The Times-Delphic Relays Edition (04.20.15)

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01 NEWS

April 20, 2015

THE TIMES-DELPHIC 2015 Relays Edition

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FEATURES

OPINIONS

SPEED

SPORTS

Have you heard the song “Ocean Avenue” by the punk/alternative band Yellowcard? Staff Writer Giuliana Lamantia talked with one of the band members this past week. They discussed the band’s current tour and what fans can expects from their ‘new sound.’ | Features Page 4.

It’s happened to everyone. Developing romantic feelings for a friend can be awkward and nervewracking but one writer says that you shouldn’t hide how you feel. Crushes are for high school. Be honest with them, and in the end, it may just work out in your favor. | Opinions Page 7.

For 80 years, the local Peggy’s Tavern has served as a place for Drake students and alumni to make memories as part of the Drake experience. Peggy’s has changed throughout the years but remains a important stable in the minds of many students and alumni. | Speed Page 4.

For the first time in Drake Relays history a Paralympic race will be hosted in Drake Stadium. Like most events at the Relays, the Paralympic race will feature some of the best athletes in the world, including blind runner David Brown and dual-leg amputee Marko Cheseto. | Sports Page 1.

CAMPUS NEWS

Administrative resignations spark mixed reactions Jones and Newsom’s departures begin transition to new presidential cabinet Courtney Fishman Editor-in-Chief courtney.fishman@drake.edu

Two members of Drake’s presidential Cabinet have announced their resignation in the coming months amid the transition from current President David Maxwell to President-elect Earl Martin. According to an email sent by Maxwell to faculty and staff on April 10, Provost Deneese Jones will step down from her position on May 31and Vice President and Treasurer Deborah Newsom will follow suit a month later on June 30. Students, however, did not receive an email until April 14, which Maxwell said was an oversight. Students, staff and faculty have reacted differently about the two resignations. Some are surprised and saddened by Jones’ and Newsom’s departures while others are looking forward to a changing campus atmosphere. “Some of those students, at least the ones that I’ve encountered, expressed sadness,” Sentwali Bakari, dean of students, said. “She [Jones] was such a mentor for them, that they didn’t have the opportunity to say goodbye, all of a sudden it’s just like ‘vanished,’ and that’s disappointing to the student.” For senior Mark Reiter, Jones assumed the role as a mentor figure in his life, which prompted him to take action. Reiter and junior Jacqui Branch chose to celebrate Jones’ impact on Drake by writing chalk messages on the sidewalk to Old Main. “We felt like there needed to be more than just a Facebook post about this in

the student services page — that there needed to be more dialogue than that,” Reiter said. “The idea came from Jacqui Branch and I just talking about these feelings that we were having and how to express them, and we thought it was a

“I think the recent departures and the interim folks have just created a set of challenges. I think that’s going to require a collective effort as we move forward and I feel confident that it will happen. ” Sentwali Bakari Dean of Students

pretty good way to write positive things about Dr. Dee, things that she was and is, to remind those administrators walking into the building who she was and what she did for this campus.” Maxwell acknowledged the chalk messages, saying that they were “heartfelt and elegant,” but he continued to remain positive about the transitions facing Drake, especially regarding the interim leadership. “When I became president in 1999, 16 years ago, there was one member of the president’s Cabinet who was not interim,” Maxwell said. “I think we have to see that as big of a contribution as any person makes to the institution that ultimately the institution itself is bigger than any single person.”

Faculty Senate President David Wright acknowledged necessary changes in the administration and, like Maxwell, is confident in the University’s future. “I believe in my role as Faculty Senate president that it’s important to make sure Drake is operating the best way it can,” Wright said. “Cabinet had become dysfunctional and things weren’t getting done, so I’m not entirely surprised that there has been a change in the cabinet.” Similarly, Bakari remains optimistic about the changes, but feels it will take some time to adjust. “I think the recent departures and the interim folks have just created a set of challenges,” Barkari said. “I think that’s going to require a collective effort as we move forward, and I feel confident that that will happen. I feel confident that President Marty is going to come in and move the university forward and be able to address those challenges.” Interim replacements for both positions have been announced. Beginning June 1, Joseph Lenz, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, will serve as interim provost for the 201516 academic year. Venessa Macro and Teresa Krejci, associate vice presidents of administration and finance, respectively, will provide leadership for Newsom’s position. Jones and Newsom have worked at Drake since 2012. A national search for Jones’ replacement will begin in July once president-elect Martin arrives at Drake. Cherié Moen, Jones’ administrative assistant, had only kind words to say about her boss. “I would like to say that it has been a wonderful experience working for and with Dr. Dee,” Moen said. “She has been a true leadership role model.”

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OLD MAIN’S SIDEWALK was chalked by students with kind words for Provost Dee Jones, who will resign her position on May 31. PHOTO BY SARAH FULTON | RELAYS EDITOR Additional reporting by Timothy Webber

RELAYS NEWS

Student Senate approves additional $30,000 for 3OH!3 concert Sarah Fulton Relays Editor sarah.fulton@drake.edu

Student Senate, in a closed session, allocated $30,000 to bring a band to campus for the Relays Concert after the annual event lost sponsorship of Court Avenue businesses. To pursue a bigger name band for the Relays concert, the Student Activities Board (SAB) requested and received the money from the Quasi Endowment Fund.

The fund, which began in 2005, is created through excess student activity fees that are placed in an interestbearing endowment. Now, the fund has accumulated roughly $200,000. Court Avenue pulled their sponsorship because “they were not feeling the full benefit” since a large number of attendees are underage and cannot go to the downtown bars, said Adams Graves, student senate vice president of student activities and SAB president. “They felt that they were not getting enough money for the amount that they were paying, so they chose not to host it anymore,” Graves said.

SAB also planned to hire 3OH!3, a larger and more expensive act than in past years. The organization’s remaining funds were insufficient to hire the band and accommodate the lost sponsorship. The combination of events caused SAB to move the concert on-campus to the Drake Plaza, adjacent to the stadium, and request funds from the Quasi Endowment Fund. On March 26, Senate approved the $30,000 funding request during a closed session, in order to keep the band name a secret until Blitz Day on April 8. However, some felt a negative precedent was set surrounding the Quasi

Fund usage and the relationship between Student Senate and SAB. “When we drew the numbers out SAB wanted to bring a pretty substantial band and didn’t have the funds to do so,” Student Senate President Joey Gale. “We created a motion to spend from the Quasi because we thought that would be the most responsible avenue to do that.” The closed session vote was unanimous among Senators in attendance. Student Senate treasurer Kevin Maisto was absent from the vote, but he was frustrated the motion was not brought through him or his committee, the Student Finance Allocation Committee (SFAC). He said the allotment of money

is “extremely unsustainable.” “I understand their rationale,” Maisto said. “They wanted a good band with a big name and to not have budget restrictions around it. However, my primary concern regarding it was that there was not any student oversight over it.” Student organizations are required to present to SFAC before requesting one-time funding from Student Senate. However, since the Quasi Endowment Fund request came from Graves, the Student Senate Vice President of Student Activities and SAB President position, he was able to bring the motion directly to Senate.

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The Times-Delphic


02 NEWS

April 20, 2015

NEWS 2015 Relays Edition

RELAYS NEWS

The numbers of Relays: the work and preparation that go into the races Beth LeValley Staff Writer beth.levalley@drake.edu

Anyone can tell that a lot of work goes into the Drake Relays, but most of the time, the small details are the ones that go underappreciated. Over 500 volunteers, staff members and officials help each year to ensure all the details are executed properly. With around 40,500 people attending the Relays each year, those smaller tasks add up fast. Carolyn Hill, the assistant Drake Relays director, also provides sports information for Drake athletics. She said the Relays have over 250 volunteers who work a variety of positions, including basket carriers, hospitality tent workers, runners, field event volunteers and awards tent workers. The field event volunteers do mostly manual field work, which means raking the pit, replacing the high jump bar and various other tasks, said Hill. Drake student organizations can volunteer at the concession stand and the organization is allowed to keep part of the profit from the concessions. To coordinate those volunteer and staff members, Drake Relays provides clothing and lunch for those who help. “We give out upwards of 3,500 pieces,” Hill said. “We also have pens that are given to sponsors and supporters.” Drake orders 1,000 button pins for officials, sponsors and promotions each year. To increase efficiency, Drake uses 14 golf carts to travel around the stadium and

campus. Hill mentioned that extra security was needed for the Relays, including Drake Public Safety (DPS), the Des Moines Police and a local security company. Director of DPS Scott Law said during Relays week the DPS increases their hours to two 12-hour shifts, and they increase coverage by about one-third overall. “Campus and patrol are our primary concerns,” Law said. “We also want to ensure that the actual Relays event is safe for everyone there.” Drake also hires anywhere from three to 12 Des Moines Police Department officers to assist with Relays week. They assist during Relays campus events, stadium events and events off campus, like the concert. “Our biggest reason for increasing security is the increased population during Relays week,” Law said. “On a given day, there are about 5,000 people on campus. During Relays week, this number quadruples, and we see anywhere from 15 to 20,000 people.” Drake Public Safety gets more calls during Relays week, ranging from topics such as lost keys to medical emergencies from being in the sun too long, Law said. They work to maintain a safe atmosphere for all Relays events. While DPS attempts to manage the large crowds, the Relays office tries to increase attendance. According to Ryan Harris, Drake athletics manager of ticket sales and donor management, they are right on track with the past two years’ overall attendance. The largest overall attendance recorded was in 2013 with 45,838 people in the stands over the course of the four sessions.

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Quasi Fund allocation covers additional Relays concert cost “The Quasi Fund is a little bit different because I am a Senate member,” Graves said. “I do go through the Quasi Fund and it does not necessarily need to be approved through SFAC or the treasurer because the treasurer oversees the one-time funds and all of Senate oversees the Quasi Fund.” Gale said that for every year data is available Student Senate has spent 91 percent of their $300,000 budget. Each year the remaining money was added to the Quasi Fund. The 2015-2016 Senate budgeted for a deficit to help ensure all the money is spent. Senate also recently established an Ad Hoc committee to set up specific guidelines around what money from the fund can be used and what the request process should be. However, some feel there is currently a lack of regulations and clarity. “I would not say it is necessarily an issue that we have this amount of money but I think the issue is that we do not have strongly define guidelines, regulations around it,” Gale said. Some feel accountability is lacking because the general student body does not know about the Quasi Fund. SFAC member Keith Guenet said that while Senate is not being “tricky” with the money, most students do not know where it goes or that the Quasi Fund exists. This means that they cannot effectively hold Senate “accountable.” Gale agrees that students “do not understand as much as they should.” “I would say from what I am familiar with students may have a general understanding of the student activity fee they pay, which is the $73 per semester fee,” Gale said. “They have a general understanding of that. From there it gets blurry. It kind of gets fuzzy.” More question around the Quasi Fund revolve around what the money should be used for. “Senate views that money as what they can spend any whatever they want. They feel like they can use it in an emergency situation but what is an emergency situation?” SFAC member Keith Guenet said. Past motions from the fund include a $70,000 allocation for a new piano in the Harmon Fine Arts Center and money for the world’s largest pie fight at the inaugural Dogtown After Hours. Gale said that determining the appropriate use of the money is part of the purpose of the new Ad Hoc committee. “Students that graduated three, four, five years ago, it is their money.,” Gale said. “So if you think about it like that how does that change how we spend it?”

Another way the use of the Quasi Fund could differ is based on organizational representation in Senate. Seven years ago, Student Senate was set up in “silos,” Gale said. Organizations and other “tangible” entities like the Residence Hall Association and Athletics had Senators. Now Senate positions are based around “a function of the University” like community outreach. The change saw a reduction in the number of Senate seats and organization representation. “To the extent that we lose more voice that is 100 percent valid,” Gale said. “If we have one less voting member around the table then we lose that aspect. I think there is also that aspect where our Student Senate meetings are open.” Gale said having more representation around the Senate table might have changed the outcome of the most recent Quasi Fund motion but it did have a great deal of support. “To be honest I am not sure (how it would change)” Gale said. “The motions that we did pass, especially for the Relays Band, was close to unanimous.” The one organization that still has some form of representation at Student Senate is SAB through Graves’ position. As Vice President of Student Activities, Graves is automatically the President of SAB. However, there are a variety of student definitions regarding the exact purpose of the combined position. Graves said his position is as an “overseer” of “student activities in general.” He said it is “more broad” than just being the SAB President. He tries to foster collaboration between organizations and “be a voice for all student activities.” In part, Gales agrees. He said that was the original purpose of the position but it now functions as “just the president of SAB.” “That position was designed for that and I am not entirely sure why it strayed away from that type of narrative,” Gales said. “I think the time they do focus on SAB is well worth it.” While Guenet admits there is a lack of clarity surrounding the Quasi Fund and Graves’ position, creating transparency about the Student Senate to students should be the main focus. “Just look at how many people vote in these elections,” Guenet said. “Only when elections come around do people actually care. Then it is mostly a popularity contest. How well people recognize the names. There is not accountability.”

