words he’s saying are terrifying. “Your girl on my phone / She wanna f*** but keep her clothes on, I only want the jaw / That’s all I really use her for, I kick her out the door,” he boasts on “Gummo”. Gross.

It’s not unheard of for rappers to make lyrics like this artful.

Danny Brown notably tells tales of disgusting hedonism, but he does so as a cautionary tale that that lifestyle is not something to be desired. 6ix9ne, on the other

hand, is posturing – the listener should want to be him. And people are eating it up.

Again, if you don’t pay attention to the lyrics, and only let the occasional “Glock” or “whip” or “bust” hit your ear, it’s easy to see how 6ix9ine could get to this level of popularity.

His energy is infectious and thrilling. The delivery is very reminiscent of Lil Jon at the height of crunk music’s popularity, but the lyrical and musical plasticity moves it closer to the short-lived phenomenon of crunkcore, which included travesties like Blood on the Dance Floor and early Panic!

At The Disco.

There isn’t a moment on “Day69” where 6ix9ine slows it down, or attempts to show any personality, and that’s to the detriment of the project. That energy, exhilarating at first, wears thin very quickly, and once you get used to it, there’s very little in the way of variety.

Lil Jon screamed a lot too, but he also had the Eastside Boyz and dozens of guests and actual song

topics to give listeners a reprieve.

None of that exists on this tape.

Some of the album’s production works well. “93” and “Doowee” have solid SoundCloud rap beats, with loads of distortion and synthetic bass.

Unfortunately, most of the beats reveal themselves fully within the first few seconds; there’s no room for development, and this adds to the monotonous barrage of highvolume gunshots and Scum Gang ad-libs.

6ix9ine has better artistic chops than a lot of his peers; he seems like he really does want to be a famous rapper, he’s already touring constantly, and he’s booked a ton of festivals. But music like this is meant to be put in the background at the gym or in the car and ignored, and that’s hard to do when you know 6ix9ine’s backstory and baggage.

“Day69” could have been so much worse, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’d prefer to never listen to 6ix9ine again.

features | 07

Feb. 28, 2018

FEATURES HEALTH

CAMPUS EVENTS

Bootcamp holds students accountable

The ball was

lit Ellie Detweiler Staff Writer ellie.detweiler@drake.edu Drake’s Morehouse Executive Council (EC) and various resident assistants (RAs) teamed up to host the Morehouse Winter Ball, which was held on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Morehouse Ballroom.

Morehouse, originally an all-women dorm, featured the Morehouse Ballroom in its basement. Finished in 1931, the ballroom was Drake’s original dining area for students before Hubbell Dining Hall was built in 1953. The traditional ballroom now holds various campus-wide events.

Elliana Huffman is a junior chemistry and biochemistry, cell and molecular biology double major at Drake and was in charge of decorations for the event. She lived in Carpenter as a freshman.

She became a Morehouse RA her sophomore year.

“As far as we know, there hasn’t been (a ball) in the ballroom in

Tuma Haji Staff Writer tumaorthegap.haji@drake.edu

with paper lanterns and fairy lights, that is...

ELLIANA HUFFMAN and Dustin Eubanks (below), RAs at Morehouse, swing dance at the formal ball held last Friday. The dance was held in Morehouse ballroom (above). PHOTOS BY LÓRIEN MACENULTY | FEATURES EDITOR the recent past, and we thought, ‘What better space to have one?’”

Huffman said. “Even last year, when I was on staff, we talked about hosting a ball. We did not end up doing anything with the idea last year. But this year, our EC and several RAs were pumped about making it happen.”

Huffman, Dustin Eubanks, who is another RA, Betsy Collins, the residence hall coordinator and Katie Moon, the EC president, joined forces to put their idea of a prom for college students in action.

“It’s a good excuse to have fun and get dressed up, which a lot of people haven’t done since high school,” Moon said. “As far as I know, the EC and RAs feel like all of our hard work really paid off, and we’re super proud of the event.”

Students were encouraged to attend the ball in formal attire and, while a specific theme was not stated, attendees were greeted with blue and gold decorations from Huffman that had planned out a few weeks before. Huffman

included in her decorations blue, twinkling string lights, white paper lanterns and candled centerpieces for the tables, lined against the wall.

Sodexo catered meatballs, bruschetta, cookies and various dipping options into the chocolate fondue. Around 50 people attended the ball and danced, sometimes in synchronized union, sometimes split into separated circles.

The Brocal Chords, Drake’s allmale acapella group, performed for the attendees, including the popular songs “The Longest Time,” “Go The Distance” and their classic song “Fat Bottom Girls.”

