The Times-Delphic (12.09.15)

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Wednesday Dec. 9, 2015

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Austin Cannon Beat Writer austin.cannon@drake.edu @NotAustinCannon

Zac Rujawitz knew he would commit to play football for the Bulldogs on his drive home from campus back in January. It was after his first and only visit to Drake, but the freshman linebacker from Edwardsville, Illinois had seen and heard enough to make his decision. “I just kind of came in here blind,” he said. “I’m glad I did because I had no expectations, but leaving here, I knew I was going to commit here just based on what all the players were telling me and then I just loved the coaches here.” Rujawitz gave two

primary reasons for choosing to play at Drake: a good education close to home and the program’s family atmosphere. Like the other 109 players on the Bulldogs’ roster, he will not receive an athletic scholarship to play football. Drake is a charter member of the Pioneer Football League, a college-football anomaly if there ever was one. The PFL is a footballonly, non-scholarship conference that began play in 1993. If a program is caught providing improper benefits for its players — any financial aid not available to the student body at-large — it will face punishment from the PFL. Jacksonville was caught last season, resulting in the program’s ineligibility for the 2014 and 2015 league

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CAMPUS NEWS

Provost committee seeks ‘long-term impact’

Jake Bullington Digital Editor jacob.bullington@drake.edu @JakeBullington

In the months-long search for Drake’s new provost, an internal search committee has narrowed a group of 76 applicants to its current pool of just three. “We’ve had a rich experience across all the candidates,” said Venessa Macro, chief administration officer. “(We’re) very happy with the quality of the candidates.” President Marty Martin opted for an internal search committee. This is the first time in over a decade that the university has used an internal committee to find a new provost. This is opposed to the usual private search firm, according to Macro. While this created additional work for the committee, it was budget-friendly for the university, saving tens of thousands of dollars in the process. The provost is the chief academic officer for the university, whom the deans of each college or school report to. The provost also makes long-term strategic decisions regarding academics and is second to the president. Serving as the interim provost during the search is Joe Lenz. Lenz previously served as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences before filling the temporary spot in Martin’s administration. “That role is critically important because (it is) providing a vision and cohesiveness for those schools and colleges … bringing them all together so that we’re on the same page, so that we’re really one university and one institution,” Macro said. Although Macro did not serve on the committee, she served as the HR law consultant.

First female Times-Delphic Editor passes

She brought experience with previous provost searches to the committee. “I was the director of human resources for 13 years before I came over to administration, so I’ve been on several searches through the years,” Macro said. “This year we decided to use a little bit different model.” One member of the search committee is Student Body President Kevin Maisto, acting as the sole student representative directly involved in the search process. “It’s been humbling, and it’s been exhilarating,” Maisto said. “Humbling because there are a lot of times that the committee will look to me and ask, ‘How will students feel about this?’ and to have to weigh the opinions of 5,000 students is a lot of pressure.” There was another student selected from the law school to serve alongside Maisto on the committee, but she dropped out due to a scheduling conflict. One of the reasons this committee is so important is that the provost acts as a “support system” for the president, Maisto said. Historically, a high rate of provosts have left the position. “The big push for this provost too is a little bit more longevity,” Maisto said. “One thing that we’re really looking for, is someone who is going to take their vision, and align it with Drake’s vision, and have a long-term impact on the campus. Since a lot of what the provost does is so strategic and long-term in nature, having turnover of three or four years, provost to provost, doesn’t lend well to a long strategic vision.” The committee is deliberating on how each of the three candidates meet the criteria put forth by Martin. They also

are considering feedback from campus surveys sent via email. “Since significant survey data had been acquired, we have been looking at the data, which has been really fascinating,” Maisto said. The search committee will begin to send its feedback to Martin beginning Thursday. This can be anywhere from recommending a candidate or

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outlining each of the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses. The decision that Martin makes in the next week or two is expected to be made public before winter break. Regardless of which of the three candidates is selected, the decision will have a lasting impact on Drake. “It’s really important that we

hire someone who has a long-term impact,” Maisto said. “That’s why this search is so important. This individual will have significant impact on the direction that the university takes. Academic programs that get started, faculty that we hire, initiatives that we start, all these sorts of things are directly influenced by the provost.”

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3 THE PROVOST SEARCH CONTINUES as the three candidates spoke in Sussman Theater on Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and 2. The forums were open to all students and staff. Videos of the forums are available on Blueview. 1. SUE MATTISON is the current dean of the College of Professional Studies at UW-Green Bay. 2. DARRELL RADSON is the current dean of the Foster College of Business at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois . 3. ALZADA TIPTON is the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois. PHOTOS BY CASSANDRA BAUER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Mary Bryson, the first female editor-in-chief of the TimesDelphic passed away in a nursing home last Thursday. Bryson was 102 at the time of her death. Bryson came to Des Moines to attend Drake after growing up in Omaha. In 1935, Bryson, then Mary

McGuire, became the first female editor-in-chief for the TimesDelphic. “Everybody was surprised that they picked a girl,” Bryson told the Times-Delphic in 2011. “I didn’t have any trouble. I enjoyed it.” After graduating from Drake,

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she started her career at the Des Moines Register, working there until the 1990s. Bryson was one of the few women to work at the Reigster at that time. Bryson is survived by her son, Bill Bryson, who is famous internationally for his books.


02 | news

Dec. 09, 2015

NEWS CAMPUS EVENTS

‘Asking for It’ dialogue opens up consent ethics discussion Jenny DeVries Staff Writer jennifer.devries@drake.edu

Alysa Mozak, coordinator of sexual violence response and healthy relationship promotion, hosted a documentary and conversation on Harry Brod’s lecture, Asking for It: the Ethics of Sexual Consent in Sussman Theater on Dec. 1. Brod is a professor of philosophy and humanities at the University of Northern Iowa. In his lecture, Brod discusses the line between sexual consent and sexual coercion. Brod opened up with a driving metaphor, which has stayed with Brod since. “The right of way is not something you have, the right of way is something the other driver

gives you,” Brod said. “And if the other driver doesn’t give it to you, you don’t have it, no matter what you think the rules are supposed to be, or what you think you’re entitled to.” The idea of consent given explicitly is called explicit verbal consent, and is the approach to the Affirmative Consent Standard that Brod offered to his students. Brod argues clear consent is simple: “yes.” “The only thing that’s yes, is ‘yes,’” Brod said. “Just because there’s no ‘no,’ doesn’t mean there’s a ‘yes.’” And for Brod, body language doesn’t count. “The problem with body language is that it’s too easily misinterpreted,” Brod said. “If you read it wrong, and you don’t get consent, we’re talking about sexual assault or rape.” After the documentary, Mozak

agreed with Brod’s stance on clear consent. “With the flight or fight response, it’s possible that a person wouldn’t be able to even say ‘no,’” Mozak said. Though Mozak has made efforts to increase awareness about the concepts around consent, junior Haley Kelling had some ideas to spread the awareness of consent. “I think she needs to take this discussion to classes,” Kelling said. “ Students want something they can connect with easily, and a place where they can talk openly and feel comfortable, because it’s a very common situation that people might not be OK talking about.” Brod argued similarly, citing another metaphor, this time an airplane one. For plane passengers seated in the exit row, it is mandatory

ALYSA MOZAK held the last program of the year for her office screening the documentary ‘Asking for It’ on Dec. 1. PHOTO BY YING CHYI GOOI | PHOTO EDITOR that a flight attendant ask each passenger if they are willing and able to render assistance in the event of an emergency. “ (The idea of a plane crash]) is a very rare circumstance where this would matter,” Brod said. “If in that remote possibility, we decided that explicit verbal

consent is the safety standard, I see no reason to accept less than that in these situations which are much more common.” For more information, students can visit Mozak’s personal webpage, http://www. drake.edu/sexual-assault/, or email alysa.mozak@drake.edu.