Over half of the student population at Drake University attended the Drake Relays in 2014

In 2014, 582 teams were represented at the Drake Relays

Drake uses...

4 squeegees 50 traffic cones 80 hurdles for each event Men’s college teams Women’s college teams

1,000 button pins

High school boy’s teams High school girl’s teams Middle school teams

Attendance during the 2014 Relays

32 trophies are given to high school students

260 champion flags

The Saturday of Relays has sold out for 48 consecutive years and counting!

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The Times-Delphic


2015 Relays Edition

03 NEWS

April 20, 2015

NEWS 2015 Relays Edition

IN DES MOINES

Des Moines serves as major hub for human trafficking

Large crowds at Relays could lead to attempted recruitment by sex traffickers Guiliana LaMantia Assistant Relays Editor guiliana.lamantia@drake.edu

As a major city lying at the crossroads of Interstates 80 and 35, Des Moines has become a vulnerable spot for human trafficking. Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Immigration Attorney for Justice For Our Neighbors, Joy Moore, believes this is because much of the business happens underground. “(Human trafficking is) prominent enough that there are a lot of organizations that are attempting to eradicate it,” Moore said. Since the Drake Relays draws mass amounts of people from all over and out of town, there is concern about traffickers being drawn to the crowds. Teresa Downing, executive director of the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking, believes there is an increase in activity around strip clubs and escort services. Traffickers trying to recruit customers and workers will try to casually lure them into a job that seems legitimate, typically in adult entertainment. “Traffickers look like everyday people,” Downing said. “They can be men, they can be women, good looking

young men, college-student-age, and they are looking for people to invite to participate in the sex trade. My guess if they wanted to approach a Drake student, they would approach her or him by asking them to dance at a club or to work for an escort agency or be a private dancer or something like that. They wouldn’t come out and directly say, ‘I want you to serve as a prostitute during the Drake Relays.’ They usually start by making it look legitimate.” While the average persons trafficked in Des Moines are females ages 12 to 14, Downing thinks college students can indeed be at risk during Relays, especially with a recent higher demand for college students in the industry. “Many states are increasing penalty of sex trafficking of children,” Downing said. “Because of that, some traffickers are trying to recruit more young adults because it puts them at less of a risk. That would make college students a prime target. Also, there’s a demand for college students.” Downing strongly cautions students to be extremely careful while interacting with strangers who may ask them to dance at clubs or become involved in adult entertainment. She also suggests to meet up in a public place if spending time with a stranger, since traffickers will typically try to befriend those they are trying to recruit.

“Another thing for students to be wary of is that if they do agree to participate in any type of adult service, even if its stripping, the pimp can use that as means of extortion by turning them in to the student’s parents or publishing them online,” Downing said. “Once they get to know the student, they can threaten

“Traffickers look like everyday people. They can be men, they can be women, good looking young men, college student age, and they are looking for people to invite to participate in the sex trade.” Teresa Downing Executive Director of Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking

to harm or kill the student if they don’t participate, they can threaten to harm or kill the student’s friends if they refuse to participate.” Senior Criminal Investigator Michael

POLITICS

Hillary Clinton visits Des Moines, announces presidental candidacy Sarah Grossman Staff Writer sarah.grossman@drake.edu

Former First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, announced on April 12 that she will run for the 2016 presidential election. This marks Clinton’s second attempt at making it to the Oval Office, losing the democratic bid to President Barack Obama seven years ago in the primaries. Clinton returned to Des Moines on Tuesday to introduce her 2016 cycle, despite losing the caucuses in 2008. “Americans have fought their way back from tough economic times,” Clinton said in her official video announcement. “But the deck is still stacked in favor of those at the top. Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion” Clinton’s announcement was highly anticipated and she has currently been traveling through the state of Iowa. “She’s a person who’s politically made many public mistakes, but had many public victories,” said Jennifer GloverKonfrst, public relations and strategic political communications professor. “In many ways, she’s the most vetted candidate in recent memory.” As someone who began following the Clinton elections in the late 1980s, Konfrst understands the process and what might come next from Clinton. “Millions of people have never voted

for Hillary Clinton or Bill Clinton ever,” Konfrst said. “She needs to use this time to reintroduce herself. She needs to introduce her rationale and she’s going to need to start talking pretty quick about what her priorities are for this campaign.” Groups and people across campus have different expectations for what this race might hold. “I think it’s a long way until the caucuses,” Riley Willman, junior international relations student and communications director for Drake Democrats said. “Anything could change, anything could happen.” The Drake Democrats, who originally started as a campaigning group for Obama, is taking a rather neutral stance. “We try not to align with one candidate,” Willman said. “I think we’re just excited to have a candidate declared. We’re glad that there’s someone talking about the causes we support on a national level. And I think some people see that in Clinton, but I think there are others who see other potential candidates championing that cause.” However, Clinton’s campaign release last week showed a very different direction than her first campaign, and some might see this as a very positive turn of events. “I think that the conventional wisdom is better than 2008,” Konfrst said. “It’s easy to criticize it now, at the time everyone was saying ‘oh she’s a super star she’s a rock star,’ and for whatever reason, she’s decided not to do that this time. She’s rolling it out softly… she’s talking to individual voters, and she’s taking a low-key very approachable tone to her

campaign.” Willman too saw the change in her campaigning. “Honestly, I thought it was thought provoking,” Willman said. “It showed her change in race. With this, what we’re seeing is she’s focusing on every day Americans. Its shows the democratic values of ‘respect people whoever they are and being inclusive.’” As for whether or not Clinton will be our first women president, many are torn. “There aren’t a lot of people who have mixed feelings about Hillary Clinton, people love her or hate her,” Konfrst said. “Except maybe those who haven’t really been paying attention or who are just now getting to know her. Her job is to get to those who haven’t decided and maybe those who aren’t strongly in one camp … Do some really strong rebranding of herself.” There are others, however, who are hoping for a first in a different way. Maggie Kuckelman, junior accounting and information systems double major, is a Libertarian-Republican and see Libertarianism as a possible future for the United States. “It definitely gaining momentum, but I don’t see that happening this year … I don’t trust either party, I really don’t,” Kuckelman said. “I think a lot of people are turning away from the two partysystem.” At this point, Clinton has been the only Democratic politician who has announced they will be running for president. She is campaigning against three Republican senators including

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE HILLARY CLINTON teased Iowans at the last annual Harkin Steakfry back in September by stating “It’s true ... I am thinking about it” in response to rumors of her running for president back then. PHOTO BY AUSTIN CANNON | STAFF PHOTOGRPAHER

Ferjak has directed the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Enforcement and Prosecution Initiative since 2012. The initiative is training law enforcers and spreading awareness throughout Iowa about human trafficking. Only one hour of Iowa law enforcement training is spent on human trafficking, according to Ferjak. Due to the lack of knowledge and resources, young trafficking victims are often seen as criminals and arrested. “The main way trafficking victims come to the attention of law enforcement or the criminal justice system is through some kind of enforcement action,” Ferjak said. “They’re either arrested for prostitution, drug dealing, theft or something like that, because the trafficker has told them to do that.” Since the start of the initiative, improvements have been made, but there are other problems. Another issue being looked at is what to do with runaways from different states, as the majority of human trafficking victims found are not originally from Iowa. “Our legislature is moving. They did some good work last year, they put into effect a law that says if you arrest a minor for prostitution, drug dealing, whatever it is that’s at the address of the trafficker, you can divert them from the criminal justice system through the use of a child in need of assistance petition and put them

into a service environment,” Ferjak said. “That’s exactly what needs to happen. They do not need to be arrested, and they do not need to be in jail, they need to be in service and in shelter.” With the increase and high demand of sex trade workers in Des Moines, various organizations are pushing for better legislation on the issues. Kya Norby, a P2 student involved in Street Lights Des Moines, a prayer ministry for human trafficking, sees the legislative problems behind trafficking in Des Moines. “There is no felony charge for (trafficking),” Norby said. “We need to get legislation to change that because if there’s a felony charge on it, it’s going to steer people from doing it. I think the environment has allowed it to happen under the rug because no one is looking, and there’s not really a huge consequence, there’s no one trying to stop them.” Norby and Ferjak agree the most important thing people can do is to remain aware and report what they see. Students are encouraged to report any suspicious behavior during Relays and throughout the year to 911 and the Human Trafficking Hotline at (888)-3737888.

NATIONAL NEWS

THE APPLE WATCH will be avaliable this Friday. It is being marketed as Apple’s “most personal device ever.” Costs vary depending on style. PHOTO COURSTESY OF APPLE ®

Hype over Apple Watch generates controversy Amy Samuel Staff Writer amy.samuel@drake.edu

Apple announced the official release date and details regarding their new product, the Apple Watch. On the homepage of apple.com, a glossy watch stretches across the page along with the release date, April 24, 2015. The company’s website reveals, “Apple Watch represents a new chapter in the relationship people have with technology,” also adding, “The most personal product we’ve ever made.” Technology Support Specialist at Drake, Matt Haydon, said he is not crazy about the price range for this product, which ranges from $10-15,000. “The cost is way more than it needs to be, and is something I would not invest in, especially as it is still a first generation product,” Haydon said. As for school purposes, Haydon believes it could possibly have a positive effect on teaching methods. “Maybe I could see a professor using this device as a remote to control slideshows in class or something … it could maybe be somewhat useful,” Haydon said. The device includes customized timekeeping, physical dimensions to alerts and notifications, gentle taps for incoming messages and many different styles and colors. It also includes a health and fitness section. The company’s website describes, “[The Apple Watch] helps motivate you to sit less and move more, and learns your activity and fitness levels.” Sophomore Maya Bolter believes

the innovative overload technology is beginning to bring to society is a bit overwhelming. “I don’t need my Apple ID to know my heart rate goes up when I see a cute guy,” Bolter said. The product has concerned her knowing that technology is getting to the point where everything personal is becoming known. Connecting directly to your iPhone, the device allows you to respond to a message instantly without using your phone. It includes options to send personal heartbeats, taps, or sketches to your friends, and use life-like emojis, hearts, and hands. Sophomore Kaitlin Lacek believes the development in technology is becoming too much. “They are making unnecessary advancements and coming up with things that we don’t even need,” Lacek said. “We don’t need this type of watch when we already have a phone.” Lacek discussed the watch in her marketing class. “Our class talked about Microsoft and how they apparently attempted to sell a similar device which wasn’t completely successful...it will be interesting to see the outcome,” Lacek said. However, some people “I love technology, but even for me (a technology support specialist) I believe that there needs to be a break,” Haydon said. “People need to disconnect from all of the problems communication brings and just go outside and enjoy themselves every now and then. I think to a certain extent this watch could definitely be a distraction. I had a Motorola watch for a week and returned it.”

The Times-Delphic


April 20, 2015

04 NEWS

NEWS 2015 Relays Edition

CAMPUS NEWS

Students utilizing mental health accomodations on-campus

Stigma against mental illness still prevalant toward counseling services Kayla Marple Staff Writer kayla.marple@drake.edu An increasing number of students at Drake University are seeking out mental health services through therapy or academic accommodations. However, others are still unaware of how to get the help they need or are reluctant because of the stigma attached to mental illness, according to the Counseling Center and Disabilities Services. The Drake University Counseling Center provides short-term counseling for students, most commonly for anxiety and depression. Melissa Nord, a therapist for the Counseling Center, said a typical session may include discussing the individual’s family history with mental illness, their background and any specific concerns that students may want to address. “I’ve talked to several students who say, ‘you know, I was really nervous to come in here because I just didn’t know what this was about or I don’t want to go

to counseling,’ so we try to demystify that when we have a student come in,” Nord said. These hesitations show that students still have negative portrayals and attitudes about mental illness, which the counseling center is trying to change. “I don’t think that enough is done and I’m not quite sure what avenues maybe we should take,” Nord said. The center reaches out to First Year Seminar classes and Resident Assistant trainings to create awareness. However, Nord would like to spread the message further. “I think maybe just having the general information in classes would be helpful,” Nord said. Nord reports that 10 to 20 percent of Drake students seek counseling, and this percentage is growing. Even though the counseling center is raising more awareness, these efforts are not always successful. “I wasn’t even aware we had an official counseling center,” Christopher Kliethermes, a psychology professor who has been at Drake for four years, said. He is excited that this resource is in place and is connected with the Health Center.

“That’s how it should be,” Kliethermes said. “A psychological disorder is kind of a dumb term when it comes down to it. They’re all physiological disorders as far as I’m concerned.”