Additionally, the Brocal Chords, who added three new members to their group this semester, sung “Army” by Ben Folds Five and invited students to participate by taking on the role of various instruments in the song.

Megan Fleming, a senior studying Spanish, found out about the ball from Facebook and

was encouraged by Huffman to attend.

“I think it’s a good way to be safe and still be in community, and the Morehouse EC did a great job of creating a fun night for the Drake community,” Fleming said. “Overall, it was a lovely atmosphere full of fun music, good food, and lots of friendship.”

CAREER ADVANCEMENT

Waiving rights like flags with letters of reccomendation Shannon Rabotski Staff Writer shannon.rabotski@drake.edu @shannonrobot Drake University students applying to graduate or professional schools will most likely have to submit letters of recommendation along with their applications. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 gives students important rights with those applications, including the right to view all letters of recommendation written about themselves.

While institutions can ask candidates to waive their right to view a letter of recommendation, no establishment can require

them to do so.

At Drake’s application offices, it is not taken into consideration whether or not a student has waived their rights to view letters of recommendation during the application process.

“It’s information that we can see that’s part of the application that comes in, but it’s not something that we really look at in terms of our process,” said Evan Favreau, assistant director of admissions at Drake.

There are many factors for students to consider when deciding whether or not to waive their rights.

For students looking to retain their rights, a recommender may not be as comfortable writing if they know that the student will be seeing what they say. This could

lead to potential recommenders declining to write a letter at all.

“Part of a letter of recommendation is we’re trying to get an honest insight into an applicant from a source who is not the applicant,” Favreau said.

“I think if the person writing that letter of recommendation knows for sure that that student isn’t going to be seeing what they write, they probably feel the ability to be able to be completely honest in perhaps ways that they would feel hesitant to be if they thought there was a chance the student could actually see what they were writing.”

In the case of an interview, a student may have to explain his or her reasoning for choosing to retain or waive access. It may be assumed by an admissions

DRAMATIZATION of letters of reccommendation. PHOTO BY JANINA GONÇALVES | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

committee that an applicant chose to waive their rights because he had nothing to hide, in the same way that a student choosing to view their letter might be afraid that a letter could be unfavorable.

Retaining rights also enables students to come more fully prepared to an interview, knowing all that the admissions committee knows about them.

Committees may, however, put more consideration into letters that they know were not seen by the student, as the letters can be more candid that way.

Career Services at Cornell said in a document addressing the topic that in some cases, such as medical school applicants using the Health Careers Evaluation Committee (HCEC), letters of recommendation must be sent in whether or not the student agreed with what was written. If a student retains the right to view the letter and wants to send a rebuttal along with it, the HCEC will review that as well.

Carley Prenja, a junior at Drake who plans on applying to graduate school, said she is not going to view her letters of recommendation when applying.

“I feel that viewing them may make the impression that you do not trust that you’ll have good letters of recommendation,” Penja said.

When applying, it is important for students to realize that there is no sure way to know how an admissions committee might react to their retention or waiving of rights.

It’s difficult for some college students to maintain a fitness plan, but Bulldog Bootcamp offers Drake students an opportunity to work out twice a week.

The fitness group was formed

by Mackenzie Woolwich last year as her senior capstone experience in health sciences and is currently run by senior Peter Read. Bulldog Bootcamp meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5-5:45 p.m. in the Knapp Center Fitness Room.

The program began Jan. 30 and is scheduled to run until March 8. According to the program’s Facebook page, the multi-month journey “a more wholesome, healthier lifestyle” as well as to “challenge (the) mind and body with varied, functional workouts.”

Read, a health sciences major, felt that instructing a group exercise class would be a good way to gain new experience.

“I would have never taught a group exercise program if I wasn’t doing it as my capstone project, but I’ve really enjoyed it,” he said.

He said he’s been “blown away by just how positive people are, interacting in the class and enjoying it.”

Bootcamp incorporates a wide variety of exercise regimens, including workouts that target the cardiovascular system, weights and conditioning and the abdominals. Turnout rates usually vary between 10 and 20 students per class. Around 54 students had initially registered for the event, but Read expressed no concerns over the low turnout rate since it is convenient to the space constraints.

“The only thing that has been disappointing to me is just attendance some days. We have a journal that we put out that initially has the workouts for each day, and you can tell on the days when we’re doing a little bit more running and less weight movement, people don’t want to come in,” Read said.

Assistant instructors Macy Fuller and Grace Gauert said they both enjoy pushing other students to reach their fitness goals given the wide variety of skill levels.

Fuller enthusiastically voiced the importance of teamwork both at Bootcamp and beyond.