CAMPUS NEWS

Email spam delivers suspicious subject lines, concern Jessica Lynk News Editor jessica.lynk@drake.edu @JessmLynk

“Urgent Verification. Please read” displayed the subject line of an email sent to a group of students and faculty on Dec. 2. The top of the email featured a Drake logo and claimed a “limitation” on accounts without logging in to verify a password. This email comes as a string of spam emails sent to Drake students and faculty throughout the semester. “The reality is that there are certain criminal enterprises

that have discovered that this is effective, so they are using it more,” said Chris Gill, chief information technology officer for Drake. The increase in spam has left students wondering where this is all coming from. Speculation over why these emails increased revolves around Drake’s reputation. “We really don’t know why there has been an increase, but one of the biggest reasons that we believe this is happening is that we have had an increased presence in the national media,” said Peter Lundstedt, Drake’s Technology services information security analyst. “That gets our name in places it wouldn’t

normally be and when it is on the national stage, it even gets into the international.” When clicking the link in the email, students fall victim to a phishing scheme. The main goal of phishing is so hackers can obtain passwords to use for their advantage. “It has really reached a point where it is all of our responsibility to be vigilant and diligent and to recognize that it is our information that is at stake,” Gills said. Students and staff can find themselves in a phishing scam when they are asked to provide a password through email or on a website that is not secure. Falling into this trap is what then causes

more spam emails. Avoiding signing in at an unsecure link is what Lundstedt recommends. “It is initiating the action yourself rather than following their advice,” Lundstedt said. The main issue regarding this spam issue is there are prevention methods, but no true way to stop it. “Unfortunately we are mostly confined to reaction at this point, so when we see an email that is going out at this point we can do everything we can to stop it at that point,” Lundstedt said. Facilities and Technology Senator Anthony Meyer also adds that informing students on the topic is key. “It is more about just educating

people to know that phishing is out there,” Meyer said. Meyer also assures students that DTS is taking this seriously. “When they get more than one or two emails like this it turns into a priority pretty quick especially when it is as malicious and attempting to get student information as the last one that did,” Meyer said. DTS is available to students if they have any concerns. “If they have any hesitation or any doubt about the content of the email, send it to us,” Lundstedt said. Students can email informationsecurity@drake.edu if they receive spam or believe they have fallen vicitim to a scam.

STUDENT SENATE

Senate budgets for physics trip, supports new groups Beth LeValley Staff Writer beth.levalley@drake.edu @BethLeValley

Student Senate allocated $1,226 to the Society of Physics Students to cover tour, transportation and lodging costs to visit the Soudan Underground Laboratory in Soudan, Minnesota. During this trip, 14 students will discuss internships and observe the experimental side of physics. They will also complete a tour of the laboratory. Although this looks as if this trip only applies to physics majors, president Joel Venzke said otherwise. “These internships aren’t

limited just to physics students,” Venzke said. “In these big experiments, you generate large amounts of data, so data analytics majors can get internships, computer science majors can benefit, so we’re really bringing it back to all of Drake’s campus.” With this trip, the organization hopes to raise awareness of the Society of Physics Students on Drake’s campus and recruit more members. From last year, the organization doubled the number of members, including students that are not in the physics major. Sen. Lough was especially interested in this motion. “Wow, childhood me is just thrilled to hear about this,” Lough said. “This is so cool.” After tabling a motion from

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two weeks ago, the Intervarsity religious organization will be going to a conference in St. Louis, Missouri called, ‘Urbana.’ This conference will lend ideas on how to be active through mission work in the community and plan events that will inspire other students. Prior to this meeting, the main concern of this trip was that there were not tangible events that could be brought back to campus. Shelby Derrick, a senior leader in Intervarsity, insured that a large aspect of the conference was to get inspiration for ways to influence students through oncampus events. Large events in the past have stemmed from this conference, such as the free taxi during Relays week and an event where students

taught English to refugees. Senate allocated $1,764 for lodging costs associated with this conference. Senate also approved two groups to be official Drake student organizations. Spoon University, a national online publication, allows students to write and create video about food. The organization will also hold monthly events with a foodrelated theme either on campus or off campus. Sen. Serrano has seen the organization on campus already. “They’re really aren’t any other Drake organizations like this on campus,” Serrano said. “I look at their Facebook page all the time, and I think it’s super interesting with cool videos. I

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have full belief that they can make this organization into something really great.” Senate also approved the Stream Team, an organization that will clean up streams in the Des Moines area. They are currently scheduled to clean the Walnut Creek area, and they will hold their first stream cleanup in the spring. While the organization thought about being a part of the Drake Environmental Action League or Drake Outdoor Leadership Club, neither club seemed to fit within the group’s goals. During the winter months, the Stream Team plans on raising awareness about water safety and where our water comes from.

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03 | opinions

Dec. 09, 2015

OPINIONS HUMANS OF DRAKE

STAFF OPINION

Humans of Drake Each week, staff writer Rachel Wermager will capture stories of students on Drake’s campus

Snapchat capitalizing off of society’s rabid addiction

Jacob McKay

Staff Writer jacob.mckay@drake.edu

Paige Ernste|| Junior || BCMB major, Business minor “Have you ever heard of someone switching their major from communications to biology as a junior? No. It’s not something people do. But, I would rather live my life taking extra time and extra work to do what I want to and what I think is going to make me happy rather than wasting my time doing something I don’t even like just because it is easier.” STAFF OPINION

Does changing your profile picture really offer any help to the causes they relate to?

Katherine Bauer

Staff Writer katherine.bauer@drake.edu

After the terrorist attack in Paris almost a month ago, I saw the color scheme of my Facebook feed change. Instead of variously hued profile pictures down the side of the posts, nearly all of them came in shades of blue, white and red. Facebook asked me if I wanted to overlay Paris’s colors over my own picture to show solidarity and support for the people of Paris. However, I declined to make this change to my profile picture. What did this filter accomplish? To spread awareness about what happened in Paris? You would have to have been living under a rock to not be aware of the attacks. People wanted to show their support? New hues on a picture aren’t real support. Real support was Facebook enacting their Safety Check to enable citizens in Paris to let their loves ones know they were alive and safe. This allowed families and friends to be put at ease if someone they knew was in the area of the attacks. I wasn’t ignoring the issues in Paris because I didn’t change my picture. Changing my Facebook picture gave no comfort to anyone. The only effect I saw these pictures have were more likes for the user. Hopefully the intentions were pure in changing the pictures and not just to get more likes. However, the impact of your change went no further than your profile page. I could only ask one thing as Paris’s colors appeared more and more on my feed: why don’t we show this concern for the people in the Middle East? It was indeed shocking to have a terrorist attack in a first world, Westernized country with no recent catastrophic attacks from

terrorists. However, if we showed the same care and support for resolving the conflicts present in the Middle East, the attacks in Paris may have never happened. On September 14, The New York Times published a story on how Syrians have been dying throughout the four-and-ahalf-year struggle for stability. Over 200,000 people have died. Civilians have died in shootings, mass killings, rocket attacks, Syrian government air attacks, by exposure to chemical or toxic substances, in attacks on hospitals and from lack of basic needs, such as water, food and medical care. An estimated 181 civilians alone were killed in the American-led air campaign against ISIS, which occurred October 2014 through August of this year. Don’t think of these stats as just numbers. Think of the hundreds of thousands of men, women and children who violently lost their lives as a result of something they couldn’t control. Citizens died at the hands of their own government trying to wipe out their enemies. 200,000 people in Syria alone have died over a four-and-a-half -year struggle. That’s an average of 122 people killed every day over

that time span. This figure doesn’t even begin to include those who have died in the other areas of conflict in the Middle East and the military casualties of the United States and our allies. I do not write this article to demean what happened in Paris. One hundred and twenty nine people are no longer with their families because of the cruel acts of an extremist group. 129 people went about their day not knowing it would be their last. However, a filter on a picture does nothing to solve the problems plaguing our world. True activism is seen through action and research. Did you know Drake students and Des Moines residents protested at the Capitol here in Des Moines the Tuesday before Thanksgiving? They wanted to show their disapproval of Gov. Branstad’s decision to halt any work to resettle Syrian refugees in Iowa in wake of the Paris attacks. That is showing true support for the problems going on in our world. No matter what issues you want to support, you must learn more about the situation and take real action to bring about change and resolution. Changing the colors of a picture won’t do that.

“PEACE FOR PARIS,” a drawing by French graphic designer Jean Jullien, became a popular image social media users shared to show their support and solidarity toward victims of the Paris attacks.

The people over at Snapchat need to slow down. Everybody likes new, flashy updates. Everyone likes more ways to send embarrassing pictures to their friends. There’s nothing wrong with having sponsored content and snap stories from exotic locales. But paying for filters is a clear profit move to capitalize off of society’s rabid addiction to novelty. The free filter additions that Snapchat has been updating regularly have changed the app for the better in my opinion. The problem is that the app changes too regularly. It’s almost weekly that we read about a new change, a new

addition, a new way for the app’s developers to rake in more money. Snapchat should learn from the follies of past social media giants. Facebook received a lot of backlash for over-updating and allegedly attempting to fix things that we didn’t want to see changed in the past. Every Twitter update is rarely reviewed well by the public, who are satisfied with the simplistic format. If something is working well, and the public is comfortable with a format and it continually attracts new users, then why change? Many social media platforms are too focused on nonexistent competition and are running from ghosts. This new addition to the Snapchat world is definitely geared solely toward profit. As a broke college student, I am definitely not going to be purchasing any filters, and I suggest you also refrain. As easy as a few cents here and there seems, there should be no legitimate reason to purchase a snap filter. No selfie is that important. Especially on Snapchat, where we seem to forget that pictures disappear after a few seconds. Yes, you can screenshot things but are they that funny? Instead, I would suggest not giving the owners of Snapchat money for something that is meaningless. Make your own funny face.