“Mental health issues do not make you weird, do not make you abnormal. These concerns are very common. I think more people are becoming aware of that and that it’s not such a stigma or such an unheard of thing.” Melissa Nord Therapist for the Counseling Center

His approach to decreasing the stigma towards mental disorders is changing how they are viewed medically. “Fundamentally for me the approach would be to say that there is no

difference between them, and that’s still a contentious issue unfortunately because there’s still lots of people who want to view the psychiatric or psychological mental disorders as just fundamentally different from something like heart disease or cancer or diabetes, where in each of those cases you have a ‘real’ effect you can look at,” Kliethermes said. Michelle Laughlin is the coordinator for disability services at Drake University, and the only member of the department. In addition to helping students with physical disabilities, she helps students with mental disorders receive needed accommodations. These may include extended testing times for students with anxiety or schedule flexibility for those with depression. Laughlin advocates for greater awareness of mental health resources and a more accepting environment for students to get the help they need. However, spreading this message can be difficult without the needed manpower, she said, especially with an increasing number of students requesting these services. She sees at least 60 to 70 students each year for mental health disorders.

“I think education is the key,” Laughlin said. “I think the reason why there is that stigma is that people just don’t understand what types of things happen with a student with a mental health disorder, or what types of resources they can receive. I think that students may be afraid to come in because of that reason, but I think the more we do outreach, that can help reach those students and get them the help they need.” Through the Counseling Center and Disability Services, students have options yet many are unaware or feel unable to get this help. “There’s always room for improvement,” Laughlin said. “I think we offer those resources, I think it’s just a matter of getting those resources in the hands of the people who need them.” Awareness is slowly changing viewpoints. “Mental health issues do not make you weird, do not make you abnormal,” Nord said. “These concerns are very common. I think more people are becoming aware of that and that it’s not such a stigma or such an unheard of thing.”

STUDENT SENATE

The faces behind the 29th session of Student Senate Senators at Large

DANIEL CREESE

ANTHONY MEYER

KERSTIN DONAT

JARED FREEMON

TREVOR MATUSIK

OLIVIA O’HEA

RICHIE SERRANO

RUSSELL WHITE

EVAN GUEST

NAOMI JACKSON

ZACHARY LOUGH

School Senators

THALIA ANGUIANO Diversity Interest

Business

JONATHAN LUETH Arts and Sciences

The Times-Delphic

Fine Arts

EMILY PRIER Education

Pharmacy

LINLEY SANDERS

Journalism and Mass Communication


April 20, 2015

05 NEWS

NEWS 2015 Relays Edition

CAMPUS NEWS

Accommodations for sexual assault survivors questioned Demand a Better Drake raises concerns during the federal Title IX investigation Hannah Keisker Staff Writer hannah.keisker@drake.edu

Drake University’s system for handling sexual assault allegations has flaws that need correction, Alysa Mozak, the coordinator for sexual violence response and healthy relationship promotion, said. “More students that I’ve worked with in four years being here are frustrated with the system and have more concerns with the system than they are feeling supported by it,” Mozak said. Universities across the country are under fire from their students and the federal government over whether their handling of sexual assault claims provides enough protection to victims and punishes perpetrators sufficiently. Mozak said students believe there’s a lack of transparency and communication with school officials. Students also argue that poor communication with victims often leaves them wondering if their complaint has been heard or if a determination has been made, she added. Sam Brenner, a senior biology major, helped spearhead Demand a Better Drake, a student-run campaign that wants to change the current sexual violence policies on campus. Brenner said a group of students came together last fall after the U.S. Office of Civil Rights received a complaint against Drake over the resolution of a sexual assault case. These students started researching different policies and created a list that would improve the process at Drake. They also created an online petition to gain support from students, alumni and faculty.

There is a comment section in the petition. Brenner said students have commented that they didn’t go through the process because they didn’t trust the university to hold the offender accountable, they’ve seen that the process isn’t working and pose questions as to why students are the ones leading this change. “It’s really disheartening to hear some of the things that people write, and it can be really frustrating to hear comments about the process specifically because we know that with a different procedure these kinds of things could be avoided,” Brenner said. Mozak does not receive any funding for programming or student groups that she runs. The campaign is pushing to change that. Mozak, a mandatory reporter of sexual assault, said if a student comes to her first to report a sexual assault she is required to inform the dean of students of the situation. If a student wants to confide in her, she begins the conversation by telling the student her role as an advocate and that the student isn’t required to provide his or her name as she would have to tell the dean. Mozak doesn’t have to report anything after the initial report unless the victim is experiencing suicidal thoughts. As a victim’s advocate, Mozak is allowed to sit in on university hearings, help sexual assault victims understand their rights and prepare safety plans. Venessa Macro, Drake’s Title IX coordinator, makes sure that the university follows the proper processes and procedures under this law. This includes overseeing a fair, timely and impartial hearing of sexual assault cases. Macro said she thinks Drake is successful in following its processes, but emphasized that Drake is constantly working to better the system.

“If we were to say, ‘We’re doing great, we’re done,’ we’re not doing our job. We need to be always looking and constantly evaluating what we can do better,” Macro said. The university’s first focus is on the safety and security of the student who reports an assault, Macro said. There are many accommodations that are offered to victims of sexual assault

“Colleges become a home for students and for something like (sexual assault) to happen to a student while they’re here makes this a place where they don’t feel comfortable.” Sam Brenner Member of Demand a Better Drake

such as a no-contact order, which requires the accused stay out of contact with the victim. The victim or the accused could also be moved to a different residence hall or section of classes. Students don’t report assaults because of self-blame, guilt, the fear of not being believed, lack of trust in the justice system and the desire to remain confidential, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. There are confidential services on campus such as Violence Intervention Partner, a 24-hour confidential hotline run by students and faculty, Polk County

Crisis Services and the counseling center. Mozak said university officials can’t honor confidentiality requests if they know the offender, if he or she is considered a habitual offender and they pose a great threat to the campus population. The victim’s name will not be listed in the investigative file, but the university will still review the accused’s behaviors. Mozak said she’s noticed completely different outcomes from cases when there is advocate involvement. “Work with an advocate or work with someone who can be on your side completely because if not, the system is very confusing,” Mozak said. “It would be a benefit for them in the long run to have somebody who can help them navigate it.” A formal investigation of a sexual assault by police is run independently from the university. Free lawyers are offered to students through the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Sentwali Bakari, Drake’s dean of students, oversees investigations of oncampus sexual assault cases. Bakari said the university’s code of conduct requires due process for the victim and the accused. During the investigation, both sides can present evidence and witnesses to share their side of the story. Bakari said he is sympathetic and saddened when these situations occur and he feels sorry for both students involved and their families. But he added that he has a responsibility to investigate the matter. “So when I hear something, I don’t rush to judgement and it’s not fair to the person that’s being accused,” Bakari said. “For me, I have to be as objective as I possibly can and let the evidence take me where it takes me.” The dean of students doesn’t have the power to suspend or expel a student. If he wishes to move forward, he is required to

present his argument to a hearing. Bakari said the university can do a better job communicating resources to students and where they can find information. Students on the Demand a Better Drake campaign advocate for clarity in the code of conduct and wish to make it more accessible for students. These students want the code to include a list of punishments given to offenders. Brenner said right now the punishments given to offenders are very ambiguous. “Right now, you can read the whole policy and you really have no idea what would happen if you were to be sexually assaulted,” Brenner said. Mozak said Drake should make the code of conduct easier for students to understand, whether it’s changing the code language or through flyers and brochures. “Our code is very legally-oriented. It’s even hard for me as an advocate that’s been doing this work for 10 years to decode it,” Mozak said. “The jargon is just not transparently written where a student can understand it, especially a student who’s going through trauma.” Brenner said some people get confused when they hear about a push for policy change because they think it’s an attack on school officials. It’s just important to remember that this isn’t an attack on administration, it’s an attack on the system and how it’s set up, she added. “Colleges become a home for students and for something like [sexual assault] to happen to a student while they’re here makes this a place where they don’t feel comfortable and I think it’s really important for students to feel like they’re in a safe place where they can learn and thrive,” Brenner said. “That really inspires me to work towards the best possible Drake that we can have.”

#DemandABetterDrake 1) Clear and accessible 2) Fund the Office for Sexual Violence sexual assault policy Response and Healthy Make the Student Code of Relationship Promotion Conduct a student resource, including relevant contact information for campus services. Make the code easy to find on the Drake University website.

Provide this office with funding for Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP), Violence Intervention Partner (VIP), publicity, printing, as well as prevention campaigns. This office currently is not funded.

3) Prevention and awareness training for leaders Require that public safety officers, mandatory reporters, judiciary hearing panel, and Peer Mentor/Academic Consultants (PMAC) are trained in sexual assault response and bystander intervention.

4) Increased oversight in the disciplinary process Disciplinary procedures should be held by a panel of staff, faculty, and administration. Currently, public safety and the Dean of Students are the primary investigators with Jerry Foxhoven, Executive Director of the Neal & Bea Smith Legal Clinic, acting as the hearing officer.

5) Straightforward list of sanctions for offenders Acts of misconduct must be listed in order of severity with appropriate corresponding sanctions. Currently this is not specified in the Student Code of Conduct.

CAMPUS NEWS

Speaking Center provides confidence, eases presentation anxiety Lindsay Fiegle Staff Writer lindsayw.fiegle@drake.edu

Last spring, Drake’s Coordinator of Public Speaking, Joan McAlister launched Drake’s Speaking Center, a tutoring program that helps with the organization, preparation and delivery of speeches or presentations. Located in the lower level of Cowles library, the Speaking Center has two componets: a tutoring service and a separate Speaking Studio that is open to Drake students, faculty and staff who want to practice or record presentations. The Speaking Center began as an experiment in Howard Hall in fall 2013 with only the resources of the rhetoric, media and social change program. By spring break last year, the pilot project grew in combination with Cowles Library staff and Drake Technology Services to be the program it is today. “We decided a collaboration could work very well to serve the needs of students, faculty and staff,” McAlister said. These needs are apparent, given that unlike many universities, Drake’s general education curriculum doesn’t require a Area of Inquiry class on oral communication. One of McAlister’s primary goals when starting the Speaking Center

was to provide a resource for students expected to know how to effectively communicate and present without ever having been taught. “Instructors can’t assume students have public presentation skills,” said McAlister, who advocates use of the program for professors of any subject who intend to grade students on their public speaking. “Faculty that want to see students develop but can’t teach skills in class because of other content or size restraints should send students to the Speaking Center for assistance.” This is not to say that students go merely because they are required to. Many students attend in an attempt to get help overcoming fears. McAlister said nerves are one of the center’s main focuses. “I’m an actress and I don’t get nervous about performing, but public speaking terrifies me,” said first-year theatre major Shelby Jensen. “I want to get better at talking to people as myself instead of a character.” The program’s tutors recognize why speech anxiety and common apprehension happen and help students figure out how to work with them, in addition to helping compose and prepare speeches. “We have great technology, and we’re all very well trained,” John Noble, one of the three tutors currently employed by the center, said. Noble, a sophomore double majoring in religion and rhetoric, media and social change was recruited by

McAlister, his adviser. To become a tutor, Noble took speech pedagogy last semester, an invite-only class of two students. In this class, he studied everything from speaking methods and tutorial practices to analyzing assignments. The methods utilized by the tutors are proving effective, though students are still discovering the Speaking Center. “Our data shows we could have more people, but the percentage of people who have positive feedback and good experiences is really, really high,” McAlister said. Despite the success, the future of the program is unknown. Last year, the rhetoric program used funds intended to promote public speaking to get the center started. Now that it has expanded, they must find other resources. As the only official tutoring program not funded, the Speaking Center has sent a request through the Provost’s Office that will hopefully be granted soon. “We want to see these resources used, otherwise they’ll be reallocated,” McAlister said. To take advantage of the Speaking Center’s resources, students, faculty and staff can visit library.drake.edu/ speaking to schedule an appointment with a tutor, or to reserve time in the Speaking Studio.