“A key to reaching your goals is having a partner or a team just because when you feel like you can’t finish, it’s so easy for you to stop if you’re just by yourself, whereas when you’re with a team, not only can they lift you up, they can also encourage you to be the best version of yourself.”

Gauert said everyone is motivated by “other people’s energies,” Fuller said.

Emily Furlow joined the program last year and noted that the focus shifted from cardio to strength-based exercises. “(Bootcamp) was a really good way to just kind of start the year and get me more into a routine of working out and holds me accountable to sign up for something and actually show up to work out,” she said.

Fellow participant Mary Lindsey praised the three group instructors.

“All three of them are just great motivators,” Lindsey said.

“If you’re feeling discouraged, they’re with you and help you through. If you’re in pain, they’re in pain with you. They go through all of it with you, which is nice.”

Furlow added that the importance of fitness is intrinsic.

“Overall, I don’t really think it’s about losing weight as much as (it is about) feeling more in shape,” Furlow said.

08 | features

Feb. 28, 2018

FEATURES

V

CAMPUS EVENTS

Let’s talk about

aginas

Genital mutilation, sexual assault, sexual representation and safe sex among topics addressed in SAGE’s last Vagina monologues Caitlin Clement Staff Writer caitlin.clement@drake.edu Student Activists for Gender Equality (SAGE) performed the Vagina Monologues for the last time this past weekend. SAGE said the monologues struggled to be inclusive of marginalized voices by misrepresenting some genders, ethnicities, religions, socioeconomic statuses and more.

“When the Vagina Monologues were first performed, it was a kind of rallying cry for like women and marginalized folks to talk about their experiences,” said Paxton Gillespie, a junior SAGE member.

However, what may have been inclusive in the ‘90s has since broadened to include other genders and sexualities not included in the monologues, such as the transgender community.

“We feel it would be better for Drake’s campus if we wrote…what better fit our students and didn’t like exclude people or tokenize people,” said Emily Bauer, sophomore SAGE member.

“While there is definitely an importance to the Vagina Monologues… it’s outdated and

we need to move on.”

Included in the director’s notes on the pamphlet handed out at the beginning of the show, Isabelle Barrett commented on the cancellation of further Vagina Monologues, explaining her effort to bring more inclusion into the show.

“My hope is that we continue to be critical of ourselves and our politics every year until there is no more tokenization or erasure,” Barrett said.

In the effort towards inclusion of the transgender community, SAGE did a monologue called “They Beat the Girl out of My Boy (Or So They Thought).” It was performed for the first time in 2004 by an all transgender cast.

It gave an insider’s view into the community and their experiences in a society that didn’t understand or accept what they believed to be true.

The Vagina Monologues were written in the ‘90s by Eve Ensler and consists of topics such as consensual and non-consensual sexual experiences, body image, encounters with reproduction, sex work and other various topics. It uses stories from women of various ages, races and sexualities in an effort to get a

global perspective.

With these thoughts in mind, Ensler incorporated the monologues of WWII Japanese comfort women. These women were tricked into a false sense of security then brutally raped and beaten by the soldiers of the Japanese army. It gave a look into what such an experience had done to them, not just physically ,but mentally.

The monologues were also meant to address controversial topics due to their more gruesome natures. One such topic discussed at the show was female genital mutilation, a practice that can cause recurrent infections, development of cysts, chronic pain and an inability to get pregnant.

Gillespie said such topics were meant to make people think about what gender stereotypes and the patriarchal society that has made up so much of history has done to those affected by it.

It also provides those who have experienced trauma to hear their words through a script, to hear it through other women’s voices.

“They (Vagina Monologues cast) provide experiences for them to process their own trauma… like the gender violence that has

happened to them, they’re able to speak through these other voices that are already been written,” Gillespie said.

In addition to the monologues ,there was a carnival at the beginning, middle and end of the show that offered auction items, tarot card readings and informational tabling from Planned Parenthood and Pure Romance. They also offered free condoms to students.

During the intermission, there was also a poetry jam session

in Sheslow Auditorium where anyone who wanted to could express themselves by reading poems about topics they deemed important.

The proceeds from this carnival and ticket sales are benefiting Dorothy’s House, a recovery home in Des Moines for girls ages 14-17 who were victimized and exploited by sex trafficking.

DRAKE STUDENTS recited and sang various protions of the Vagina Monologues this weekend. PHOTOS BY CAITLIN CLEMENT | STAFF WRITER

ARTS & CULTURE

Dogtown guitar warehouse turns performing arts laboratory Caitlin Clement Staff Writer caitlin.clement@drake.edu

An old guitar warehouse off of University Ave. in Dogtown has plans to transform into a space where different artists can come together and show their work.