FILM REVIEW

‘Spotlight’ a compelling, terrifying, and essential must-see film

Eric Deutz

Film Critic eric.deutz@drake.edu

The wonder in the art of filmmaking truly lies in its diversity. Any group of people can make any kind of movie any different way and for any number of reasons. Some films succeed on the emotional difficulty of the characters presented, giving the actors involved the chance to dramatically purge and open their hearts to us right there on camera. Other films thrive on their special effects, and their ability to make superheroes and dinosaurs feel as real and close as the back of one’s own hand. Still others find beauty to be their winning formula, playing with camera angles, colors, landscapes, shading and so much more in the hopes of painting a moving masterpiece right before our eyes. And for others yet, their purpose comes simply in the form of an amazing story that needs to be told. “Spotlight” is one of those films. And largely due to the incredibly eye-opening story at the core, it’s quickly making a name for itself as one of the best movies of 2015. “Spotlight” is based on the true story of The Boston Globe’s investigative unit, called Spotlight, and its Pulitzer Prizewinning investigation into child molestation in the Catholic Church. The investigation begins with one priest, but as the team digs deeper and more victims come forward, we begin to discover a highly disturbing pattern that would put a serious stain on the integrity of one of the most powerful religious institutions of all time. Let me get this out of the way—as someone who grew up

and remains a strong member of the Catholic Church, I can tell you that this is not political. I did not walk away feeling any different about my beliefs, and the movie’s purpose is not to convert people to or turn people away from any religion. What I did walk away feeling was shocked, awed and greatly saddened that this investigation happened in 2002, yet it took until this film 13 years later until I truly understood the extent of what happened. This story is a tragedy, a real-life devastation of real people, real kids and real families that were torn apart by a group of men who got too powerful for their own good. In fact, so much of what this film is lies in the story itself that it feels almost wrong to talk about the filmmaking quality of the production. I could mention the superb acting (Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams and Brian D’Arcy James make up the Spotlight team), the brisk, sharp pacing and Tom McCarthy’s sure-handed direction, but I don’t want to spend too much time on those aspects simply because I don’t want to distract. What matters here are the facts, the story and that people know this happened. The “Spotlight” journalists used their career to solve problems, enforce change, and quite possibly save lives – they weren’t looking to win any awards, that’s just what happened along the way. The filmmakers behind this movie have put themselves in very much the same situation by getting this story out to the world in the best way they know how. And for that, I thank them. Spotlight: AAlso: “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” Quite a disappointment after the first three exciting installments. Inconsistent and flawed with moments of greatness, the finale of one of the most lucrative franchises of our time shouldn’t have left me going “meh.” But, it did. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2: C+


04 | opinions

Dec. 09, 2015

OPINIONS STAFF OPINION

Gender-neutral pronoun: a step toward bettering equality for all

Chamindi Wijesinghe Business Manager wachamindi.wijesinghe@drake.edu

Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Check. Abolish slavery? Check. Equal rights to vote? Check. Right to same-sex marriage? Check.

Perfect equality? Far from it. Milestone after milestone, pioneers and brave fighters of injustice are attempting to bring a nascent shift—from LGBT acceptance to washing away any form of racism. Their fight now consists of promoting gender neutrality and we will soon be able to pick one: he, she, ze, zir or they. Harvard was one of the first colleges that officially included gender-neutral pronouns to the traditional “she” and “he”. Those who previously had to dress in camouflage can now openly identify as “ze,” “they” or any other pronoun. As a representative stated, this did not happen overnight. It took four to five years. There is a valid reason linguists are debating the

introduction of new pronouns, but when they add “bae” as an official word to the Oxford Dictionary, it makes it hard to take their struggle seriously. However, giving them the benefit of doubt, linguist experts criticize the lack of unity and organization amongst advocates of the idea as one of the reasons changing pronouns is an issue. Pronouns are known as closedclass words forming the base of language, often and unconsciously used. While we might argue that “ze” is no different from “bae” or “twerking,” adding it to the family of pronouns cannot be haphazard. Change is possible, but it has to be more than a fashion statement or just another controversy. It could make it difficult to converse and, to the majority of us, it might

seem like “just another trouble.” But we have to realize that there are many people who face a host of obstacles with gender identity. Out of the 700,000 transgender people in America, 30,000 of them have attempted suicide due to harassment and depression. The unrest is openly simmering. Not everyone is surrendering to the opportunity to become an all-inclusive society. As Todd Starnes, host of Fox News and Commentary wrote in his article: “His and Hers is no longer good enough at the University of Tennessee – where they are willing to sacrifice anything for the sake of gender inclusivity – including common sense.” For your kind reference, Mr. Starnes, the little common sense left evaporated the day

“educated” people accused Starbucks of encouraging “a war on Christmas” when the company unveiled its holiday season red cup. Controversy over a cup speaks volumes about a society. If anything, gender inclusivity is attempting to restore that which was lost. Amidst the naysayers, the move to adopt “ze” as a societywide positive paradigm will undoubtedly be slow and people will still make mistakes. Yet, as John Oliver highlighted in “Last Week Tonight,” he, she, ze, zir, they, “call them whatever they want to be called.” This is another challenge to create a safe world, so there will be just a little bit less hatred and bitterness in a world that is already infected with animosity.

STAFF OPINION

How to combat stress during the most stressful point of the semester

Elyse Wheaton Staff Writer elyse.wheaton@drake.edu

It’s that time of the year again. 15-page papers, cumulative finals and the dreaded group projects. The end of the semester is an

exciting time of year, but also an extremely stressful time. Within the next two weeks, students will be doing extreme amounts of schoolwork. Whether you’re studying for a final, writing a paper or trying to find a time to meet with a group to complete a project (which we all know is one of the hardest parts of group projects), I am sure the stress levels are registering closer to a level ten than a level one. Everyone is busy during this period, but combating stress is very important. I have found in my three years at Drake some great ways to keep the stress levels low to be a more effective student. My go-to thing is working out. Whether it’s just a walk around campus to give yourself a break from the five hours you just spent in the library or a trip to the Bell

Center for a full workout, working out is a great way to deal with stress. When you work out you are able to get into a different mindset other than school, school and school. It also re-energizes you to keep on pushing through. It is proven that working out makes people happier and more relaxed, which is why I use working out as a way to reduce my stress. After I finish my workout, I can refocus myself to continue pushing through the rest of my work. Another great way to combat stress is look to your social life. You may feel so overwhelmed because you have so much to do, but I promise that spending an hour or two hanging out with your friends will help. It could be watching Netflix together or going out to eat. Taking this time with your friends

will remind you that everything isn’t miserable and once you push through the rest of your work you are home free. Friends can also help motivate you to continue going and create a great support system when you’re feeling down and out. Eating healthy and getting enough sleep also help manage stress. Clearing your mind before you go to sleep is very important. When your mind is still going crazy at night it is very hard to relax your body. When you aren’t relaxed before bed, you often wake up right where you left off. Every day is a new day, so getting to that point of relaxation before sleep is key. If you wake up with the same amount of stress you went to bed with, you’ll just end up adding the new days’ stress onto that old stress, increasing

your stress. Also, make sure you ARE sleeping. Your body needs that time to function effectively everyday. When you’re faced with stress, many just want to eat comfort foods, but the reality is eating those comfort foods will just make you feel worse in the long run. Focus on eating “clean” and avoiding a lot of sugar. Stress is inevitable during this period of the year, but don’t overwork yourself. Remember to take time to manage your stress so your mind and body are clearer. Managing stress will help you in the long run to be as successful as you can be during this time of 15-page papers, cumulative finals and group projects that you don’t really want to do.