THE SPEAKING CENTER offers tutoring services and has a Speaking Studio. Drake students, like Nhut Nguyen (right) and Sameep Sheth (left), faculty and staff can practice or record slide-show presentations or class speeches. PHOTO BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR

The Times-Delphic


06 NEWS

April 20, 2015

NEWS 2015 Relays Edition

BULLDOGS WITHOUT BORDERS

Study abroad applicants concerned about Islamic State

Risk Assessment Committee has final say regarding safety of students abroad Taylor Eisenhauer Staff Writer taylor.eisenhauer@drake.edu

Each year, Drake sends approximately 450 students abroad to study for credit, and they can choose from more than70 countries. However, student safety abroad is a growing concern with the recent unrest caused by the Islamic State, a terrorist organization commonly referred to as ISIS. Recent attacks include the burning of a Jordanian pilot and the Paris attacks on the Charlie Hebdo magazine office. ISIS also took credit for the killing of at least 20 people at a Tunisian museum in March. In countries like Syria and Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Department of State has issued travel warnings for these countries due to terrorist threats from “violent extremist groups,” including the Islamic State. The State Department issues travel warnings when travelers should very carefully consider whether they should go to the county in question. Drake has its own criteria for determining a country’s safety for students. Associate Director of Drake International and Education Abroad Jen Hogan explained that two routes could be followed, depending on the student’s program. If the program is through affiliate providers, Drake heeds their advice. “We really follow their guidance and

their knowledge in regions that might warning that terrorism would be a risk on However, she cited this concern as a Despite the worry of the Jordanian have various issues going on,” Hogan her trip, Barbour was undeterred. big reason for choosing the location she people, Barbour has yet to feel unsafe in said. “(Our providers) keep their pulses “I wanted to study Arabic and politics did. Amman, though she was disheartened on … critical global issues, such as health together, and Jordan has this program,” “I think the fear (ISIS) creates of when she discovered only eight students pandemics or threats of terrorism. If Barbour wrote in an email from Jordan. Muslims or Arabs in the U.S. is one of were participating in her program. they feel like there’s a threat … they will “In addition, I wanted to get firsthand the most important reasons I wanted Last semester, the program hosted suspend the program until they feel like experiences in a culture so different from to come here,” Barbour said. “The approximately 30 students. that program is not going to impact the my own, which I hope will serve me well stereotypes of these people are simply Barbour gets regular security updates students’ safety and security.” in a future career in politics.” that, stereotypes. And it is going to take on her phone from the State Department The affiliates provide evacuation Barbour recognizes that ISIS is Americans willing to prove them wrong if and her program has contingency plans insurance to cover medical, political or definitely a concern when considering anything is ever going to change. I think it should Jordan become unstable. other types of emergencies. travel in the Middle East. This was is incredibly important to break down the For programs through Drake’s especially true for her, as Jordan shares misunderstanding and prejudices that so strategic partnerships abroad, a Risk borders with Syria and Iraq. many Americans hold about this region.” Assessment Committee has the final say on safety. The committee consults with other schools or providers, such as the School for International Training in Vermont and allows Drake staff to determine evacuation plans. Three students were evacuated from Egypt during the Arab Spring in 2011 and a January-term course to Ghana was cancelled this year due to the Ebola outbreak, Hogan said. But ISIS hasn’t affected Drake students abroad — yet. “Anyone is vulnerable to ISIS,” Hogan said. “…It’s kind of the state of the world right now. Safety is not guaranteed no matter where you go.” Though Hogan said Drake doesn’t have many students study abroad in the Middle East, they will continue to be diligent about the current unrest. Haley Barbour, a sophomore politics and international relations major, is one of the few Drake students studying abroad in the Middle East this semester. She chose a program in Amman, Jordan, one of the only remaining Middle Eastern countries in which students can study. OVER 450 STUDENTS study abroad in over 70 countries each year. However, the growing concern of terrorist organizations such as Despite the State Department’s Islamic State has some students contemplating what countries are “safe” for extended travelling. PHOTO BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR

CAMPUS NEWS

New initiative aims to give students 24-hour access to FAC Lindsay Fiegle Staff Writer lindsay.fiegle@drake.edu

Though many Drake fine art students are quick to complain about the old facility that is home to their department students are hopeful about the possibility of having 24-hour access to the Harmon Fine Arts Center (FAC). This spring, the Student Music Advisory Committee (SMAC) began an initiative to allow students 24-hour access to practice rooms, rehearsal spaces, technology labs and study areas. The current hours for FAC are 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. on weekends. SMAC began discussing the prospect

of 24-hour access last semester. In February, Aimee Beckmann-Collier, the director of choral studies, asked two SMAC representatives to head the project and survey students. The survey is aimed at art, music and theatre students, though there is an invitation on the email to “forward the link along to any Drake student who uses FAC on a regular basis.” Questions included asking about students’ current usage and whether they would utilize 24-hour access. Eve Thomas, a choral music education major, is a student representative on SMAC working on the initiative. “We’ve gotten around 125 responses that have been overwhelmingly positive,” Thomas said.“We created the survey and sent an email to the heads of all the departments who said they would send it out.” “I support it a lot. I think as art

students, we are busy with all our classes and also by nature as artists,” Madelyn Ripperger, a musical theatre major, said. “To have a space we would always be able to use and practice our craft in would be really nice. Sometimes you don’t have time from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. to do that.” Ripperger spends a lot of late nights in FAC rehearsing and practicing, but many times she has to stop and leave to go home with her work unfinished. “I feel like it’s even more relevant as a commuter student,” Ripperger said. “To be able to stay here and keep focus would be really nice.” First-year painting major Linzi Murray believes it would benefit art majors as well. “I think the studio space really promotes productivity and creativity,” Murray said. “It’s a better environment than my dorm room to draw or paint. Having the freedom to go whenever you

want would be really convenient.” While not many students have concerns, Alina Grimm, the interim fine arts manager, said that not everyone is on board yet. “I know that there has been hesitation from security,” Grimm said. “Drake can be held liable and afterhours are more concerning.” FAC contains a lot of expensive equipment, such as computer labs containing music software, drawing studios and many pianos, but those resources are the same ones that students would like late-night access to. “As a former music major, I understand the desire for 24-hour access,” Grimm said, who acknowledged the necessity of finding a dividing line between meeting the needs of students, and keeping the building secure. Ripperger understands why there are concerns, though she doesn’t believe late

night access would be any more of a risk than regular hours. “I think we’re all very responsible people and we would be so grateful to have the resource that we wouldn’t mess around with it” Ripperger said. “I think [getting 24 hour access] could be a possibility, especially with the keycard system implemented this year,” Thomas said. She knows she would utilize the additional time. “I’m here during the week pretty much every night until 1 a.m.” The survey closed on April 3, and now SMAC members plan to analyze results and address any concerns raised before presenting their case to the Dean of College of Arts and Sciences.

THE HARMON FINE ARTS CENTER (FAC) currently has limited hours. A new initiative aims to give students 24-hour access rehearsal and practices rooms art studios and computer labs. PHOTO BY CODY FROST | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Times-Delphic


April 20, 2015

07 NEWS

NEWS 2015 Relays Edition

CAMPUS EVENTS

Sagmeister gives “The Happiness Talk” Grammy Award-winning artist and graphic designer visits Claudia Williams Staff Writer claudia.williams@drake.edu World famous artist and graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister traveled to Drake University to give ‘The Happiness Talk,’ a presentation about his about graphic design, happiness and how the two coincide with each other. Four hundred students, staff, faculty and members of the Des Moines community attended the event and listened to the artist’s presentation in Sheslow Auditorium. Sagmeister has been in the industry for over 30 years and has numerous international awards under his belt. He was given the National Design Award in 2005, as well as two Grammy awards. Those Grammy awards came from his collaboration with bands such as The Rolling Stones, OK Go and Aerosmith, with whom he created album art and record designs. With plenty of experience in his toolbox, Sagmeister had a lot of life advice to give in terms of careers, dreams and design. The event was marketed as an exploration of the possibilities to achieve happiness as a person and as a designer. He explained how this subject matter was something that has interested him since his youth and how it influenced him throughout his career and life. The graphic designer has been so enthralled with the subject matter of happiness that he began making a film

about the topic titled “The Happy Film,” which is about his experience in the industry, as well as what he learned from creating personal bliss. Students and graphic designers on campus were ecstatic when they found out Sagmeister was coming to campus. Gabrielle Gaass bought his book in hopes of getting a signature and even volunteered at the event so she could get as close to her idol as possible. “When I first found out he was coming to speak at Drake, I along with the rest of the designers I knew freaked out,” Gaass said. “This is a big deal for our campus and I knew attending would be a remarkably worth-while experience, not only for my designing, but also for me as a person trying to expand my life.” The speech was organized and planned by Iowa’s chapter of American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). STEFAN SAGMEISTER, award-winning artist and graphic designer, gave a lecture in They collaborated with the Drake Department of Arts and Sciences who Sheslow Auditorium on April 3 entitled “The Happiness Talk” to discuss how to achieve sponsored Sagmeister’s arrival, speech happiness both as a person and as an artist. PHOTO BY CODY FROST | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER and experience. The connection between happiness they got to meet Sagmeister in person. Catherine Dreiss, adjunct instructor Over coffee and complimentary of graphic design and education director and graphic design impacted students who are currently studying the artistic refreshments, Gaass met the designer and for AIGA, attended the event and worked finally had her copy of his book signed by with the arts and sciences department field and look up to Sagmeister. Rachael Kreski, a junior graphic the author himself. throughout Sagmeister’s talk. design major and AIGA’s Student Group In terms of following her dreams Dreiss explained how at first, she was President, attended the event for those as a graphic designer, Gaass was greatly surprised with how little he talked about influenced when she met him. He taught graphic design and how much he focused very same reasons. “As a graphic designer and Drake her to never stop trying and to put her on happiness and his film. She later realized how his connection between the student, this event was a great opportunity heart into everything. “He was extremely personable, two affected her perception of Sagmeister to hear a successful professional designer speak, as well as to be given the chance to humorous and caring of each of his and his happiness talk. fans,” Gaass said. “He connected with “He supported his discussions and his hear out his story, ” Kreski said. Following The Happiness Talk, people each of us and complimented everyone. beliefs with great graphic design, so what who bought VIP tickets were allowed to I will definitely cherish this experience he said was much more meaningful to the attend an after party at Mars Café where forever.” graphic design audience,” Dreiss said.

CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS

Alpha Tau Omega fraternity rechartering during Relays Madison Ottenbacher

Drake University’s first Spanish Club was founded in 1925 and served to give Spanish-speaking students an opportunity to learn about literature, language and customs. Ninety years later, Drake still provides this opportunity for its students. From 1 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. every Wednesday, a small group of Drake students meet in Medbury Honors Lounge for the Spanish Speaking Hour. During the hour, students hold an informal conversation in Spanish with a native speaker. “The idea is that students will make a connection with the language and culture outside of the classroom,” Eduardo

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FREE STUDIO APARTMENT ALPHA TAU OMEGA (ATO) will be recognized nationally on April 25, 20 years after they were first removed from Drake’s campus. The fraternity members sent headquarters a 400-page petition for approval to officially charter. PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM SCEARCE.

official chapter at Drake. Because of risk management violations, the fraternity’s headquarters decided to remove ATO from campus. Instead of making excuses, Hammer expressed his gratitude for the fraternity’s decision. “We really appreciate that because the chapter wasn’t meeting the fraternity’s high standards and upholding the values that we really try to uphold,” Hammer said. Hammer looks ahead to what the future holds for the fraternity. “We’ve been focused on recruiting, growing and meeting the different goals for chartering that we haven’t have had as much time to develop our specific identity, who we want to be at Drake and also reaching out to other organizations on campus,” Hammer said. “We’ll be doing a lot more outreach and try to establish our reputation here at Drake

and become a fraternity powerhouse.” For Tom Scearce, sophomore public relations major and chapter historian, the chartering of the colony has brought the group closer together. “I really feel that since we are not a chapter yet, we were all working towards that same goal to get our charter back,” Scearce said. “That was just an added element to push us even more, to work hard and do the things that we needed to do to make relations with other fraternity and sorority chapters here on campus.” Greek life wasn’t always part of Scearce’s plan. “When I came to college I knew that I was never going to join a fraternity,” Scearce said. “Meeting the guys of ATO and seeing how people can still be in a fraternity, but want to make an impact on campus and be a leader, helped change my viewpoint. ATO has taught me leadership

styles that I didn’t really know [before],” Scearce said. “I really think that if it weren’t for ATO, I wouldn’t have wanted to be an orientation leader or have a drive to be in all [of] these organizations on campus.” Jeffrey Hersheway, sophomore advertising and writing double major and chapter recruitment chair, appreciates the support from the organizations on campus. “We had at least one recommendation letter from at least every house. To say that, it’s just incredible. When we announced chartering, a few chapters’ twitters reached out to us and said congratulations,” Hersheway said. “Across campus, people that I knew (and people that I didn’t know) would look at me and look at my letters and be like ‘congratulations.’ It was a really cool feeling.”