The owners of local non-profit record label Station 1 Records, Tobi Parks and Thom Kutz, are planning to open a new venue called xBk. An expected capacity of 250 people brings a more intimate arts space to enjoy a wide variety of shows.

“We plan for our venue to be a type of ‘performing arts laboratory’ where artists of all disciplines can create new and interesting works,” Parks said in an email.

This “performing arts laboratory” design will allow for not just music but poetry, theater, artwork, key speakers, film and more in an effort to expand the Des Moines art culture. Parks also said she not only wished to expand art out of but into the surrounding community.

They plan on bringing in artists from all over the country as well as locally to perform a wide variety of shows. Students at Drake will also have the opportunity to share and obtain the experience of performing or presenting their art.

“We would love for Drake musicians (and actors, and filmmakers, and storytellers, and poets and anything) to perform there,” Parks said. “We specifically selected the Drake Neighborhood for that reason.”

The prospect of a new performance venue harvests enthusiasm among Drake students in artistic programs with the opportunity it could bring to their careers, Dogtown and Des Moines.

“I think it will help because it will be another venue where people can perform at, which is always something people need if they want to be out and about getting their name out,” said Lauren Carroll, first-year vocal performance major.

Its ability to grow the arts community, with Lefty’s Live Music nearby, could increase the amount of attention the area will get as a result, helping to expose Des Moines as a more innovative and culturally dynamic city.

“Not only do we want to expand arts and culture in the Des

Moines area, but we also want to expose those from outside our community to the wonderful city that is our home,” Parks said.

Drake started to work with xBk in its effort to grow the community, having committed $56 million to the area. They’re working together to create a space where students can be exposed to different expressions of artistic culture from across the country.

“There is no question that having a vibrant arts venue in the neighborhood is a good thing for Drake and the surrounding community,” said Venessa Marco, Drake’s chief administration officer. “Bringing people to the neighborhood, enhancing opportunities for our students, faculty and staff as well as the community is so important to Drake.”

PROPOSED CONCERT venue xBk will open at the earliest in late July on University Ave. near Dogtown. PHOTO BY CAITLIN CLEMENT | STAFF WRITER

Parks said xBk is supposed to be not only a performance venue but also a place where people can record their music and still buy the guitars that have been made there for years. She said BilT Guitars, one of the current occupants of the venue, will be moving into suites within the building once construction starts.

Parks and Kutz’s style plans for xBk is more rustic and industrial, utilizing a lot of brick, wood and metal while having a very clean look and feeling to it.

Parks wants the artists to bring their creativity to the venue and not the other way around.

“The show isn’t just on the stage, but in the room as well.

Therefore, we’re looking toward simplicity with character. I’ve spent the past decade and half in New York City, so there will be a very Brooklyn type of vibe,” Parks said.

Right now the site plans for xBk are being approved by the city, and the owners are unable to set an opening date until their approval.

Once approved, they are looking at approximately two to three weeks for BilT to move into its suites and then another three to four months of construction.

As of right now, they expect to open around late July or early August.

“So, for most students, our goal is to have something amazingly awesome for them to return to when they come back to campus next fall,” Parks said.

features | 09

Feb. 28, 2018

FEATURES STUDENT LIFE

CAMPUS EVENTS

Oceans of thought from poetry reading

PHOTO BY HALLIE O’NEILL | DIGITAL EDITOR

Ellie Detweiler Staff Writer ellie.detweiler@drake.edu

Humans of

This week: Stefano Vignati Hallie O’Neill Digital Editor hallie.oneill@drake.edu When conductor Stefano Vignati was just seven years old, he found a sort of wonder in music. This wonder now dictates his entire life.

“No one in my family was involved in music or art,” Vignati said. “It’s natural, it’s an instinct.

I started classical music by myself. I just heard recordings, and I was in love with Mozart’s music. There was a very old piano in my grandma’s house … I went there every day to play when I was really young.”

Born and raised in the outskirts of Rome, Italy, he studied Greek, Latin and Italian literature and music—the “classics,” as he says. He spent decades in Italian formal schooling for piano and conducting, frequently attending international master classes in places all over the globe.

“One of my goals was to dedicate my life to students, to young generations of musicians and singers. So that’s why I’m happy here. “ Stefano Vignati Professor

He also acquired a master’s degree in conducting from the University of Denver, and after being back and forth between America and Europe for around 20 years, he finally decided to settle himself here. This decision was partly induced by a job offer from Drake.

Vignati describes Des Moines as quiet and easy, which serves as quite a relief for him after his hectic years of travelling.