HE SAID SHE SAID

He said vs. She said Winter Activities

First, if you are reading this right now, you are probably really good at procrastinating, so props to you! This one goes out to you! But what should you do over J Term you may ask yourself, so I will give you a few ideas of my absolute favorite things. First, Sleep. As a student whose phone tells him how long he has to sleep as he sets his alarm clock right before he goes to bed and is relieved when it says at least 7 hours, this could not be a better thought. So, what do I really want for Christmas? Sleep, Santa, please just don’t wake me up when you are stealing my cookies that I bought from the store because of the next thing I am going to do during J Term. Be lazy. “Sorry, I can’t I have a (insert intramural game/ meeting/group project/ STUPID meeting/sick panda/date with myself because I love myself/ need for food considering I haven’t eaten in 3 days/ shower

that has been long awaited).” I have heard basically all of these excuses and it just goes to show that as students, we are BUSY!. Why keep going when you can just stop, unless you have the next thing on the list. Internships! If you are one of those ambitious 98% of Drake Students that graduate with an internship, you are probably working this J Term. HAHA sucker! Just kidding. As long as you remember this idea, you might just survive: Don’t shoot your eye out (CHRISTMAS JOKES)! Oh and have fun! Enjoy your time home because like it or not, most of us are never going to live there again, so spend time with family and don’t look at the scale!

THE TIMES-DELPHIC The student newspaper for Drake University since 1884

TIM WEBBER, Editor-in-Chief timothy.webber@drake.edu JILL VAN WYKE, Faculty Advisor jill.vanwyke@drake.edu

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ANNA ZAVELL, Op-Ed Editor giovanna.zavell@drake.edu MATT HARDING, Ads Manager timesdelphicads@gmail.com

CHAMINDI WIJESINGHE, Business Manager wachamindi.wijesinghe@drake.edu

This break is a vacation from all academic duties and extracurricular duties. Due to the lack of duties and excessive length of winter break, Drake students have a prolonged amount of time at home. Winter break is about five weeks long this year, while many other schools have shorter breaks. Drake students need hobbies to pick up for the free time they have alone. After Christmas Day, some of the trees and decorations will be taken down from stores and homes. This doesn’t mean that Christmas is over! Many Christians keep their decorations up until the Epiphany, the end of the 12 Days of Christmas. However, it’s not uncommon for churches to keep up their nativity scenes until the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus Christ the Sunday after the Epiphany, which happens to be Jan. 10. Continue with your joyous attitude. Continue to pay it forward.

Continue singing Christmas carols. Continue building snowmen and snow angels. January is also a good time for students to get a head start on their New Years resolutions. When people are within their normal busy schedule, it can be hard to remember their resolution. The couple extra weeks off that Drake students have can be lent to solidify their resolution and make it an important part of their schedule before they return to school. Between these two holidays over winter break, Drake students should have more than enough things to do in January to keep themselves busy. The excessive break has potential to be put to good use.

Joe Herba Staff Writer joseph.herba@drake.edu

Victoria Tramp Staff Writer victoria.tramp@drake.edu @TrampsFTW

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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ADVERTISING POLICY The Times-Delphic’s business office is located at 2507 University Avenue, 124B Meredith Hall, Des Moines, IA 50311. The Times-Delphic is published on Wednesdays during the university’s fall and spring academic terms. The newspaper is distributed for free around the Drake campus. All advertising information is to be submitted noon Sunday for the Wednesday edition. Advertisements can be designed by The Times-Delphic or submitted via e-mail. We accept cash and check. A 10 percent discount is offered for prepayment on advertisements. The business office can be contacted at 515-271-2148.

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05 | features

Dec. 09, 2015

FEATURES POLITICS

WORLD

NextGen brings attention to climate change Paris Facebook filter sparks debate Anna Jensen Staff Writer anna.jensen@drake.edu

With the upcoming presidential election in 2016, candidates are busy pitching their ideas about health care, education, the economy and equal rights, but none of the candidates have confirmed their plans for environmental policies. And people are looking for answers. Regarding the environment, environmental conservationists want to see clean energy and wind power put to better use, a reduction in the use of fossil fuels and carbon emissions, and solar energy implemented throughout the United States. For that to be done, there need to be policy changes. Recently in Iowa, a nonpartisan organization, NextGen, has traveled from small to large campuses throughout the state promoting clean energy through their “50by30” plan. “We call on candidates and ask them if they support 50 percent clean energy by the year 2030,” said Zach Davis, the state director for NextGen Climate in Iowa. The organization is focused on making climate change an important issue in the face of American politics. According to their website, if the 50by30 proposal is accepted nationwide, NextGen Climate believes that clean energy will create an additional one million jobs, and double that by 2050. “What we do now and the decisions we make will affect, not us, but our children and our grandchildren,” said Kaitlin Lacek, co-president of the Drake Environmental Action League. “Being passionate about the environment is something much bigger than it seems. Every action we do, environmentally, affects everyone on this planet. Choices we make affect people around the globe, whether that is certain products we use, or anything else.” 74 percent of people under the age 35 have been reported as more likely to vote for a presidential

candidate who advocates for 50 percent clean energy by 2030. The NextGen organization is active on 20 college campuses throughout Iowa, and wants students to become passionate about the changing environment, hopefully raising voter turnout. NextGen wants politicians not only to address the problems of climate change, but to have a concrete plan established on how to fix it nationwide. With the debate at Drake on Nov. 14, it was possible that climate change could have been a topic of discussion. But it was skirted around once again. With the attacks on Paris, clearly terrorism took over a majority of the debate, but the candidates, specifically Bernie Sanders, only briefly mentioned climate change. “Students and the nation want to hear what candidates are doing, or what they are going to do,” Davis said. “America was built to do big things, and clean energy equals a strong economy.” According to Davis, Iowa is highly invested in wind production and generates 27 percent of its energy through wind. It is on the

path to 100 percent wind power, and NextGen wants that to be the goal for the United States as well. To make this happen, every level of government involvement is important in the process of climate change or change in any realm. “The state government plays a large role too and can get a lot done on a much smaller scale, sometimes creating an even greater change,” Lacek said. “I think that if the President were to make some sort of policy pertaining to environmental conservation/sustainability, then the country would be heading in the right direction. NextGen’s goal is to spark the conversation of climate change in politics, and convince hopefuls that a clean environment will ensure more jobs and a better, healthier economy. “Climate change is the biggest challenge of this generation,” Davis said. “But we have the resources to commit to a clean environment and leave behind our dependence on fossil fuels. We shouldn’t have to question that movement.”

CLIMATE CHANGE has recently been a hot-button topic many consider underemphasized in recent debates. PHOTO BY YING CHYI GOOI | PHOTO EDITOR

Margot Stevens Staff Writer margot.stevens@drake.edu

There was so much noise. People screaming, crying and moaning. Staccato gunshots pierced the evening. But most terrifying were the people who made no sound. Over the next week the media was just as loud. Jessica McClure, a high school student living in Berlin, Germany read newspapers with “BOMB ATTACK” in bold, red letters covering the front. While authorities were trying to minimize the panic, the media had hit its stride. No angle of the terrorist attacks in Paris went uncovered. Facebook found itself swept up in this rush of media. Wanting to show support for the victims of the attack, Facebook created a profile picture filter of the French flag. Within hours of its release, thousands of Facebook users had selected the filter until Facebook feeds were filled with tri-color profiles. The filter and extensive media coverage has been controversial. Debate over whether the filter is Eurocentric or acceptable arose. John Noble, a junior at Drake University, felt Paris received preferential media coverage when an attack in Beirut had occurred just the day before. He feels there should be more filters on Facebook for users to express sympathy for tragedies occurring all over the globe. However, Facebook has been selective in deciding which attacks deserve a filter. “We didn’t hear anything about Beirut, and we see attacks that are going on all the time. But we don’t hear about it unless it happens in Europe, unless it happens in the United States, unless it happens to white people,” Noble said. McClure knew friends directly affected by the attacks. She felt the filter didn’t show an understanding of the fear and worry Europeans have felt since the attack. Families are still searching for relatives, and bomb threats, whether real or fake, are

rampant. “If I was a Parisian, and I had suffered loss on that scale, I wouldn’t like that people were using my flag as a trend on Facebook. That’s kind of disgusting,” McClure said. However, not everyone finds the filter as reprehensible. Though Kate Gorden, a Drake sophomore, agrees that it speaks to Eurocentrism, she still feels it is a way for people to express their sympathy for Paris. “It’s hard to be angry about the filter because you can’t condemn sympathy in any form. It could be misdirected, but at least it’s there. I think that’s an important part of what’s going on because I think any compassion you show for a human life is an important thing to feel,” Gorden said. Facebook also used its safety check feature after the attacks. It allows users close to danger areas to check that they are safe for friends and family to see. Normally, it has been used after natural disasters, and this is the first time it was used for violence. Facebook issued a statement that it will continue to use the feature for human caused disasters, but people question why it took the attacks on Paris to decide this. “They should have safety checks in other parts of the world,” said Gorden. “Concern for your family and friends is not just a Western ideal.” McClure suggests that if you want to show sympathy for France, there are other ways to do so than through social media profile pictures. “A moment of silence is a good way to show solidarity. Sending flowers is a good way to show solidarity. Facebook is not,” McClure said. And that’s what all of Europe did. On Monday, Nov. 16, there was silence. All of Europe stood in silent solidarity for those lost in the attacks on Paris. Schools stopped. Work stopped. Even the trains stopped. They stood quietly on their tracks, and instead of flashing routes and times their electric signs read, “Good will always conquer evil.” “I think people really needed that reminder,” McClure said.