Español para todos: Spanish speaking hours facilitates conversation Staff Writer lindsay.fiegle@drake.edu

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Staff Writer madison.ottenbacher@drake.edu Drake Relays is a time for track and field and fun times with friends. However, this year a group of fraternity men look forward to it for a different reason. On April 25, the Delta Omicron chapter of Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) will be chartered. After two years of dedication, hard work and a 400-page petition, the colony is approved to become an official chapter with ATO nationally and in the Greek life community at Drake. Leaders in the fraternity dedicated multiple late nights to complete the necessary paperwork for the petition. Daniel Hammer, sophomore business management and international business double major, is the chapter president. He said the process of applying for the charter took a lot of work. “It essentially became a full-time job to complete that and make sure that the colony was still trying to reach out to other Greek and student organizations,” Hammer said. The fraternity’s specific focus on leadership is possibly what drew Hammer to join the organization. “I think ATO is a little different than most Greek organizations in the fact that we focus on our core values and the leadership aspect. We try to be the best men that we can be,” Hammer said. “We try to hold ourselves to a high standard and conduct our business in a professional way so that we can have a stellar reputation not only on campus, but also in the community.” Twenty years ago, ATO was an

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García-Villada, assistant professor of Spanish, said. “The goal is to give that opportunity to students.” García-Villada has served as the director of the Spanish Speaking Hour for seven years. However, he is not directly involved in the program. The hour is meant to be a natural, casual conversation among students. “We wanted some sort of informal group talking about cultural issues, language issues all in Spanish in a relaxed environment,” García-Villada said. “I think the setting is important. That’s why we like the lounge.” A native-speaking student facilitates each week’s conversation, though there are no requirements or topics that must be covered. The tutor paid by the Spanish department to facilitate the discussion changes from year to year. “There’s always a rotation of accents and cultures students are exposed to,” García-Villada said.

Pablo Valladares, a first-year piano performance major from Ecuador, is the current tutor. “I enjoy being able to speak my language at Drake because there are not many people that I can speak with here,” Valladares said. “I’m also interested in showing (the students) the language and cultures and the different accents that South America has.” Each week, Valladares begins an open conversation that students contribute to. Throughout the hour he helps students with words or phrases as they practice their Spanish skills and freely converse. Though in the past García-Villada has required students in Spanish classes to attend, the hour is open to anyone who wants to improve their Spanish skills. Some students attend to prepare for studying abroad or just to have an opportunity to practice the language if they take a semester off of Spanish classes. “The hour is open to all of the university community including faculty,

students and staff,” García-Villada said. “I told myself I was going to start learning Spanish again,” Ethan Turner, a student who regularly attends the hour, said. “I never personally have taken a language class at Drake. [The hour] gives me an opportunity to practice learning with others.” Turner appreciates the relaxed atmosphere that allows students to practice Spanish in a natural environment. “The conversation becomes whatever you want to talk about. It takes it’s own course,” Turner said. “It’s a chance to make a friend in another language.” Participants who attend the hour are typically proficient enough in the language to contribute to the conversation, but students of all speaking levels are welcomed. “My philosophy is that it doesn’t matter how much Spanish you have,” García-Villada said. “I want to call it Spanish for all. Español para todos.”

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April 20, 2015

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CONGRATULATIONS College of Business and Public Administration students

2015 CBPA Significant Achievement Awards CBPA LEADERSHIP COUNCIL Julie Bolda, Salena Brickey, Alec Clement, Daniel Creese, Dylan DeClerck, Austin Forte, Daniel Hammer, Morgan Hollenbeck, Michael Jennings, Brooke Katzmarek, Nikita Khara, Samuel Klann, Jeffrey Konrad, Christopher Kottenstette, Lauren Locante, Collin Miller, Jessica O’Donnell, Russell Pang, Caleb Potratz, Maryna Rath, Amara Schlader, Courtney Smith, Rachel Spitzig, Jonathan Stein, Christopher Wahl BEN BACKSTROM CHARACTER AWARD Casey Ringhofer ALPHA KAPPA PSI SCHOLARSHIP CERTIFICATE AND KEY AWARD Beiquan Cao, Ann Eitrheim, Amber Funkhouser, Jessica O’Donnell, Russell Pang, Alen Salibasic, Spencer Vasey ALPHA KAPPA PSI UNDERGRADUATE OF THE YEAR Samuel Gray ALPHA KAPPA PSI GRADUATING SENIOR OF THE YEAR Jessica O’Donnell ACCOUNTING HONORARY SOCIETY OUTSTANDING UNDERCLASSMAN

Brittany Fortunato ACCOUNTING HONORARY SOCIETY OUTSTANDING SENIOR Amanda Platte DELTA SIGMA PI SCHOLARSHIP KEY AWARD Ann Eitrheim, Jessica O’Donnell, Russell Pang, Alen Salibasic, Spencer Vasey

ENTREPRENEURIAL MANAGEMENT STUDENT AWARD Naren Bhojwani OUTSTANDING FINANCE STUDENT AWARD Russell Pang HARPER ACTUARIAL STUDENT AWARD Julie Bolda

DELTA SIGMA PI UNDERGRADUATE OF THE YEAR Michael Schwalen

OUTSTANDING INFORMATION SYSTEMS STUDENT AWARD Nathanial Durbala

DELTA SIGMA PI GRADUATING SENIOR OF THE YEAR Russell Pang

OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDENT AWARD Alen Salibasic

GAMMA IOTA SIGMA LEADERSHIP AWARD Julia Wen Yi Yap

THE MABRY MILLER MANAGEMENT STUDENT AWARD Kyle Schrader

CLIFFTON MUROVE/ ENACTUS AWARD FOR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE Ethan Turner

OUTSTANDING MARKETING STUDENT AWARD Alyssa Mougin

THE SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTING SERVICE AWARD Christopher Wahl

IOWA SOCIETY OF CPA’S OUTSTANDING ACCOUNTING STUDENT Ashima Laad

OUTSTANDING ECONOMICS STUDENT AWARD Sarah Webster

MAKE IT MATTER AWARD Dylan DeClerck

OUTSTANDING

CBPA LEADERSHIP AWARDS

SENIOR LEADERSHIP AWARD Jessica O’Donnell, Russell Pang JUNIOR LEADERSHIP AWARD Nicholas Baker, Brittany Fortunato SOPHOMORE LEADERSHIP AWARD Daniel Creese, Jamie Zaine FIRST-YEAR LEADERSHIP AWARD Jonathan Caracci, Brooke Lofgren CBPA OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Samantha Gutierrez, Zachary Vasseur JUNIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Elizabeth Johnson, Samuel Gray SOPHOMORE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Jasmine Barr, Shafiq Nasran FIRST-YEAR COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Kate McCoy, Jack Brokaw GRADUATING SENIORS WITH A CUMULATIVE 4.0 GPA (DECEMBER 2014, MAY 2015,

AUGUST 2015) Beiquan Cao, Ann Eitrheim, Amber Funkhouser, Dustin Murray, Jessica O’Donnell, Russell Pang, Alen Salibasic, Zi Jian Saw, Spencer Vasey, Shi Yi Wong OUSTANDING UNDERCLASSPERSON OF THE YEAR Kathryn Clausen OUTSTANDING SENIOR OF THE YEAR Jessica O’Donnell DAVID B. LAWRENCE OUSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING AWARD Amy Vaughan, Assistant Professor of Statistics OUTSTANDING GRADUATE TEACHING AWARD Matthew Mitchell, Assistant Professor of International Business HARRY I. WOLK RESEARCH AWARD/CBPA OUTSTANDING FACULTY SCHOLAR Royce Fichtner, Assistant Professor of Business Law CBPA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD Dr. Philip Houle, Professor of Information Systems

2014-2015 Award and Scholarship Winners ATHENE USA SCHOLARSHIP Amber Funkhouser, Meghan McLenithan ALLIANZ LIFE INSURANCE SCHOLARSHIP Julie Bolda, Michael Jennings, Roy Ju, Rachel Spitzig

Kakenmaster, Jaclyn Shine EMPLOYERS MUTUAL NONINSURANCE SCHOLARSHIP Austin Forte, Aubrey Johnson, Katelyn McDaniel, Judge Rissman

HERBERT W. AND EDNA M. BOHLMAN SCHOLARSHIP Kathleen Knox, Jessica Mathes

ERNST & YOUNG ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Cameron Christoff Dustin Murray

ROGER W. BRIGGS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Benjamin Knutson

WILLIS E. FORSYTH SCHOLARSHIP Rachel Choe

ROGER K. BROOKS ACTUARIAL SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP Matthew Bluhm, Roy Ju

FLOYD S. HARPER SCHOLARSHIP George Adele, Trevor Carlson, Roy Ju, Matthew Klos

CENTRAL IOWA COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS NETWORK Nikita Khara

L.E. HOFFMAN SCHOLARSHIP Dustin Murray

J. DOYLE DEWITT INSURANCE SCHOLARSHIP Tally Gullickson CLAIRE GSELL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Celina Hampton EMPLOYERS MUTUAL ACTUARIAL SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP Emily Kessler, Russell Pang, Michael Schwalen EMPLOYERS MUTUAL INSURANCE SCHOLARSHIP Ashley Barajz, Riley Coy, Aaron Hermsen, Edward

KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP AND DONALD R. SLOAN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Alexandra Eischeid, Eric Lanning, Amanda Platte LEWIS KERMIT KRUMM SCHOLARSHIP Undral Munkhchuluun Clayton Rehm DONALD K. MELAAS AND BETTY D. MELAAS SCHOLARSHIP Madeline Kasra R. RICHARD MCNEAL SCHOLARSHIP Benjamin Johnson

JON P. NEWSOME SCHOLARSHIP Jeremy Fahling 1969 CHARTER MBA CLASS AND FACULTY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Amanda McWherter EUGENE J. PAUL MANAGEMENT SCHOLARSHIP Alyssa Mougin

D.W. SIMPSON & COMPANY ACTUARIAL SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP Julie Bolda ACTUARIAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT SCHOLARSHIP Curtis Saunders LOU ANN SIMPSON SCHOLARSHIP Kyle Antonacci

RICHARD PEEBLER SCHOLARSHIP Darcie Berry

R. WAYNE SKIDMORE SCHOLARSHIP Alen Salibasic Jonathan Fortino

IOWA INSURANCE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP Roy Ju, Rachel Spitzig

GARY & MELISSA PORTER SCHOLARSHIP Tamara O’Hara

IOWA INSURANCE HALL OF FAME Jacob Hewitt

DR. AYN E. CROWLEY SCHOLARSHIP Dakota Malotte

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP ACTUARIAL SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP Michael Jennings, Roy Ju, Chris Kottenstette, Jessica O’Donnell

JOHN DEERE SCHOLARSHIP Emily Enquist Sarah Webster

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP CORPORATE SCHOLARSHIP Nathanial Durbala, Matthew Beine, Kathryn Clausen, Brittany Fortunato PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP MASTERS SCHOLARSHIP Craig Haxel, Tyler Tigges

BANKERS TRUST AND THE JOHN RUAN FOUNDATION TRUST SCHOLARSHIP Matthew Craven, Mitchell Thompson CHARTERED FINANCIAL ANALYST AWARD Ann Eitrheim, Nina Liu, Jeffrey Marschke, William Morrison, Alen Salibasic BROOKS COMPETITION AWARD Carl Budenski, Benjamin Cole,

Samuel Gray, Matthew Horas, Brooke Katzmarek, Jia Yong Lee, Yee Shan Lee, Lavaniah KPS Mohan, Jessica O’Donnell, Michael Peterson, Chipo Runesu, Zi Jian Saw THE MURPHY CUP MARKETING CASE COMPETITION AWARD Naren Bhojwani, Joseph Gale, Yuliya Gitman, Samuel Lowry, Alyssa Mougin PROJECT BULLDOG Kai Asberry, Garrett Carty, Jeremy Fahling, Chris Fairbank, Aaron Hermsen, Michael Jennings, Isaac ShellaStevens, Braeden Stanley, Joaquin Valdez CFA INSTITUTE RESEARCH CHALLENGE Yee Shan Lee, Jeffrey Marschke, Jessica Mathes, Lavaniah KPS Mohan, Christopher Wahl EMC EXECUTIVE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AWARD Chipo Runesu FINANCIAL EXECUTIVES INTERNATIONAL (FEI) OUTSTANDING STUDENT Jennifer Konrad, Clayton Rehm INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS (IMA) OUTSTANDING STUDENT Dustin Murray The Times-Delphic


01 OPINIONS

April 20, 2015

2015 Relays Edition

HUMANS OF DRAKE

Humans of Drake JUMP TO, page 4

MOLLY LAMOUREUX talks about her New York City dreams and what she’ll do this summer at Harper’s Bazaar to accomplish them. More students’ stories are featured on page 4. PHOTO BY BRENNA PAUKERT | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