The only thing he misses from previous homes, like Italy and

Santa Monica, California, is the sea. But now, he finds plenty of time to focus on his family.

Perhaps the biggest recent development in Vignati’s life was the adoption of his son, Jayden, who was born on Christmas Eve and whom Vignati describes as his “Christmas gift.”

“I always wanted to adopt a child,” Vignati said. “But in Italy, it’s pretty impossible. It’s so difficult … It was the first thing that I did when I arrived here, when I bought my house, when I got my position here. I started more than two years ago with the process.”

Though Vignati sacrifices some of his professional career when he’s teaching, he leaves his summers open for travel and professional development.

He’s dedicated to his career as a conductor, but he finds ultimate value in passing his skills onto his students.

“One of my goals was to dedicate my life to students, to young generations of musicians and singers,” Vignati said. “So that’s why I’m happy here.”

He hopes to use his international connections and friendships to help bolster the careers of the Drake students he works with.

He also credits his ability to mentor to his cultural tongue.

“Since I’m Italian, and 90 percent of opera is in the Italian language, I can coach easily,” Vignati said.

Vignati also teaches beginning Italian in the World Languages and Cultures Department.

When he’s not mentoring students or looking after his new baby, Vignati—seemingly a true “Renaissance man”—likes to paint. Painting was his “first skill,” he says, and his favorite style is portraits.

He also has a cello in its case sitting stoically in the corner of his office, but he hasn’t yet learned how to play it.

“I bring this cello with me everywhere I go, I think 15 years,” he said with a laugh. “I (still) have to find the moment to start.”

This will be Vignati’s fourth year conducting the year-end production of the Drake Opera Theater, an event he looks forward to with great anticipation.

“I think the potential of this university is big, so big,” Vignati said. “But it’s not completely expressed still. I think this opera department could be really great, and I want to be a part of this. I want to help this grow. That’s (what’s) most important for me.”

“They say every snowflake is different, but the blizzard encompasses us all the same.”

This line of poetry was written and read by Ocean Vuong, a 29year old award winning poet and essayist who visited Drake University on Feb. 28 through the Susan Glaspell Writers and Critics Series.

Vuong presented on American violence, masculinity and addiction, including three readings from his work, “Night Sky with Exit Wounds,” which was awarded a T.S. Eliot Prize and listed in The New York Times as a Top 10 Book of 2016.

Vuong was born in Saigon, Vietnam and grew up in Hartford, Connecticut, where his understanding of violence through the hunting atmosphere around him continues as a motif in his writing.

A professor of English at the University of MassachusettsAmherst, he also incorporates topics of the Vietnam War, immigrant identity and queer identity in his work.

Yasmina Madden, a fan of Vuong’s and the director of the series for the past two years, reached out on a limb to Vuong’s agent and was thrilled when he accepted.

“He’s everywhere in terms of literary conversation, especially because his debut collection received so much critical acclaim,” Madden said. “He’s made that transition from someone who is only speaking to a literary crowd to a much wider audience.”

Vuong’s reading was made possible by the Drake English department, a grant from the Drake University Center for the Humanities and the donation from the late Susan Glaspell, a writer, journalist, playwright and Drake alumna.

“The intention has always been to bring critics, scholars and writers who would be of interest to students and faculty,” Madden

said. “In terms of my focus, something I’m really invested in is bringing in scholars and writers who speak to more than just English majors.”

At the end of the reading, Vuong answered questions from students, community members and faculty. Vuong spoke on his writing habits, including his love for writing at night, stemming from his time in college and his belief in “having the last word for the night.”

“As a writer, the biggest, the most prevalent project for me is the questions,” Vuong said. “And whatever genre can yield surprise, I’m willing to take it on in order to serve the questions.”

Before reciting an excerpt from his book, he spoke of his writing process and how some topics don’t leave his mind. This forces him to write, despite his fear.

“I sort of let this poem collapse in. Normally I start fresh, but it taught me a lot about family and how, perhaps, sometimes we can fail into new forms and keep going,” Vuong said.

Allison Kaefring, a sophomore anthropology, sociology and English double major, attended the lecture from Vuong.

“I thought that it was really interesting that Vuong mentioned the poem ‘Daily Bread’ collapsing in on itself,” Kaefring said. “I think that it’s important that writers discuss how failure affects their work, especially when they are talking to students.”

The next speaker in the series is Casey Plett, who will be speaking on March 29 in the Cowles Library Reading Room.

Pelt is a transgender fiction writer and essayist whose novel, “A Safe Girl To Love,” features a transgender protagonist.

RENOWNED POET Ocean Vuong (center) poses with Drake students and fans after his poetry reading and book signing in Cowles library last week.