CAMPUS EVENTS

El Ritmo’s Latin Dance Social keeps audience on its feet Sarah LeBlanc Features Editor sarah.leblanc@drake.edu @sarahleblanc201

To break up the monotony of studying before finals week descends upon Drake University students, El Ritmo Latino hosted a Latin Dance Social on Friday night at Pomerantz stage. In its third year, the event offered a complementary salsa dancing workshop before the main event and hosted a live band to accompany those participating in the night’s festivities. Kaitlin Lacek, El Ritmo Latino’s communications chair, has attended the event for the past two years, and enjoyed the lively environment enhanced by the presence of both students and members of the community. “I love that it involves a lot of people from the community, as well as Drake students,” Lacek said. “It is an educational experience, learning about Latin culture, while also having a great night.” As the event progressed, community members and students began to interact and become more comfortable with each other through dancing. “A majority of the community members have a lot of experience dancing, so they will dance with the students a lot, helping to improve relations and dance skills,” Lacek said. “Many of them associated with Salsa Des Moines, which is the small business we go

through who helps teach dance lessons for ERL.” The event was promoted through Facebook and posters that were hung across campus, with Lacek holding the primary role of booking the band and coordinating the event. “People were dancing the whole night, it was a ton of fun,” Lacek said. “Different styles of music were played, which allowed for different styles of dance.” The band’s international influences aided Lacek in her appreciation of the music and its contribution to the event’s emphasis on diversity. “The band played a mix of Latin music, stemming from various different Latino cultures,” Lacek said. “The band members in Making Movies have all different backgrounds, so using this, they combined their cultures to make beautiful music.” Kicking off a 10-day tour that will take the group to California, Making Movies served as the event’s entertainment with a medley of Latin dance music. Enrique Chi, the band’s singer and guitarist, formed the band with his brother, Diego, six years ago, taking the name from a Dire Straits album released in 1980. Originally from Panama, Chi immigrated with his family at a young age and struggled with grasping his dual identity as a Panamanian and American, but now uses his music to allow him to interact with multiple cultural identities and traditions, both musically and personally. The Kansas City-based band is

no stranger to playing music for a dancing audience. “It’s something our band does relatively often,” Chi said. Throughout their career, the band has collaborated with several artists including Arcade Fire, Cold War Kids and Los Lobos. “They have taught us so much about what it means to be a band, to stick together,” Chi said. “From them I feel like I’ve learned patience.” In terms of influence, Chi received his musical muse in the form of Panamanian musician Rubén Blades’ album “Mundo.” With global cultural influence, Chi thrives on his interactions with people across the country and the lessons they can teach him. “It’s almost like my musical goal is similar to my goal as a human,” Chi said. “I consider music my hobby and my job.” Chi’s passion translated to the crowd, which danced for most of the night. Michelle Jacob, a junior pharmacy student, attended the event and was surprised at the uninhibited communication and interaction among the crowd. “Everyone was very open to dancing with each other even when they didn’t know one another,” Jacob said. “I think that’s part of the reason events like these are so fun. You get to meet a lot of new people all while having a blast.” For Jacob, the band played a substantial part in easing the tension among attendees.

“The band played music that was a fusion of Latino music with other music styles,” Jacob said. “I honestly loved it because the way they fused different styles together was really cool and it made it easier to experiment with

dancing and easing out of your own comfort zone.” With a sizable crowd and a lively beat indicating a successful turnout, this was not the first Latin Dance Social, and it likely won’t be the last.

AUDIENCE MEMBERS flock to the dance floor at Friday’s Latin Dance Social to practice their salsa. PHOTO BY PRANEETH RAJSINGH | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER


06 | features

Dec. 09, 2015

FEATURES COMMUNITY

Winter Farmers’ Market offers limited seasonal goods Ellen Koester Staff Writer ellen.koester@drake.edu

One of Des Moines’ highlights of summer and fall was the numerous farmers’ markets scattered around the city. There, students could buy fresh produce or other foods directly from farmers and other local vendors. There were sugary baked goods, fresh fruit and vegetables, homemade crafts, clothes and countless other goods for sale. While most of these markets are seasonal, there is one market that continues into the winter. Starting Dec. 18, the Winter Farmers’ Market is open for two days at the Kaleidoscope Mall in Capital Square at the intersection of Fifth Street and Walnut. Drake junior Lauren Baker attended the market last year with some housemates to see what it had to offer. “There were vendors all around the main floor, and up the stairs there were some vendors around the second floor, and then there was a skywalk that had a few vendors in it,” Baker said. “Then there was another building with two more floors of vendors.” Although the Winter Farmers’ Market features only around 130 vendors— fewer than the 300 or so vendors at the summer

farmers’ market in downtown Des Moines—there are still plenty of products available for everyone. The market sells many Christmas-themed crafts, which are perfect for holiday gifts. Aubrey Alvarez is the executive director of the nonprofit Eat Greater Des Moines, which works to raise awareness for all of the different farmers’ markets that operate in central Iowa. “The products are different, obviously, because of the changes in weather and season,” said Alvarez. “What’s fresh is different. There are still some of those staples like eggs, meats, crafts, jellies and canned items, so there’s consistency there, but some of the more fresh produce that are available look different in November, December than what’s available in July or August.” Even with the lack of producesome fruits and vegetables are only ripe in the warmer monthsthe Winter Farmers’ Market has something for everyone. “It’s just a good experience,” said Alvarez. “It’s fun to get to go and see the variety of things. There are always delicious samples so you’ve got that. I think that because it’s a little extended, you have a little longer time to go and check everything out and maybe find some vendors. There are usually some neat things that you wouldn’t find there in the summer.” The Winter Farmers’ Market

is special because it is the only market open in during the winter. Even then, it is only open for two weekends.

“At farmers’ markets, when you buy directly from producers, you know where that money is going. You’re supporting their business and their family, and they’re spending money in the community as well.” Aubrey Alvarez Executive Director Eat Greater Des Moines

This year, it opened the weekend before Thanksgiving and will be open after Drake’s finals week. “I think that it’s unique especially because it only happens two times a year for a couple days,” Baker said. “A lot of students I know go to the downtown market. Both markets have a lot of the same things. It’s a very good atmosphere and it’s a good thing to get out and do off campus.” Besides the entertainment value of attending a market, they are an important part of

Iowa’s economy. After all, Iowa is famous for its cornfields and agriculture. “At farmers’ markets, when you buy directly from producers, you know where that money is going,” Alvarez said. “You’re supporting their business and their family, and they’re spending money in the community as well. It’s not going to some big chain stores just adding profits to the bottom line. It’s adding to that farmer’s and that family’s bottom line, making sure that they have a successful business. It’s great to support the community in that way, but it’s also nice to know where that food is coming from

and know what kind of practices the farmers have in growing it.” If students cannot make it to the market this season, but still want access to fresh and local food, there are many other ways to get it. Alvarez said the Iowa Food Co-op sells local food year-round through their website, although students will need to pick up their purchases. Some grocery stores also carry local food. If students would like to know more about local farmers’ markets, they can visit either the Des Moines Farmers’ Market or Eat Greater Des Moines websites.

LAUREN BAKER (far right) and her friends visited the indoor Winter Farmers’ Market last year. PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUREN BAKER.

ART

RoCA mural adds color, culture to Des Moines community Ellen Judge Staff Writer ellen.judge@drake.edu

The dreams of the manager of the popular Restaurant on Court Avenue became a reality through months of hard work and the appearance of a reality star. RoCA was the dream of Brian Lindner, co-general manager and beverage director for the downtown destination. Lindner has been co-general manager and helped to design the idea for RoCA since the very beginning. He was there for opening night, the development of the idea for the murals, and even for the bachelor’s meal. RoCA’s mural on the side of the building began right after they opened. The idea stemmed because of the giant green wall surrounding the outside of the restaurant. Lindner and the other managers decided that the best thing to do would be to find some Des Moines artists and let them do whatever they wanted.