CAMPUS LIFE

Stupid furniture of Drake: awful, ugly and unnecessary

The worst furniture around campus: Why is it there and who thought it was a good idea? Lights in Goodwin-Kirk: The lights in the Goodwin-Kirk hallways are on the walls. They seem like a failed attempt to convince us we are all on a cruise ship. On dark days they cast an eerie glow roughly equivalent to a medieval dungeon Display cases in Medbury Hall: Along the side of some of the Medbury classrooms are glass display cases. After a semester of looking at the items in them I have yet to figure out what they actually are. Sometimes I think they are aboriginal artifacts from somewhere in Africa. Other days I think they are fake Native American items. Whatever they are they are distracting. Olmsted metal tables and stools: I would love to watch a performance while sitting on a metal stool partially shaped with a butt dent ... said no one ever. There have only been a few times when I have witnessed someone sitting at the awkward metal box and stool combinations. Each time they have looked like they needed a hug. Seats in Sussman Theater: The chairs themselves are super comfortable. However, in the front they are way close together. At 5 feet 5 inches tall I have just enough legroom. I have no clue how my taller classmates manage. There is just too much contradiction. Your butt feels great, yet you cannot move your legs. Booths in Quad Creek: When you sit in one of the booths at Quad you do not even have to bother lifting your food to your mouth.Your face

is basically at table level. Sure sometimes after a long night, of studying of course, it is great to have your food at face level. Then there are the lunches where I would appreciate having to lift my food to my face. Desks in Meredith 101: Squeaky, small and more trouble than they are worth. The desks in Meredith 101 are awful. God forbid you have to take a test on one. How are you supposed to write when you are constantly afraid of the desk crashing down and the accompanying glares? It is more convenient to write on your lap and ignore them all together. Glass topped tables in Olmsted: Everyone who frequents Olmsted has had a scare with the glass topped tables by Pomerantz stage. After you put something slightly heavy down the glass pops up and then crashes back down. Did I mention it is glass? They have and will shatter on people. I am just waiting until it is me. Rock benches: Littered around the Old Main/ Library part of campus there are numerous rock benches without backs. They are a lovely addition to campus because nothing feels better on a warm spring day than plopping your butt on a cold rock. In my three years at Drake, I have never once seen someone sitting on one. Desks and chairs in Meredith: Desks in Meredith are incredibly easy to move. They have wheels and fly right across the carpeted surfaces. I wish

I could say the same of the chairs. The plastic chairs do not have wheels making them impossible to move on the carpet. After class it is easier to get up by moving your desk instead of your chair. Televisions above Pomerantz stage: Has anyone actually ever seen these turned on? Do they turn on? Since there is a large projector screen mounted in the center of Pomerantz stage I am confused as to their purpose. They look like they are from the early 90s and could crush an unsuspecting prospective student in an instant.

Sarah Fulton Relays Editor sarah.fulton@drake.edu

FURNITURE AROUND CAMPUS can be unnecessary and downright awkward to use. This writer highlights the stupidest furniture Drake has purchased around campus with student tuition dollars . PHOTOS BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR

The Times-Delphic


02 OPINIONS

April 20, 2015

2015 Relays Edition

FASHION

Haute mess: leggings with Sperry’s and other regrettable spring fashion decisions warm enough to sport bare legs. To properly rock this look, I recommend wearing neon running shorts with a pair of beaten up Uggs from middle school. It is not necessary, but an oversized crewneck sweater pairs well with this look. Another one of my staple outfits consists of shorts, a Northface and rain boots. Rainy weather is inevitable in Iowa and when it begins to drizzle rain boots are a necessity. Rain tends to make me cold, so I rely on my trusty Northface to keep me warm. The shorts are worn out of wishful thinking and not practicality. No outfit is complete without Birkenstock sandals with socks. Spring marks the beginning of occasionally warm weather, so, naturally, sandals are a must. Sometimes it is too cold to wear sandals without covering your toes with a protective layer. I prefer wearing neon or patterned socks with my Birks, but any type of sock is acceptable. As warmer weather approaches, I look forward to sunshine and ditching my Uggs, but until then, my horrible sense of style will continue.

As winter melts into spring, I find myself wearing the weirdest outfits in public. Because any given day can either have a -30 degree wind chill or 80 degree weather with sunshine, deciding what to wear is impossible. Sometimes, my outfits aren’t so bad — an oversized t-shirt, leggings, and Sperry’s. Most of the time, however, I am just too lazy to even try to look pulled together and I end up going out in public in running shorts, a sweatshirt and Uggs. I have a suspicion that I am not the only person who is making regrettable fashion decisions this spring. This hunch is based on the fact that I have seen several of my fellow Bulldogs walking around in outfits that resemble my own. I’d like to share my personal collection of my favorite ugly spring looks. My go to outfit for running to the C-store is the classic Uggs with running shorts look. Personally, I like to wear this look when I am out of leggings and it is

Hannah Llittle hannah.little@drake.edu Staff Writer AS SEASONS merge, so do fashion styles. Don’t be caught donning a fashion faux pas.

CAMPUS LIFE

PHOTO BY EMILY LAMBIE | STAFF PHOTPHOTOGRAPHER

SOCIAL MEDIA

Roommate woes: students spill their awkward Is social media socially hindering? dorm-life stories and roommate encounters Bedtime was usually an awkward situation with my first year roommate. One night in particular things got a little out of hand. My beloved roommate Kay normally only consumes straight water. She goes with out drinking caffeine and sugar. On this night she decided to try a Starbucks Frappuccino an hour before bedtime. Needless to say the caffeine affected her a whole lot. We turned out the lights and she sat in bed giggling at nothing for hours. I laid in my bed listening to Kay giggle at nothing for an extended period of time in the dark. No more caffeine was allowed.

When my first year roommate warned me that she talked in her sleep, I was expecting the occasional mumble. I came home late one night while she was already in bed. I don’t recall what, but she said something, clear as day. Thinking she was talking to me, I responded. She responded with something completely unrelated — pause — and then said something else, as if she was talking with someone in a dream. The first few “sleep conversations” I witnessed took me by surprise. I would always respond, sometimes to two or three sentences, before I realized she wasn’t actually talking to me.

Sarah Fulton

Giuliana LaMantia

Tom Scearce

Relays Editor sarah.fulton

Assistant Relays Editor giuliana.lamantia@drake.edu

Assistant Relays Editor thomas.searce@drake.edu

Freshman year during parents weekend I bought a beta fish for my dorm room and I named it Wanda. My roommate and I were co-parents, and I asked her to take it home during Thanksgiving break since I was going on a trip. She did and brought it back, and the next semester during spring break I asked her to take it home again. She did, and then informed me via text that it had died. I wasn’t too upset and I was surprised it had even lasted that

Before fall break of my first year, my two roommates and I were talking about switching up the layout of our room. We were in a triple, so we felt like we had limited options, and we never agreed on a certain layout. So they both went home for fall break and I stayed on campus. I was so bored that I started to rearrange the furniture by myself. I finally found a good layout and I thought they would like it. They came back and hated it. They didn’t like it, but as the semester continued they started to love it, despite one of them having to step on the couch to get into bed.

long so I just let it go. It wasn’t her fault anyway. In October this past fall semester though, she invited a couple of friends to Drake and they were sitting in the dorm room telling stories. My roommate apparently didn’t see me sitting on my bed when she came in the room, and when she went back to the living area she said “We used to have a fish, but I took it home over Thanksgiving last year and

it died. Then I bought another one, and my roommate doesn’t know this, but I killed that one too.”

Sarah LeBlanc Staff Writer sarah.leblanc@drake.edu

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines social media as “forms of electronic communication through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages and other content.” I used this definition as my official rules when I swore off social media for a week. I stayed away from all the sites that fit it this definition. I avoided all sites such as Facebook, Twitter,YouTube and even Buzzfeed. Since users can upload their own content to Buzzfeed, I decided it fit the definition as well. Not to mention the juicy arguments in the comments section, which are always a good way to waste time. I thought going without social media for a week would be easy, since I don’t consider myself to be a heavy user. I rarely post on Facebook, and I don’t use Twitter very often. I figured staying off Buzzfeed would be the most difficult because I can spend a lot of time scrolling through articles and reading comments. Initially, I thought this challenge would increase my productivity and reduce the amount of time I spent procrastinating by surfing the web. Instead, it mostly just frustrated me, since I suddenly couldn’t visit the sites I

usually do. I still procrastinated, but on websites that didn’t fit the broad definition of “social media.” Fortunately, I didn’t experience any of the classic symptoms of someone going through withdrawal, like anxiety, shakiness and insomnia. I did, however, find myself hovering the cursor over the bookmark for Facebook more times than I could count before I yanked it away at the last minute as I remembered the challenge. The most notable change was that I felt incredibly out-of-the-loop all week. When one of my friends mentioned a Facebook post they had seen earlier, I immediately demanded that they describe it to me, as I wouldn’t be able to see it. But once the challenge was over, and I started scrolling through my newsfeed, I realized that I hadn’t missed anything. No one had posted about anything earthshattering, certainly nothing that I couldn’t live without seeing. So even though staying off social media didn’t really stop me from wasting time on the Internet, it did make me realize how inconsequential it is. It was a wake up call to see what a tiny impact it actually has on my daily life. Though it didn’t make me want to give up social media forever, it has lessened the amount of time I spend using it, since I know now how little I gain from it.

Andrea Beck andrea.beck@drake.edu Staff Writer

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

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The Times-Delphic


April 20, 2015

03 OPINIONS

2015 Relays Edition

NASA

NASA looks to expand horizons with a Mars expedition A potential reenacting of a scene from J.T. McIntosh’s novel “One in Three Hundred” propelled a debate lurking in the shadows to the forefront as NASA announced on Dec. 2, 2014 that by late 2030s, it would get astronauts to the Red Planet’s surface. “We believe we now have an example of a long-term, cost-constrained, executable humans-to-Mars program,” Scott Hubbard, a professor in the Stanford University Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of The Planetary Society’s board of directors, said in a statement. While most of the world received the news with much indifference, it was Moses’ stick that divided and parted space enthusiasts and critiques about the necessity of sending man to Mars. Undeniably, the reflex reaction was to cringe at a notion where our finances are thrown into a dark, hollow unknown. Let’s stop right there. How many are truly aware of NASA’s budget? The majority would shrug, argue that it’s too much and bend the truth. NASA doesn’t have enough money. As Professor Herbert Folsom, a Drake professor in the Physics & Astronomy Department said, “I do believe we should send people to Mars, and that it isn’t a waste of money. First of all, in this country at

least, NASA receives just 0.5 percent of the U.S. budget each year. Doubling that would still only be one cent per dollar. Still a small amount, but enough to go to Mars soon and beyond.” Indeed the fact that each fiscal year, a share of the U.S. Budget is allocated to NASA has inevitably led the space exploration giant to cut its budget, and Ernest Shackleton accurately spelled out in his fabled newspaper advertisement, the job description for the future mission crew: “Men and women wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold and long months of complete darkness.” Despite all this, there are people willing to risk their life for science and advancement of the human race. After Neil Armstrong’s giant leap forward, almost five decades ago, it is a matter of time before we realize that manned exploration to Mars is a form of future insurance when faced with the caprices of the highly dynamic nature of the universe. Indeed, if the origin of life as we know arose from a Big Bang in an unknown distant area of the Universe, who can contest that solutions to problems on Earth may lie on Mars? It is no secret that we are impacting Earth’s atmosphere to an extent where it is critical for us to better scrutinize all aspects of our

environment. However, on Earth, where political will and customs will always get in the way of new research projects and explorations, Mars is open to study and can provide more accurate results (unless there is a hidden government of Martians whose goal is to exterminate Earth). Mars knowledge is valuable as its structure is similar to Earth. Past expeditions have shown that there is a possibility of sustaining life on Mars and having man colonize the planet will speed up the terraforming, intentionally adjusting Mars’ climate and surface to render it hospitable to humans, which in turn will propel mankind to participate in a pioneering new world. This snowball effect will enthrall the future generations to help benefit the world, through innovations and breakthroughs in medicine and other technological aspects, creating a newly structured society. Indeed, expanding our horizons to Mars will drive humans towards possible peace. As surprising as it sounds, with a successful Mars mission, the new era opening up would require the cooperation of research programs across the globe. Though conflicts are inevitable, the advanced technology would require the ultimate collaboration of all countries. As such, humanity has an opportunity

to carry forward the best that Earth has to offer and, ironically, on the long run, solve the same problems on Earth that critiques feel should be addressed prior. Moreover, as we telescope deeper into the 21st century, we realize that the eccentric nature of humans to go beyond has had a large number of benefits that only manifested themselves afterwards. From artificial limbs to pollution remediation, today we come in contact with everyday products that we ignore are the results of NASA’s curiosity all within a constrained budget. Should the manned mission to Mars be successful, it will be as life changing as Copernicus’ enlightenment and the moment on July 20th 1969 when millions of people, around the world huddled in front of the television to watch the Eagle, with three men aboard, touch down on lunar rock. The excitement of man expanding beyond visible horizons dispelled all doubt and reservations regarding the project and the world, space geek or not, came together as one. 70 years later, in 2039, when NASA launches the first space ship destined towards Mars, the new generation will have the honor and joy to relive that moment in history that bought their forefathers together. As Professor Folsom summarized, “Human beings have been explorers

throughout our history. I fear that if we stop being curious about the unknown we will stagnate,” Folsom said. “The inspiration of reaching for new horizons, particularly for younger generations, will allow us to continue to progress as a species.” Those resisting the project should realize that there is a purpose in sending people to Mars: better and greater purpose.