PHOTO COURTESY OF YASMINA MADDEN

10 | sports

Feb. 28, 2018

SPORTS MEN’S BASKETBALL

Bulldogs end season with two losses; ready for Bradley JD Pelegrino Staff Writer john.pelegrino@drake.edu @jddontdrop The Bulldogs have played a phenomenal season this year compared to last season.

Under new Head Coach Niko Medved, the Dogs are now 1615 (10-8 conf), this is the best record they have recorded since the 2011-2012 season where they finished 17-15 (9-9 conf).

This season’s team has already recorded more conference wins than the ’11-’12 team, but is playing for their 17th regular season win.

The past two seasons combined, the Bulldogs have combined for 14 wins.

In the last five games, the Bulldogs have gone 3-2 with wins against: University of Northern Iowa, Missouri St, and Indiana St. The only two losses have come to Illinois State (by eight points) and Valparaiso (by five points).

The Bulldogs have lost their past two games in close, budding rivalries.

Against ISU, starting Guards Reed Timmer and Ore Arodundade led the team in points with 26 and 13 each.

Senior Guard Graham Woodward came off the bench to score the second most points on the team with 16.

The game was close, but the Bulldogs couldn’t hold off the

NICK MCGLYNN Dunks without contest in a recent home game. PHOTO BY JD PELEGRINO

Redbirds in overtime as they fell 89-81.

Drake had their share of offensive struggles only shooting 36.8 percent inside the arc and 21.4 percent from 3-point range.

Even the Dog’s traditionally high free throw percentage was low in the contest at 67.9 percent.

The second of the two losses against Valpo was one of the closest losses of the season for Drake. Timmer scored 28 of the Bulldogs 64 points with Guard D.J. McMurray contributing ten of his own.

At halftime, the Crusaders and the Bulldogs were tied at 30, but outscored by five points in the second half, Drake couldn’t pull it off.

The Bulldogs face off against Bradley at home on March 2 at 2:30 p.m.

This game is big for a few different reasons, one being that Drake has already played Bradley twice this season where they captured a 66-64 win and a 78-68 win.

This puts them in a good spot mentally pushing deeper in the tournament.

Bradley is 19-12, posing the second-best record in the MVC (tied with SIU), however is only 9-9 in conference dropping them to fifth place in the MVC. A win for the Bulldogs in their final game of the regular season could give them great momentum moving forward in the MVC tournament.

Bradley is a conference rival that the Bulldogs have defeated earlier in the season, both home and away.

This could potentially be the last game in blue and white for the seniors on the team, so show up to cheer on the Bulldogs!

Other games to look out for in the Missouri Valley are Illinois State (16-14, 10-8 conf) against Indiana St. (13-17, 8-10 conf), and Loyola and SIU who both have games yet to be determined.

It is likely that Drake will play any of those four teams if they win on Friday.

Many fans have the confidence in their Bulldogs led by Reed Timmer to make a push into the tournament, and hopefully earn a bid into the NCAA March Madness tournament.

TRAIL OFF Drake ended the season on a down note with two losses to follow up three straight wins. They’ll play Bradley in the first round of the MVC tournament on March 2nd in St. Louis. PHOTO BY JD PELEGRINO