A Graffiti artist that goes by the name As Phate did the first piece, Lindner’s favorite. “We don’t have one central theme, everybody came in and did their own stuff,” Lindner said. Laura Palmer, another Des Moines artist, did another piece of the mural puzzle. She was responsible for the giant outline of Iowa with the caption “Home Sweet Des Moines.” The most notable piece on the mural was done after the Bachelor came to Des Moines. In one of the final episodes, Chris Soules and his date Whitney Bischoff walked into RoCA for a private dinner. They were seated at the front of the restaurant. “The entire area was roped off, there was security everywhere, and cameras covering the floor,” Lindner said. When asked about the reality show’s authenticity, Lindner said that it was definitely not scripted but it was directed. He witnessed the couple walking in and immediately having to walk back out and shoot again because the host at RoCA gave a greeting. “They had to go out, hold

hands again, and walk in again. None of us were able to say anything to them,” Lindner said. The conversations centered on Whitney and Chris’s past experiences but were still controlled by the director and his yelling cut. Lindner says they were able to have conversation but it was definitely controlled. The famous mural of the couple reading “This is the place” was revealed on the episode and

is now a major staple for the restaurant and Des Moines as a whole. Drake student Maggie Dickman loves the murals downtown. She even used the murals as a backdrop for the Drake Magazine fashion shoot. “It’s cool to have something different to make it unique,” Dickman said. The show paid a Los Angeles artist to come paint the mural. It

was inspired by the couple and was unveiled on camera after their date in RoCA. Lindner explains that there will be more artwork in the coming year, stretching higher up the wall. There are two levels of paintings at the moment and they are going to move onto the third level once the snow melts in March or April.

In addition to many generous gifts in the past, Morgan Cline, ph’53, contributed $3 million to distinctlyDrake to build the atrium that currently stands between Harvey Ingham and Cline halls. The collaborative learning area provides study space, faculty offices, and an experiential learning suite for students.

RoCA’S MURALS have become popular in the last year due to the highprofile visit of the Bachelor and his date. Painted by local artists on one of the restaurant’s outer walls, the artworks’ Iowa theme is a testament to the city’s culture and creativity. PHOTOS BY VALERIE MEYER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER


07 | sports

Dec. 09, 2015

SPORTS FOOTBALL

Drake football continues to thrive despite lack of monetary aid for recruits Austin Cannon Beat Writer austin.cannon@drake.edu @NotAustinCannon

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 So why play football at Drake? Why commit copious amounts of time and energy — at no small risk of major injury — for no monetary compensation? Ivy League and Missouri Valley Football Conference schools were also recruiting Rujawitz. He and the majority of his teammates could’ve earned at least a partial scholarship at another program. So then why choose a PFL program? One reason is simple enough: These guys love football and want to keep playing as long as they can. They aren’t using it as a way to afford school. “When I walk out onto that field, I know every guy there is there because they are passionate, they’re motivated about it and they’re not being paid for it,” Drake head coach Rick Fox said. “They’re doing it for the same reason that when I drive home tonight and I pass a park and see a bunch of kids playing football and having a blast — it’s the same motivating factor.” If passion is able to counter the financial burden, then what makes recruits pick Drake over the 10 other PFL schools? That question is perhaps more difficult to answer when you factor in Drake’s eyebrow-raising price tag. As it happens, though, there are still plenty of ways to sell Bulldog football. Making the Grade Attracting potential Bulldogs to the program first requires defining which players will be a good fit — both on the team and in the classroom. Playing in and winning football games are still important, but there’s more to it. While it does draw the ire of NCAA critics everywhere, the term “student-athlete” has validity when it comes to the Bulldogs. Drake is a wellrespected academic institution. Pair that with a full schedule of practices, meetings, traveling and games, an athlete has to be ready and willing to hit the books. So it makes sense that highschool grades are one of the first things Drake coaches evaluate in a recruit. It’s how they trim the pool of a couple thousand names. “We say no to hundreds of recruits each year because we know academically they aren’t going to fit here at Drake,” Fox said. “Even if they could get in, chances are it might be tough for them to be successful here.” The coaches not only have to sell the football team, they also have to promote the university itself – the other half of the student-athlete experience. When he meets with a recruit, recruiting coordinator Brad Pole begins the conversation with academics. If a recruit hesitates or is uncertain about his role as a student, that might be the first warning sign that he might not be the right fit a Drake. To Pole, an ideal Drake

recruit has to have goals off the field as well as on it. “(If) they have an academic pursuit that’s in the forefront of their minds that’s saying, ‘That’s a big deal. That’s important to me,’” Pole said. “People might think that’s impossible. It really isn’t.” Quarterback Andy Rice is the quintessential example. He valued the educational opportunity of a school ahead of playing football, trying to use his athletic ability to get into the best school he could. Along with Drake, Rice was also sought by the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, a D-III football power with 34 conference championships. But they didn’t have enough on the academic side. “It was funny,” Rice said. “I was talking to Whitewater about honors programs and getting a master’s and stuff and they’re just like, ‘What? No, no, we’ll help you with school, but, yeah, we’re here for the fall.’” Unlike some top-tier FBS teams, professional football aspirations aren’t as prevalent within Drake Stadium. Sure, some players like Matt Acree and Brett Park end up playing professionally, but most of the Bulldogs will play their last football game in a Drake uniform. They have to prepare for their future in the classroom. “Football is fun,” defensive end Mack Marrin said. “But I think the education part is more so important than the wins and losses.” Pole lauds the Drake’s postgraduation placement rate. For the 2013-14 Drake graduates, 98.3 percent of the bachelor’s degree students found a job or entered graduate school. For graduate students, 99.1 percent found a job or more schooling. “I can go after a young man who the job-placement, to him, is big,” Pole said. “He sees that as being a very deep-rooted goal.” The coaches aren’t the only ones who promote the school. Before coming to Drake, sophomore defensive back Austin Dismond spoke to a couple of his older friends that also chose Drake. “They were telling me, if you go to this school, you’re practically going to be set for life if you take it seriously,” he said. “Coaches aren’t going to let you fall behind, teammates aren’t going to let you fall behind. The professors really care.” ‘That’s a Drake guy’ After the recruit’s academic standing is sorted, the next step is selling the team. It’s helpful that Drake has been historically good, winning two of the last five titles in the Pioneer Football League. “Every Saturday is a dogfight,” Pole said. Even this year, a 5-6 showing with all six losses coming on the road, the Bulldogs still beat a pair of previously undefeated teams, including the leaguechampion Dayton Flyers on the regular season’s final Saturday. Had there not been an influx of injuries on the offensive line and at quarterback, the Bulldogs

LINEBACKER Tyler Coleman runs onto the grass of Drake Stadium. Coleman played seven games in 2015 — his senior season — and averaged nearly 5.5 tackles per game, the third most on the Bulldogs’ defense. FILE PHOTO perhaps could’ve stolen a couple on the road. While in high school, Rice was scheduled to see Valparaiso, another PFL team, after he visited Drake. He cancelled the visit, saying it was difficult to consider becoming a Crusader after they went through a winless season. Triumph on the football field is important, and Drake’s coaches find ways to bring in talented players — but to quote kindhearted parents everywhere — ‘Winning isn’t everything.’ “For me, it was more than just being able to play for a good team,” Dismond said. “It was about having a group of people that you can confide in, that you can be with for four-plus years and not get tired of it because football’s not going to last forever.” Linebacker John Hugunin had scholarship offers from Eastern Illinois and Illinois State, but he chose Drake after observing thencoach Chris Creighton’s passion and sincerity. “I wanted to be a part of something where I could develop a relationship with a head coach, with a staff, with a team, and I felt that my best chance to do that was at Drake,” he said. After one of the coaches has gone over both the academic and football sides of Drake’s program with a recruit it’s time to see if the recruit gives the right type of feedback, the kind that expresses more interest after what he’s heard. If he says the right thing, that he could see himself as a Drake Bulldog, he’ll be offered one of Drake’s 56 official visits. “Every guy I talk to that shows me that one inclination of interest, that this is a place he’d like to be, that kind of guy that we look at and say, ‘That’s a Drake guy,’” Pole said. “I get pretty excited about (that).” Paying the Price Drake only has a limited amount of roster spots to offer each year, usually 24 to 30. Like all other college football coaches, the Drake staff has to be careful about whom they offer a spot to. A deciding factor might be Drake’s total cost, a price that will be higher than other schools nearly all of the time. Pole doesn’t pull any punches tuition-wise. He makes it clear to each recruit what he and his family will have to pay to attend Drake. The high cost can help trim