Chamindi Wijesinghe wachamindi.wijesinghe@drake.edu Staff Writer

MUSIC

Small but mighty: Des Moines features a robust variety of music venues Lefty’s Live Music concert hall and bar has come to the Drake neighborhood and is now open. This venue will be the newest addition to the live music scene here in Des Moines. I get a feeling that live music here in Des Moines is making a comeback from the digital age of music downloads and Spotify we see today. Des Moines and live music have seen their connections throughout the past 40 years. The Iowa State Fair started to host live acts from, Sonny and Cher in 1972 to this year having the Fray in the Grandstand. The Iowa state fair is only once a year. This gave Des Moines only a taste of what live music could bring to this city. The Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC) founded in 2005 brings live music to Des Moines though events like 80/35 and Little Big Fest. I love the DMMC because they are always supporting live music venues like Vaudeville Mews, Wooly’s and Lefty’s. Vaudeville Mews and Wooly’s are both night club/bar style venues that host local musicians trying to get their foot into the door to national headliners like Switchfoot. These venues show the traditional live music scene that what happens throughout the year, unlike the Iowa State Fair. One venue that is open during the summer months that always gets a buzz is Nitefall on the River. This outdoor

venue that has seen artists like the Nadas and NEEDTOBREATHE perform at the Simon Estes Amphitheatre with the downtown Des Moines skyline in the background. You can never go wrong with starting off the start of the summer with good weather, a cool drink and live music with friends. Lefty’s Music Hall is what Drake University needs to step up in the live music scene in Des Moines. I cannot wait to see what new local and national bands come to the Drake neighborhood.

Brennan Haymond brennan.haymond@drake.edu Staff Writer

DOWNTOWN DES MOINES’ MUSIC SCENE includes Nitefall on the River. The outdoor venue is a local favorite for summer concerts and kicks off its season line-up this May at Simon Estes.

The Times-Delphic

PHOTOS BY JOEL VENSKE | PHOTO EDITOR


04 OPINIONS

April 20, 2015

2015 Relays Edition

HUMANS OF DRAKE

Humans of Drake Sophomore Brenna Paukert profiles nine members of the Drake community through a series of photos and conversations.

Allison Richter

Hannah Erickson

Rachel Spitzig

“I was born and raised Catholic … my faith is a rock in my life, like a foundation. It stays constant when everything else is changing. Something my mom would always tell me when I was little is ‘There is nothing that you are going to do today that you and God aren’t doing together.’ It’s really reassuring to me to remember that I’m not doing it alone.”

“If I could major in painting and make tons of money from it, I would totally do so. It’s something that I can really get lost in for a long time. I love doing people — faces and interactions and body positions — there’s something about painting a person. You know, they’re very unique. Even if you don’t get it right but you get the emotion right, you’re still portraying who they are.”

“For me, trekking isn’t about the destination. It’s all about the path to the destination. For two weeks, I spent every waking moment with eight strangers and a guy I had barely known for six months crossing the Himalayas with no connection to the outside world. That was the real adventure.”

Ali Jandal

Grace Rogers

Molly Lamoureux

“My favorite daydream is being at the Relays as a complete underdog. Lap one I’d always be in the mix. Lap two the leaders would break off. The third lap one guy would break off and I’d go behind him; and then the last lap we’d just be head to head until 200 meters and then I’d just take off and yell … and take off and go sprinting towards the finish and then cross. Even now it gives me chills.”

“I started being a soccer fan when my family got season tickets to the Kansas City soccer team, Sporting Kansas City. After a while, my parents told me that I needed to stop talking about soccer because I was getting really annoying. I figured if I can’t talk about soccer to my parents, I would just go talk about soccer on the Internet. So I started blogging and writing.”

“I went to New York over spring break and had three interviews set up. In less than 48 hours, Harper’s Bazaar got back to me. I didn’t even think twice. I really wanted to do this and knowing that all my hard work was recognized by someone as prestigious and important as Harper’s Bazaar made me feel really good. It confirms that all these extra fashion endeavors are worth my time.”

Kelsey Tyler

Adam Ussher

Derek Nystrom

“When I was eight my mom and I had just pulled into a McDonald’s parking lot. We were about to get out of our van when a car came racing around through the lot. A girl rolls out of the passenger side. I don’t know if she was pushed or if she jumped. My mom immediately went over to her and helped pick her up and said ‘You don’t ever let anyone treat you like that’ and gave her a hug. It’s one of the reasons why my mom is my favorite person.”

“I went to New Orleans for Spring Break to see some family. I got to the airport on time [to go home]. I got to my gate, sat down with my Subway, had a book ready and all of a sudden I heard a loud bang…followed by two more really loud bangs. People were running around, freaking out. I want to become a cop so I thought, ‘I need to stay here in case somebody needs me.”

“I think I’m just really fortunate to have had family that has been 100 percent supportive of what I’ve wanted. I’ve never really felt any judgment from my family. My boyfriend and I met online on Grindr, his name is Eric. He’s from back home in Illinois. He’s really tall, taller than me. He’s really nice, caring, hard working. He’s a little shy while I’m more outgoing, so we balance each other out really well.”

HUMANS OF DRAKE profiles students to expose sides of them some people don’t usually see. Read about the nine students above. PHOTOS BY BRENNA PAUKERT. ADDITIONAL PHOTOS COURTESY OF RACHEL SPITZIG, ALI JANDAL AND DEREK NYSTROM.

The Times-Delphic


April 20, 2015

05 OPINIONS

2015 Relays Edition

EQUAL RIGHTS

Gender pay gap reflects inequality While we may pretend to treat everyone with the same amount of respect and fairness, these values simply are not reflected in the difference of pay between men and women in the American workforce. Feminism, equal rights and diversity. We preach about these terms and their importance everyday, but are we really doing anything to progress toward the goal of true uniformity within our society? This is an issue that has been hindering America since it became a public issue for women following WWII in the 1940s and has continued into our “progressive” culture today. A 2014 Forbes.com article presenting statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, claimed women earn on average 77 percent of what males in the workforce earn when working full-time all year long. With college tuition payments skyrocketing year after year, women have to look even more critically into their decisions to further their education and take in a grander amount of student debt. Some of the highest paying professions require an extended amount of education (think doctors and lawyers). With women knowing that this additional hard work in school would result in a lower salary or reward, it can be both discouraging as well as prohibiting the equality between men and women. In a progressive society, such as the one we are fortunate enough to have here in America, it is pertinent that we close the gaps between genders. It is only after we do this that we will be able to advance to a more successful nation. Prosperity comes from the workforce and America needs to equally compensate those that drive us forward in the world’s economy. Incentivizing equal opportunity emphasizes the determination in the female worker as barriers of inferiority are diminished. Critics have tried to accuse the gap of being highly driven by the difference in occupations and their incomes between men and women. However, the same article states that women were found to earn 7 percent less

than men in the same field one year after graduating with the same degree. These numbers come from an article published by the American Association of University Women, released in 2014. These statistics are supported by a study conducted by Cornell economists Francine D. Blau and Lawrence M. Kahnin. In their research, they found that approximately 41 percent of the gender wage gap is attributed to “unexplained” reasons. This means that while part of the 77 percent difference is due to differences in hours worked and overall salary, there is still a chunk of change that is being withheld from women from reasons that cannot be explained rationally. These disheartening facts regarding women’s compensation are not only sad, they are hurting the trust we have in America. If we can’t trust each other to adequately reward those who put in an honest days work, how can we trust each other to be citizens of civility and justice? While it may seem like a genderspecific issue, it’s the principles behind this act of prejudice that hurt our great nation and bring to question the validity of the “United” States of America.

ENTERTAINMENT

Don’t listen to Vogue: Sporting daily athleticwear outside of the gym is not a crime against fashion

For whatever reason, wearing athletic clothes to class and to places other than the gym has become a new fashion statement. Maybe people like wearing athletic clothes because they are comfy. Maybe people like wearing them because they make their butts look great. Maybe some people just like wearing athletic clothes. Whatever their reason is: I don’t care. What clothes other people wear doesn’t really affect anyone besides the person wearing them. I mean does someone wearing athletic clothes change my day in

any way? No. Not in the slightest. Unless you are presenting a group project to your class and your group decided on business casual and someone shows up wearing an outfit reminiscent to a ‘90s work out video, does it really matter if someone likes wearing running shorts? So if you find yourself judging someone on the clothes that they are wearing, ask yourself: Does it really matter? Then remind yourself to not be a jerk. Whatever other people seem to be wearing, what matters most is what you are wearing. Are you comfortable in your clothes? Do your clothes make you feel pretty? Or is that tag in your collar scratching the back of your neck, making it impossible for you to concentrate? Are your thighs sticking to the seat of your chair making you wish that you’d worn pants instead? Does the t-shirt you’re wearing make your biceps and chest muscles look like you’re Chris Evans? All of these questions, and your answers, are infinitely more important than evaluating someone else’s outfit. If they are more comfortable coming to class wearing athletic clothes than jeans — that’s their prerogative. Instead of judging

someone else’s outfit, take a long hard look in the mirror. Liking the way you present yourself is more important than anyone else’s approval. Be confident in your own body and you’ll no longer care what anyone else is wearing. By feeling comfortable in your own clothes and your own body, you will also be happier in general. Letting something that you have no control over change your mood is just a pointless waste of energy. Use the energy that you would normally spend on giving someone the once-over and complaining to your friends about the latest fashion trends to do more productive things like your homework, finding a sweet-ass internship or even spending time with your friends.

Ruth Ronnau ruth.ronnau@drake.edu Staff Writer

Matt Glasow matthew.glasow@drake.edu Staff Writer

ENTERTAINMENT

Change in requirements for an Emmy: only shorter shows qualify I am a firm believer in the half-hour sitcom. Up until this year the Emmy Awards were not. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has finally made stricter rules as to what is considered comedy at the annual award show. Last year shows like “Orange is the New Black” were put in the Best Comedy category. These types of shows take up a nomination spot that could be going to less recognized, but equally funny in quality shows like network sitcoms. Netflix purposefully refers to “Orange is the New Black” as a comedy because they want it nowhere near their big gun “House of Cards” when it comes to awards. Thankfully, Emmy has ruled they can’t have it both ways. The new rules state that a comedy is a half-hour show. A network can start a petition to get their hour-long show a nomination in the comedy category and the Academy will consider. “Orange is the New Black” already did that, and Emmy did not accept. Both drama and comedy categories will now have seven nominee spots. This gives more room for bids from beloved comedies like “The Big Bang Theory” and “Parks and Recreation.” In the past, these shows were never seem to fit in the list of nominees due to overcrowding by shows that don’t belong there. My hope is that this new expansion will also give the Academy room to get creative. Maybe they will take the time to nominate shows like “Parks and Rec” (especially when this is “Parks” absolute last year to get a nomination since it has ended its run). Call me crazy, but maybe network comedies like “The Mindy Project,” “New Girl” and newcomer “Fresh Off the Boat” can finally get some recognition. Maybe even their leading actors can wrangle in a nomination. The other good news for comedy is that the awards are finally making a distinction between talk and sketch shows. Talk will go to programs like “The

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Daily Show” and “The Tonight Show.” And that means “Saturday Night Live” will finally get the sketch distinction it deserves. With this division, more variety shows have a chance at Emmy. The talk shows are pretty much locked down (Stewart, Fallon, Kimmel, Colbert), but the sketch category is now wide open. Perhaps Amy Schumer’s “Inside Amy Schumer” will finally get some muchdeserved attention. “Portlandia” can actually win. I would be even happier with a “Kroll Show” nomination. That would be sweet comedy justice. With all these changes, I can’t help but wonder what networks will start considering when looking for their new shows for next season. I would hope they start to think in this better-defined comedy landscape. Leave the hour-long dramadies to Netflix and HBO. Networks need to start focusing on those 30-minute comedies we are so desperately missing on our TVs. Because the variety category is now split, maybe networks will start looking for more talented sketch performers. And maybe that will be able to bring an SNL essence and voice to a new generation and audience.

