02 | news
March 02, 2016
NEWS CAMPUS EVENTS
THE ANDERSON GALLERY opened the 45th annual Juried Student Exhibition on Sunday. Twenty-nine students have their artwork featured in the gallery until March 25. PHOTO BY JESS LYNK | NEWS EDITOR
Anderson Gallery displays 45th annual student exhibition Samantha Ohlson Staff Writer samantha.ohlson@drake.edu
Drake University art students were honored at the 45th Annual Juried Student Exhibition on Sunday. The exhibition featured 50 works by 29 students in the Anderson Gallery at the Harmon Fine Arts Center. Juror Matthew Harris, administrator of the Iowa Arts Council, selected these works from 98 pieces submitted by 38
students. Any Drake student who had taken an art class could submit a piece they had created in a class. Those submitting pieces were able to elaborate and change their works before submission. Jessica Podemski, a junior drawing major, said drawings and paintings were judged at the Anderson Gallery for judging, while sculptures were judged at the Studio Arts Hall. Judging lasted for three days. Podemski, who had all three of her submissions accepted, said she was “really surprised” and “super happy” when she found
out about the honor. “I know that there are so many great artists at this school,” Podemski said. “It kind of reaffirms the fact that I am a good artist.” Drake University President Marty Martin and his wife, Laura Martin, were at the gallery opening to present the Juror’s Choice Awards. The 11 awards went to 10 recipients who each received a certificate and $200 prize. Recipients included Brett Budzinski, Olivia Hockey, Rachael Kreski, Linzi Murray, Ryan Topete, Hannah Erickson,
CAMPUS NEWS
Drake University students discussing social justice issues isn’t a new phenomenon. But the Community Advisory Board’s (CAB) February social justice discussion focused on a topic that is not widely talked about. “Another Drake student who was at our last dialogue suggested ableism as a topic, and it made me think that that is a topic that is extremely under-discussed at Drake,” Jamie Willer said. Willer, a junior, is the President of CAB and is majoring in psychology and sociology. “We’re all about talking about inclusivity in any regard of social justice, but not even in one of my sociology classes have I talked about ableism,” Willer said. This month’s social justice discussion was last Wednesday in Stalknaker hall. The social justice discussion series aims to create a comfortable space of discussion for students to discuss issues affecting Des Moines and campus. This month’s topic, ableism,
for her digital print on semigloss paper,“Swoosh, Vroom, Whoosh.” Walton’s work will be displayed in Old Main. Friends of Drake Arts funded the exhibition. The Thad Archie Memorial Fund paid for the awards. Heather Skeens is the director of the Anderson Gallery. Gallery intern Paul Brenin curated the exhibition. The exhibition will be on display until March 25. The Anderson Gallery is open Tuesday-Sunday from noon4 p.m. and until 8 p.m. on Thursdays.
CAMPUS EVENTS
Community board holds discussion on ableism Grace Rogers Staff Writer grace.rogers@drake.edu @TheGraceRogers
Pamela Mulhern, Paul Brenin, Amy Matthews and Monica Campbell. Hockey, who won for her untitled permanent marker piece, said she hadn’t thought much of her piece, but others kept telling her it had interesting qualities. “I just find that piece to be so unexpected and different,” Hockey said. “I’m a little surprised, extremely excited.” Hockey also had an acrylic on canvas work featured in the gallery. Interim Provost Joseph Lenz presented the Provost Purchase Award to Emily Walton
is described as discrimination against people with mental, physical or other disabilities. Common examples include buildings or rooms that are not handicap-accessible, or even just the common phrase “disabled” instead of “people with disabilities.” “I really think that it’s important to have these sorts of conversations on Drake’s campus especially in regards to disability, whether that be physical or mental,” junior Annika Grassl said. “These problems do exist and they are not spoken about nearly as often or as strongly as issues of gender or race inclusion.” The conversation ranged from a discussion of ableism in mainstream society to specific instances on Drake’s campus. “Most of the handicap accessible door buttons do not open and most of the ramps are not shoveled before stairs,” Grassl said. “It’s a big issue on campus.” Some students, like Grassl, attended the dialogue because they already felt passionate about the issue. Others came to learn. “I am involved with the group that was heading all the campus climate stuff and figuring out the next steps for Drake to take,” junior Jackie Heymann said. “So
whenever there’s a dialogue like this, I go to listen for ideas of things we can keep pushing Drake on.” According to Heymann, discussions like this can spur real change. “The Drake Administration is very responsive to students strategically using student power – pressing different buttons, tapping different levers, or whatever metaphor you want to use – to try and get things done,” Heymann said. “President Martin has been extremely responsive to students concerns and working with students to make sure that the university is a place they feel included, from what I’ve seen so far.” This was a goal Willer had when creating the discussion, which she came up with the idea for over the summer. CAB is planning on hosting one discussion each month in collaboration with residence hall staff. “I know that these dialogues are a great way of initiating conversation,” Willer said. “It’s a way to get the conversation going, and what happens after that is out of my control, but obviously I’m going to hope for the best that the conversation continues.”
Safe-sex event stresses importance of education CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Stuehling discussed that it is important when the typical sexual education begins. “The more kind of concrete, STI and birth control kind of lessons in the state of Iowa generally starts around seventh grade,” Stuehling said. “That’s when a number of middle schools generally start teaching, then again in high school and then hopefully repeated often and regularly throughout a person’s life.” In order to continue this education after high school, Stuehling also mentioned how long running programs are beneficial for nearly all ages, even older adults. She said that it gives group members time to build the trusting relationships that’s needed to talk openly about sex and discover what they want in a relationship. “I think that’s one of the key components sexually to be able to build those relationships and be comfortable asking,” Stuehling said. To Mozak, receiving apathy
from students can be a hurdle, which goes along with motivating students to care about sexual health and violence. “Unless it happens to them or it’s someone they know, or have had experiences or are generally wanting to be explorative, and open to new areas of cognitive development or personal development, that’s the biggest hurdle I see,” Mozak said. In order to help this hurdle, Mozak created the “Let’s Talk About Sex” series to further students’ education about sexuality and relationships. This is a part of Mozak’s job to focus on assisting students with multiple social justice issues. “I do a lot of mental health, body image, eating, sexuality, communications skills and interpersonal skills,” Mozack said. “I do a lot around gender issues, gender identity, gender violence.” The next “Let’s Talk About Sex” event will be on Mar. 3 and will be about building healthy relationships. The last event, “Finding Sexual Agency” will take place on Mar. 31.”