$14, 270

Average NCAA Division I Scholarship

$43, 292

2015-16 total cost of Drake tuition and fees

NCAA football athletes average more than

40 hours

on their sport every week

7-11

Drake’s record against non-PFL opponents since 2010

35-9

Drake’s record against PFL opponents since 2010 *Statistics compiled from Drake.edu, CBSNews.com, godrakebulldogs.com and ScholarshipStats.com

the recruiting pool even more because some families might not be able to pay. A football scholarship would obviously help lessen that cost, but players get aid in other ways. “Once you really look at it, you get money,” Hugunin said. “You get aid, it’s just for other things, not athletic-related.” Hugunin, Rice, Marrin, Dismond and Rujawitz all earned a merit-based Presidential Scholarship. The five of them make up a fraction of the approximate 95 percent of Drake students that receive financial aid. According to Drake’s online cost calculator, a student with a 3.0 GPA and a score of 24 on the ACT will receive an estimated $10,000 scholarship. That’s enough to negate almost a fourth of Drake’s total cost to attend. “I had good grades in high school and that definitely helped once I applied and got a scholarship here academically,” Rice said. “Without it, I don’t know if it would be possible to be here.” Rice had to find other ways to pay for college, too. He worked during the offseason, either quitting his job or taking time off once spring practice arrived. This fall was the first time he worked during the season. He was only enrolled in one class, so working 12-17 hours a week at Business Solver in West Des Moines while in season was doable. “I still feel extremely busy all the time,” Rice said. The Presidential Scholarship wasn’t enough for Dismond, so he applied to the Crew Scholars program, a program for students of color that awards scholarships and grants that cover at least 50 percent of a student’s tuition. From the purely numerical aspect, the Crew scholarship equals a partial-ride football scholarship at another school. “I had to go through the application just like the same as everyone else,” Dismond said. “I wasn’t guaranteed anything. Once I got that, that helped a lot. That’s probably a big reason why I’m here today.” For Fox and the rest of the Bulldogs staff, it’s about convincing families to make the investment that four-plus years of Drake football and Drake itself will pay dividends for the recruit after he finishes school. “We’ve got to find those kind of people that appreciate what Drake has to offer as well as having the ability to pay it,” Fox said. “But every one of them wants it to be cheaper than it is.” Scholarship Competition Each year Drake will play at least one team during its nonconference schedule that gives its players scholarships. In 2015, the Bulldogs played North Dakota and South Dakota. Marrin was actually recruited by UND. One of his friends from high school in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, Will Ratelle, plays there. Together, Marrin, a firstteam All-PFL selection, and Ratelle, a first-team All-Big Sky linebacker, would’ve formed a fearsome duo for the Fighting Hawks’ defense. But Marrin chose Drake, citing the academics and the program’s togetherness.

Drake scared North Dakota, a team that beat an FBS opponent the week before, but couldn’t find those last three points and lost, 21-18. It was a look at what could’ve been for Marrin. “Would’ve been definitely awesome to play with (Ratelle),” he said. “It was weird, definitely, but I didn’t think too much of it.” Playing those scholarship teams provides extra motivation for some Drake players. It’s an opportunity to show they can play at the same level even though they might not have been considered for a scholarship at that school. “I had some scholarship offers but nothing substantial,” Rice said. “I still think about that stuff. People saying, ‘You’re not good enough to play college football,’ all this stuff. Everyone on our team has a story like that, and I think that’s what makes us a little different.” While Drake players willingly play for free, at least some of them believe all college athletes should receive compensation in the form of a scholarship. After all, these players commit so much energy to representing their university on the field when they have little to no professional aspirations. It’s an easy argument to consider. “It’s just a different level,” Rujawitz said. “It’s nothing against a normal student, but being a student-athlete, you’re asked so much more out of your time, out of your life, and you have to make those sacrifices. Us willing to do that should be rewarded with some type of compensation.” Still, not every Drake player feels the same way. “I think that there’s a stigma that goes along with an athletic scholarship that says that you’ve earned it,” Hugunin said. “I don’t think that would be as special if everyone got one because obviously there are some football players that are better than others and I think that deserves to be recognized.” For the time being, the question of football scholarships is resolved at Drake. Adding scholarships to the program would likely change the team dynamic, especially since the Bulldogs would need to change conferences. Fox has coached nonscholarship athletes for his entire 27-year career, so he’s unsure if he would want to coach a scholarship program. “I’m not saying I’d resign,” Fox said. “I’d have to really think hard through it because this is what I’ve done all my life, and I don’t have an employee-employer relationship with our players.” He knows that outsiders might view his team as an oddity in today’s college football climate, but that’s what makes Drake distinct in his mind, the reality that his players choose to play for free when they could’ve gone somewhere else or done something else to make school easier or more affordable. “I think it’s an amazing experience, to be able to play this level of football at a place like Drake with a group of guys who are doing it because they’re passionate about football,” Fox said. “They’re talented as athletes, but they’re also passionate about life and what they’re going to do in their lives.”


08 | sports

Dec. 09, 2015

SPORTS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Bulldogs’ perfect start meets its end with two consecutive losses Austin Cannon Beat Writer austin.cannon@drake.edu @NotAustinCannon After beginning the season with six straight victories, the Drake Bulldogs have lost two straight, the second defeat coming at the hands of the Green Bay Phoenix Sunday afternoon at the Knapp Center. Plagued by turnovers (22) and poor long-range shooting (3-for26 from three), Drake stood little chance against the 2015 Horizon League champions. Behind 30 points from Allie LeClaire, the Phoenix doubled a 12-point halftime lead in the third quarter and buried the Bulldogs, 86-61. It was a noncompetitive setback against a team Drake would like to emulate, a midmajor conference champion that makes it to the NCAA tournament on a relatively consistent basis. “We’ve got a long way to go,” head coach Jennie Baranczyk said. “I just wish we would’ve competed better.” Drake could only muster five points from the field in the third quarter, the other seven coming at the free-throw line. In contrast, the Phoenix shot 56 percent to effectively end the game after 30

minutes of play. LeClaire spent her Sunday in Des Moines doing her best Steph Curry impression, making eight 3-pointers on 10 attempts. Mehryn Kraker and Jessica Lindstrom each added 13. Sara Rhine led Drake with a career-high 22 points. Lizzy Wendell followed close behind with 15. Besides Rhine, the bench only had three more points for the Bulldogs, who now face their first losing streak of the season. The Phoenix are a good defensive team and they spent most of the game pushing Drake’s offense toward half court, but head coach Jennie Baranczyk was more concerned with the careless, off-target passes. “I think they’re a tough defensive team, but I think a lot of it (was) just our breakdowns,” Baranczyk said. At one point in the second quarter, the Bulldogs turned the ball over five times in four minutes. Green Bay scored eight points off those turnovers. In all, they scored 30 points off Drake turnovers. The three-point shooting was another problem. The Bulldogs might not live and die by the three, but shooting only 11.5 percent from long-range will usually spell defeat, especially

with a player like LeClaire on the other sideline. “We just weren’t all there tonight,” Wendell said. “It’s happened before and it’s changed our team and given us what we need to push and get better so this could be that game for us this season.” The 6-0 start was, well, perfect. But after winning the twogame Lady Rebel Roundup, the Bulldogs lost an overtime thriller

at South Dakota on Wednesday night. Then there’s Sunday’s game, where the Bulldogs were pretty much finished midway through the third quarter. “We maybe needed this to shake us up a little bit, to see how far we really are,” Baranczyk said. The philosophy Baranczyk and her players preach is to always improve, whether it is on the next possession or the next game. That mindset was perhaps forgotten in

the last two games. “I think we kind of lost that, so we just have to get back to that this week,” Wendell said. The Bulldogs will get to re-evaluate for five days, and they’ll get a little bit of a break in their tough nonconference schedule. William Penn, a NAIA program, will visit the Knapp Center on Friday for a rare midday game. Tip is set for 11 a.m.