Men’s 2017-16 Statistical Leaders MVC Basketball MVC Stats Assist Leaders

MVC Stats Rebound Leaders

MVC Stats Scoring Leaders

Final Standings Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Team

Player

RPG

Player

PPG

4.8

1. Alize Johnson

11.4

1. Ryan Taylor

22.1

2. Dru Smith

4.7

2. Tywhon Pickford

8.0

2. Reed Timmer

19.6

3. Darrell Brown

4.5

3. Phil Fayne

7.1

3. Jordan Barnes

4. Clayton Custer

4.2

4. Donte Thomas

7.1

5. Ben Richardson

3.7

5. Milik Yarbrough

6.6

6. Jordan Barnes

6. Cameron Krutwig

6.5

3.6

7. Donte Ingram

6.3

Player

APG

1. Milik Yarbrough

Overall Record

Conference Record

1. Loyola

25-5

15-3

2. Southern Illinois

19-12

11-7

17.2

3. Illinois State

16-14

10-8

4. Milik Yarbrough

16.7

4. Drake

16-15

10-8

5. Keyshawn Evans

15.6

6. Phil Fayne

15.3

5. Bradley

19-12

9-9

7. Alize Johnson

15.1

6. Indiana St.

13-17

8-10

8. Brenton Scott

14.9

7. Evansville

17-14

7-11

9. Tevonn Walker

14.4

8. Missouri State

17-14

7-11

9. Northern Iowa

15-15

7-11

15-16

6-12

7. Marcus Bartley

3.6

8. Elijah Childs

6.2

8. Keyshawn Evans

3.5

9. Bennet Koch

6.0

10. Clayton Custer

14.2

9. C.J. Rivers

3.2

10. C.J. Rivers

5.9

11. Armon Fletcher

14.2

10. Valparaiso

sports | 11

Feb. 28, 2018

SPORTS TRACK & FIELD

Drake has multiple top 3 finishes at MVC Indoor meet

Running Wild gXavier Lechleitner was among the Drake runners to post a top-three finish at the MVC Indoor Championship meet, finishing 2nd in the Men’s DMR along with teammates Bas Van Leersum, Cory Erikson and Kevin Kelly. PHOTO COURTESTY XAVIER LECHLEITNER Bailee Cofer Staff Writer bailee.cofer@drake.edu @baileeGOAT This past weekend, your Drake University Men’s and Women’s Track & Field teams competed in the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship meet at the University of Northern Iowa.

The Bulldogs had six top-three performances, along with many other strong efforts.

For some Drake athletes, this weekend was their first MVC Indoor Championship meet ever.

Freshman long- and triple-

jumper Cloud Masibhera was one of those athletes. He transferred in to Drake at semester and did not compete at all during the indoor season until the MVC Championship, due to NCAA clearance hold-ups.

During his first conference meet – and his first indoor meet of the season – Masibhera won the long-jump competition and earned the MVC Freshman of the Year Award.

For other Drake athletes, this weekend was their last MVC Championship ever.

Senior Bas Van Leersum has been a crucial 400-meter runner for the Bulldogs, and he ended his collegiate career on the track this

weekend.

An injury acquired earlier in the season prevented Van Leersum from competing for most of the season, so the MVC Championship was his first meet since December.

“I came in with the mentality to just enjoy this meet and run as fast as I could,” Van Leersum said.

The past two years, Van Leersum has medaled in the 400m dash.

Unfortunately, due to injury setbacks, he did not medal in that event this year, but he was part of the Distance Medley Relay team that took second place.

Van Leersum said it was a

weekend of mixed emotions. He was bummed to have this be his last collegiate meet, since he loves competing and being a part of the team.

“I loved being a Bulldog, Van Leersum said. “Every day at practice felt like being with family. Everyone is always there for you and they all have your back when you need them, on and off the track.”

Overall, the Bulldogs had a very strong showing this weekend. Athletes competed hard and to the best of their ability, fighting for every point.

Coming Up at Drake March 9 Women’s Tennis vs. Montana State 10 a.m.

March 11 Women’s Tennis Grand Canyon 10 a.m.

March 29 Women’s Tennis vs. Iowa State 5 p.m.

Drake’s Top-Three Performers at MVC Indoor Championship

March 3o

1) Men’s Long Jump – Cloud Masibhera; 1st place

Softball (DH) vs. Bradley 2 & 4 p.m.

2) Men’s Mile – Kevin Kelly; 3rd place 3) Women’s 60m hurdles – Mary Young; 2nd place

March 31 Women’s Tennis vs. Northern Iowa 1 p.m.

4) Men’s 60m dash – Deonne Witherspoon; 3rd place

5) Women’s 3,000m run – Bailee Cofer; 3rd place 6) Men’s DMR – Xavier Lechleitner, Bas Van Leersum, Cory Erikson, and Kevin Kelly; 2nd

March 31 PREPPING For the outdoor season is nearly done now; NCAA Indoors are the only meet left. PHOTO COURTESTY XAVIER LECHLEITNER

Softball vs. Bradley 12 p.m.

April 7 Men’s Tennis vs. Old Dominion 10 a.m.

April 7 Men’s Tennis vs. UKMC 6 p.m.

April 7 Softball (DH) vs. Southern Illinois 12 & 2 p.m.

12 | sports

Feb. 28, 2018

SPORTS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Bulldog’s win home finale on senior night; honor Greiner

Paige Greiner was honored after the home finale as the lone senior for this year’s Drake Women’s basketball team. She was also tributed with a video at halftime. PHOTO BY MADDIE TOPLIFF STAFF WRITER

Maddie Topliff Staff Writer maddie.topliff@drake.edu @TopDog_30 The Drake University women’s basketball team topped Illinois State and clinched the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title Sunday afternoon.

The celebration was made sweeter by Senior Day, which honored lone senior Paige Greiner.

The women played a wild game on Sunday, outscoring themselves by 15 points in comparison to their earlier matchup against Illinois State on Jan. 26.

The Bulldogs shot 85.7 percent in the first quarter and went into the second quarter with a 25-14 lead.

At halftime, the Dogs were well ahead of the Redbirds with a score of 51-27 as they headed to the locker room.

In the third quarter, however, Drake experienced some pushback from Illinois State, the Redbirds outscoring them 23-14.

Maddy Dean briefly went down and out with an injury, which shook the Drake drive up and not in a good way.

The Bulldogs missed out on all five three-pointer attempts and completing only 6 of 13 FG, compared to 12 and 10 made in the first and second quarters respectively.

“I don’t know if we ever really stepped out of it and refocused ourselves,” Coach said,

MVC Women’s Assist Leaders Player

APG

1. Sammie Bachrodt

addressing Dean’s injury. “We needed to be a lot better in the second half.”

In the fourth quarter, Drake was able to edge Illinois State in a scoring margin of 15-14 points to end the game on top 80-64.

Overall, the matchup was heavily in Drake’s favor, with the women holding the lead for all but 37 seconds.

The ending FG percentage was also impressive at 63 percent, noticeably better than Illinois State’s 43.1 percent.

Forward Sarah Rhine led the

“This team didn’t start competing for championships until Paige [Greiner] got here.”

Jennie Baranczyk Head Coach team with 19 points, making for 397 points this season.

Sophomore standout Becca Hittner was close behind with 14 of her own points, an effort that won her MVC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honors.

It was Hittner’s second time winning this title.

Through tears, and a grateful

MVC Women’s Rebound Leaders

smile, senior guard Paige Greiner thanked the entirety of the Knapp Center following the victory.

Greiner played 18 minutes in Sunday’s regular season home finale, making for a total of 2,020 career minutes.

In addition, she ends her regular season career with a field goal percentage of 43.1 percent and with a three-point percentage of 40.9 percent.

Greiner will be sorely missed by the whole of Drake University athletics; Coach Jennie Baranczyk told the Knapp Center that the team didn’t start competing for championships “until Paige got here” in an honorary video that played during halftime.

Greiner also shared her hopes to suit up in her Drake uniform for at least a couple more weeks as the Bulldogs hurry towards postseason.

The team will play both Valparaiso and Loyola on the road this week before heading to Moline on March 9 for the MVC tournament.

“We’ve got to continue to get people from Des Moines that come to the Knapp Center but also travel with us to that tournament because it really isn’t that far away,” Coach said, urging students and adults alike to make the trip and “pack that arena with blue.”

All of the women’s upcoming games will be broadcast both on Des Moines’ 1350 ESPN affiliate radio and television’s ESPN3The Valley.

MVC Women’s Scoring Leaders

Player

RPG

Player

PPG

3.8

1. Megan Maahs

10.0

1. Dani Franklin

15.9

2. Kennedy Kirkpatrick 3.7

2. Wendi Bibbins

8.9

2. Liza Fruendt

15.9

3. Kerri Gasper

3.4

3. Abby Brockmeyer

7.0

3. Becca Hittner

15.4

4. Maddy Dean

3.4

4. Dani Franklin

6.9

4. Sara Rhine

15.3

5. Nicole Konieczny

3.3

5. Viria Livingston

6.4

5. Kerri Gasper

13.4

6. Maddie Monahan

3.1

6. Chelsea Brackmann

6.3

6. Simone Goods

13.1

7. Brenni Rose

3.1

7. Simone Goods

6.1

7. Hannah Green

13.1

8. Brittney Patrick

3.0

8. Sara Rhine

6.0

8. Hannah Noe

12.7

9. Paige Saylor

2.8

9. Hannah Green

6.0

9. Meredith Hamlet

12.4

10. Macie Lively

2.7

10. Gabi Haack

5.9

10. Ashli O’Neal

12.0

MVC Women’s Basketball Standings Team 1. Drake 2. Missouri State 3. Northern Iowa 4. Southern Illinois 5. Indiana State 6. Illinois State 7. Bradley 8. Valparaiso 9. Loyola 10. Evansville

Overall Record Conference Record 21-7 16-0 17-10 13-3 15-12 11-5 14-13 9-7 11-16 9-7 13-15 7-10 12-16 6-11 12-15 5-11 7-20 5-11

3-24 0-16

Greiner squares up on a defender at the top of the key in her final home game of her college career. PHOTO BY MADDIE TOPLIFF STAFF WRITER

Paige Greiner’s Career Stats 1) 2020 Minutes Played

4) 78.3% on free-throws

2) 43.1percent shooting

5) 161 rebounds

3) 40.9 percent 3-point

6) 135 assists

shooting

7) 52 steals