SAMMIE BACHRODT, a guard, fits well into Drake’s outside-focused strategy. However, this mentality hurt the team in their two losses, getting beaten on the boards by 28 rebounds combined across both games. Drake was outscored on second chance points by a combined margin of 25-7 as well. PHOTO BY BARON CAO | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

MEN’S BASKETBALL

CROSS COUNTRY

Bulldogs place third in tourney, Abrahamson shines

Huston, Fischer lead in final meets

Michael Wendlandt Beat Writer michael.wendlandt@drake.edu @shaus6

The up and down nonconference season continues for Drake Men’s Basketball. The team placed third in the Gulf Coast Challenge in Estero, Florida over Thanksgiving break, followed by a split the past week. The Bulldogs continue to show signs of growth both offensively and defensively, and look to finish strong with their last four nonconference games. The first game of the Gulf Coast Challenge was a revenge game that Drake fans had been waiting for. Western Kentucky is infamous in Des Moines for the big buzzer beater that eliminated Drake from the NCAA Tournament in 2008. The Bulldog faithful wanted vengeance, and they got it. Drake was down by doubledigits with less than two minutes to go in the first half, but that’s when the comeback began. Picking away at the Hilltoppers’ lead throughout the second half, the Bulldogs managed to take the lead with under five minutes to play. It was back and forth from there on out, with Western Kentucky tying the game at 68 with 1:20 to go. Redshirt junior Kale Abrahamson missed a 3-pointer with two seconds left in regulation that would’ve ended the game after forty minutes. Instead, overtime ensued. Drake took a four point advantage early in the extra period before the Hilltoppers came back to take a 79-78 lead. A layup from Abrahamson followed soon after by a Timmer free throw and a steal from Jacob Enevold Jensen got Drake back on top to secure the 81-79 overtime win against the Hilltoppers. It was the Big Ten transfers, Abrahamson and Graham Woodward, who led the way. Woodward poured in 18 points, including four three pointers, while Abrahamson set a new career high with 41 points. Abrahamson’s effort was good enough for seventh most points in a single game in Drake basketball history, and the most since 1980. It also set the record in the Gulf Coast Challenge. He only had 23 total shot attempts, of which he hit 13. Four three pointers and 11

free throws highlighted his stat sheet, not to mention his seven assists. The next game in the tournament was a tough game against Weber State, one of the top Ohio Valley Conference teams in recent memory. Behind 34 points from Jeremy Senglin, Weber State took it to the Bulldogs, defeating Drake 74-58. Drake got off to a great start, taking a 10-5 lead, but a 15-0 run early in the first half wrote the story as Weber State took a lead that wouldn’t be relinquished. Woodward led the Bulldogs with 18 points while guard Reed Timmer added 15. Drake then faced Pepperdine in the third place game. Timmer took the helm in that matchup, scoring 21 points while handing out five assists to lead Drake to a 69-53 victory. Drake dominated defensively, holding Pepperdine to only 38 percent shooting while the Bulldogs connected on 55 percent of their own shots. Throw in a 10 rebound advantage and it was a relatively easy game for the Bulldogs as they secured third place in the tournament. When they returned home, the Bulldogs took on UIC in the Knapp Center on November 28. Abrahamson and Timmer both chipped in 23 as the Bulldogs cruised to a 83-62 win. The other two guards also had an impact on the outcome as Woodward chipped in eight assists while C.J. Rivers pulled down a career high 13 rebounds. Finally, the Bulldogs traveled to Bowling Green to take on the Falcons. After losing to them last season, the Bulldogs wanted redemption, but they couldn’t quite pull it out and fell 75-63. Drake’s top flight three point shooting was held to only 21 percent, and that made a huge difference. Drake entered the game ranked fifth in the NCAA in 3-pt percentage, but fell out of the top 10 after the poor showing from behind the arc. Woodward and Timmer led the team in the game with 13 points each. Sitting at 4-4, Drake returns home Wednesday to take on DePaul from the Big East. DePaul will look to continue a resurgence back to prominence in the NCAA while the Bulldogs remain focused on growth. Tip-off for that game will be at 7 p.m.

Adam Rogan Sports Editor adam.rogan@drake.edu @Adam_Rogan

After months of focused preparation, the Bulldogs closed the cross country season out strongly in the biggest meets of the year over the past month and a half. Senior Emma Huston and junior Reed Fischer each led their teams, as they have all season, down the stretch. Injuries still plagued some runners, hurting the teams’ final rankings, but PRs and fast times highlighted 2015’s conference and regional meets. MVC Championship In one of his best performances of the fall cross country season, Fischer placed second in the race with a time of 24:00.47. He was one of 19 runners to average less than a five-minute mile. Indiana State’s John Mascari was the only athlete who finished ahead of Fischer. Mascari went on to place sixth at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship and qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championship. Griffin Jaworski (24:36.67), Chris Kaminski (26:07.36) and Ali Jandal (26:09.07) all finished in the top 50 for Drake as well. Robert McCann (26:46.24) rounded out the Bulldogs’ top 5. Their combined times led to a seventh place finish out of nine in the MVC. “We were hoping to have him in full-form by then, but we didn’t, so that was a big hit,” Fischer said. “Obviously we wanted to be a higher placing in the conference, but there’s only so much you can do about that.” On the women’s side, Huston wasn’t able to place quite as high as Fischer, but still logged a fourth place finish. Krista Maguire took 15th and Taylor Scholl was less than five seconds out of the top 20, finishing in 22nd. Cassie Aerts and Bailee Cofer closed out the Bulldogs’ top 5 in 35th and 46th place, respectively. The Women’s team finished in sixth place out of 10. “As a team, on the women’s side we had a really great conference meet,” Fischer said. “They were led by the four seniors all season and that was the same thing at conference.” NCAA Regionals The NCAA Midwest Regional Championship was Drake’s final,

and biggest, meet of the fall season. Over 400 athletes ran in the meet and the Bulldog runners performed admirably. The Women finished 18th out of 35 teams represented at the meet, ahead of some top opponents including Iowa, Nebraska and Northwestern. “Every meet we continue to improve,” Huston said. “We usually have a big improvement (at Regionals) and the same happened this year.” The men took 24th out of 32 teams, two spots ahead of rival Creighton. Per usual, Huston and Fischer paced their respective teams, both of them cracking the top 20. Huston’s time for the 6K was 20:50.6. She finished in 17th place, just barely edged out by Oklahoma State’s Aurora Dybedokken with only two tenths of a second separating the two runners. “From her freshman year to her senior year (Huston) cut off over three minutes off of her time at the regional meet and moved up 130 spots,” Hostager said. “It really shows how much work they put in. It’s not just the work in the season … each year the work ethic has been tremendous.” Maguire and Scholl both finished in the top 100 as well, Maguire in 52nd with a time of 21:31.5 and Scholl in 97th at 22:06.4. “With (five) seniors on the women’s side it was great to see them finish their careers on a positive note,” Hostager said. Fischer performed just as well in his 10K, clocking a time of 30:26.3 in 20th place. Still, even with a strong placing he was disappointed in his finish, two spots shy of qualifying for nationals. “I was in about ninth place with 500 meters to go and I had a ticket booked to nationals and then in the last 400 meters I just completely hit the wall and felt probably the worst I’ve ever felt during a race,” Fischer said. “I was still all-region, which was my preseason goal, but as my season was continuing I was hoping to get a spot to nationals so it’s frustrating ... but compared to where I was last year it was a big jump forward.” The rest of the men’s team was unable to finish in the top half of the field as several team members were still dealing with injuries. Season Honors Huston and Fischer

each

received Division-I All-Region honors, two of five runners in the Missouri Valley Conference to be named. They were both also named to the MVC All-Conference first team, while Jaworski and Maguire each earned honorable mentions. Maguire, Huston and Fischer were tabbed as MVC Cross Country Scholar-Athletes. “It’s very fortunate to have such a dedicated group. Academics is always going to come first, but they are equally dedicated athletically,” Hostager said. “Our team GPA was ranked third in the nation for the cross country team (last year).” Rounding out Drake’s fall awards was Huston, who was granted the Women’s Elite 18 Award, an accolade given to a single individual who exemplifies excellence both in athletics and academics. Her fourth place finish at the MVC Regional and her 4.00 GPA as a pharmacy major is what garnered her recognition. Up Next With the track and field season now underway, the majority of Drake’s cross country runners will shift their focus to indoor competition, still under Hostager’s leadership. “(The seniors’) successful cross country season has really laid the foundation for a really good final track season,” Hostager said. Not only is the fall’s success going to help motivate the team for strong showings in spring, but it will also help the team continue to compete at a high level in the 2016 cross country season. The men’s team will be losing less than a fourth of their runners due to graduation, but the five seniors on the women’s side will leave only six returning runners. “It’s a big transition to have so many upperclassmen. The team is basically cut in half with all of us leaving, so I feel like that’s going to take its toll,” Huston said. “We definitely have people who are ready for that challenge … They’ll just have to keep up what they’ve been working on the last couple years and move up from there.” With how the underclassmen performed this year, there should be no worry about what the future holds for Drake Cross Country. “Regionals was a good hurdle to get over for the freshmen,” Fischer said. “I think they ran smart and in the next couple of years it’ll be really fun to see where they can be.”


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