Stephanie Kocer stephanie.kocer@drake.edu Staff Writer

COLLEGE LIFE allows athletic clothing anywhere: Comfortable clothing should be a priority. PHOTO BY JOEL VENZKE | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER


06 OPINIONS

April 20, 2015

2015 Relays Edition

FASHION

Warmer weather brings light and breezy spring fashion trends

I should start with a disclaimer. I’m not a fashion consultant and often struggle simply trying to figure out what to wear in the morning, let alone put enough thought into how my outfits will appear to other people. That being said, I believe it’s important to dress how you feel, and to let your appearance represent your personality however you choose to express yourself. So, in terms of spring fashion, the following five outfits/accessories are what I feel most comfortable in and seem to be pretty popular for women to wear once winter finally thaws. 1. Capris and lace tops. Lace has been coming back into style for a while, and spring is a perfect time to reintroduce the classy pattern in a casual setting. In addition, pastel or brightly colored pants or capris are also pretty popular during this time of year, and paired with a lightweight shirt they present an outfit that reflects a hopeful spring attitude after five months of sweater weather. 2. Light sweaters. Spring is an awkward time of year weather-wise because while it’s usually not warm enough for shorts, you don’t necessarily need your heavy wool sweaters and boots. Instead, a light cotton or stitched sweater might be a cooler option while still a cozy alternative. Additionally, you can pair the sweater with almost anything, from jeans and sandals to leggings and stylish boots (no Uggs please). 3. Floral dresses. Even though they’re not

groundbreaking, you can’t deny the popularity of floral patterns in spring. A lighter material with a floral or abstract pattern or even lace is fairly popular during spring and can be paired with a colored sweater or tights if it’s still cool outside. Footwear is also pretty flexible with this option, depending on the dress you can choose from short boots, flats, sandals or anything else you think fits the feel of the dress. 4. Tank tops and cardigans. Though some might protest this fashion choice, I don’t believe that you have to store your tank tops in the back of your closet until it’s officially summertime. Even when the weather is still a bit brisk, you can pair a patterned tank with a light cardigan that keeps you warm while still allowing you to show off your summer clothes for longer than three months out of the year. 5. Toms/flats. Personally I like patterned Toms, but you really can’t go wrong with any design of these extremely comfortable and casually fashionable flats. They match with almost anything and are a lighter and more versatile alternative to sneakers, even though they offer a similar level of comfort. A bright colored or patterned style of Toms helps ring in spring and gets you ready to spend more time outside other than simply trekking to and from class. If you don’t have or like Toms, any pair of ballet flats will do the trick of putting a spring in your step. Whatever you choose to wear this spring, make sure it’s something you feel comfortable and confident wearing. You don’t have to, and on many occasions shouldn’t, adhere to the latest style of fashions. On occasion though, if possible, treat yourself to a fashion that reflects your personality even, and especially, if it’s not mainstream.

Sarah LeBlanc sarah.leblanc@drake.edu Staff Writer

SPRING FASHION TRENDS involve light colors, airy fabrics and lacy patterns. Try something new by adding light sweaters and floral patterns to your spring wardrobe. PHOTOS

BY SARAH LEBLANC | STAFF PHOTGRAPHER

The Times-Delphic


April 20, 2015

07 OPINIONS

2015 Relays Edition

RELATIONSHIPS

GRADUATION

I’ve come to have to apologize for my feelings more than just saying the words “I like you.” For the past several years it’s been “Hey. I like you. Sorry. Go bulldogs!” Of course, the people I’ve been romantically interested in were also my friends beforehand, so I usually was completely putting that friendship in the red. Let’s just say I don’t have too much game in regards to dating. Or hooking up. Or living, generally. Usually when someone tells me that they want to date me I start flipping out like I just won an Oscar. “You really like me! You really like me! Are you sure? I wear Power Ranger t-shirts.” Maybe I’d leave out that last part, but whatever. What I really want to emphasize is this: crushes are so high school. If you have feelings for someone, college isn’t the place to keep those things hidden away so you can play the blushing game whenever they’re around. We’re adults, gosh darn it. College is such a small part of your life overall that ultimately, all you’re doing is wasting time by keeping that stuff hidden away. If they like you back, hey, congrats! Hooray! And if they don’t, guess what? Now you don’t have to obsess about maybe potentially being in the same room with this person and can start looking for

It can’t already be April 2015. It can’t. I remember when I was 18 just moving into my freshman dorm room. So naïve. I had so much ahead of me. Senior capstone was years away. Appling for jobs was in the future. And now it’s almost time for me to graduate from college. Am I an adult? How does one tell if they have reached adulthood yet? Does it happen overnight? Do you get a certificate in the mail? I don’t think I was supposed to be an adult. I want to be one, but the corndogs I just warmed up in the microwave seem to tell me differently. I’m not ready to graduate. I may have completed the credits, done the internships and bought my cap and gown, but I don’t want to leave. I ’m ready for the schoolwork to stop. Believe me, that can stop at any time. But graduating means I’m leaving behind everything I’ve known my entire life. It means leaving my Drake friends behind. It means I have to go into the real world. I’ve become comfortable in my student label. I just mark that I’m a student on forms and I don’t have to worry about any other paperwork. I’m just a student. Don’t blame me, I don’t know things. But now I do know things. Or at least I think I’m supposed to know things. Should I know things? I should probably figure that out before graduation in May. I think I might know how to do the job I’ve been training for the past four years. The training my parents have paid a lot of money for me to receive. However, I haven’t heard back from any of the jobs I’ve applied for. Should I be worried? Do people not want to hire me? Is there something wrong with me? Should I have had more internships? Should I have studied abroad? Should I have added a third major? Well, it’s too late now. I just want a job. Correction: I just want a job that I sort of like that pays me what I deserve

Stop hiding your feelings: Spill The real world sucks: graduation from a senior’s perspective your heart out to your crush a person who does think you’re cool enough to date. And if this crush does happen to be your closest friend and you don’t want your feelings to end this relationship, remember this: If they truly are a good friend to you, they wouldn’t let something like this get in the way of your friendship. Feelings happen. Whether you’re a guy who likes a girl, a girl who likes a girl, a guy who likes a guy or a guy who just thinks pineapples are really sexy, we’re all weird and gross and human. You can’t ignore your feelings or urges. If something is meant to happen, it will, I promise. Just be cool about it and get that crap out in the open. Also, if someone doesn’t feel the same way: be cool. It’s not the end of the world. They’re not the last person in the world, and you are cool enough to find someone just as awesome as, or even more awesome, than your person. Just let them know before you drive yourself crazy and see how you can move on from there. One of my main mottos in life is this: Passivity will get you nowhere. No one in history has gotten anything done twiddling their thumbs and waiting for their life to happen in front of them. So screw the consequences of what you’re feeling and yell it to the world. Or like, just whisper it to the person who needs to hear it. I promise you that any nervousness or guilt or fear you have will not stay with you. And lastly, remember this: feelings are like pens — they leave a mark, but nothing that can’t be washed away.

Jeff Hersheway jeffrey.hersheway@drake.edu Staff Writer

and gives me insurance. That’s a thing right? People always talk about getting an entry-level job with benefits. I can get one of those, right? If I don’t get a job by graduation I will have to move back home and live with my parents. I love my parents. They are good people. They believe in me when I don’t believe in myself. They call me every day asking if I’ve found a job yet, but hey, they just care about my general well being. They’ve already offered to take care of me until I find a job. But I can’t ask them to do that. Plus, they’ll drive me crazy if I stay with them for too long. They’ll start to ask those questions — you know the ones that parents ask. “Why can’t you ask your internship to hire you full time? They love you there. They must want to hire you.” One of my personal favorites: “Doesn’t Drake help you find a job? They should have a system where they place you into a job.” And then there’s the plain unnecessary: “Do you have a boyfriend yet?” Yes, guys. A significant other can help me find employment. But that’s the thing. I have no idea how to get someone to hire me. I’ve listened to my professors’ advice. But they aren’t the ones having to look for jobs. They already have one. Every new job application is terrifying. Forget the hours it takes to fill out just one, too. Every application is looking for someone with more experience than I have, but how am I supposed to get that experience if I can’t find an entry-level job in the first place? I don’t really have time to think about any of this right now anyway. I need to focus on getting my degree first before I start freaking out about a job. Actually, I just need to pass my astronomy test. Why did I think taking that class my last semester would be a good idea? I’m terrible at science.

What if I fail astronomy and I can’t graduate? Forget failing astronomy. What about failing my journalism capstone? Pretty sure they won’t give me a degree if I mess that one up. I have dreams about failing capstone. That’s probably why I haven’t had a decent night of sleep all semester. I lose sleep over everything these days. Especially if it’s in future tense. In order to find a job I have to seriously think about what I want to do with the rest of my life. Is it weird to have an irrational fear of not making the right decision? Am I allowed to change my mind? Every time I pass the graduation gown in my closet, the anxiety begins all over again. I know I can do this, but I wish the universe would start cooperating with me. The next few weeks are going to be the worst. And then, nothing. My future is a blank slate. It’s exciting and awful all at the same time. I should study for that astronomy test now.

Stephanie Kocer stephanie.kocer@drake.edu Staff Writer

FOOD

Hubbell breakfast is a classic staple of campus and should not be changed

It’s come to my attention that some students want more variety when it comes to Hubbell breakfast. But I would argue that Hubbell breakfast is one of the few constants in a Drake student’s life. Among fluctuating deadlines, the unpredictable weather and the constant uncertainty of our futures looming over us, we can count on Hubs to have our favorite morning foods. Now, I admit that I (mostly) hate

change. I like things to stay the same, which is why World War III almost erupted when my parents remodeled my childhood home when I was in middle school, but I digress. But with Drake in a period of fluxnew president, new professors, new buildings — it’s nice to know that some things will never change. I can count on there to be eggs, meat and some kind of potato when I enter Hubbell after a late night of studying (OK, so I meant Netflix binging). It’s comforting to know exactly what I’ll be getting. And because of this, I look forward to it. If one day, there were no eggs, I’d be devastated. Nobody wants to walk around someone having a breakdown that early in the morning. And brunch. Hubbell brunch is a ubiquitous part of campus life. Changing this constancy would just be cruel to the college students dragging themselves to eat after a night of, ahem, totally

innocuous activity. Don’t get me wrong, variety is still the spice of life. But you don’t put spice on everything. Don’t quote me on this, but I’m pretty sure that’s rule number one of cooking. So varying lunch and dinner options? A-OK. Let’s not get crazy with breakfast, though. For those who thrive on change, I suggest this: Let’s not change breakfast, let’s add to it. Adding options gives us the best of both worlds. There would be more variety, yet the essential essence of Hubbell breakfast would be unchanged. We can all live happily ever after (graduation).

Taylor Eisenhaur taylor.eisenhauer@drake.edu Staff Writer

THE INFAMOUS Hubbell breakfast is a classic feature for on-campus students. Some have requested a change, but others think Hubbell breakfast should continue serving the same menu . PHOTOS BY CODY FROST | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Times-Delphic


08 OPINIONS

April 20, 2015

2015 Relays Edition

NETFLIX

Netflix’s new show “Daredevil” lives up to Marvel fans’ high expectations Marvel’s “Daredevil” was released this past weekend and has great reviews. Rotten Tomatoes giving the show a 97 percent approval rating. But where Marvel’s Cinematic Universe is action-packed, Marvel’s “Daredevil” is violent and gritty in a whole new way. The show chronicles the origins of the comic book character Mathew Murdock, played by actor Charlie Cox. Murdock was blinded at a young age by radioactive materiel. Now an adult, Murdock is trying to save his city, Hell’s Kitchen, from being over taken by criminal activity. Dressed in a black mask, he fights gangsters at night using skills he learned during his childhood. During the day, he and his law firm partner Foggy Nelson, played by actor Elden Henson, attempt to defend the innocent and protect those persecuted by the corruption. For comic book outsiders, the show’s plot is easily digestible—if you can stomach the gore. There’s no mistaking that this show is dark. Compound fractures—where bones break the skin—are frequently shown, and murder with ordinary objects like bowling balls and hammers leave the perpetrator’s faces spattered with blood. But violence is a part of this world— without it, Hell’s Kitchen wouldn’t be hell, and wouldn’t need the devil to protect it. As the series goes on, Murdock, Foggy and Karen Page (portrayed by Deborah Ann Woll) all take up the fight against the show’s ultimate villain. This villain, whose name isn’t revealed until the end of the third episode, “Rabbit in a Snowstorm,” inspires such fear that his underlings would rather die then speak his name. This build-up doesn’t lead to a let down. Wilson Fisk, portrayed by actor Vincent D’Onofrio, is everything a villain should be. Imposing, terrifying and controlled, Fisk rules Hell’s Kitchen’s underworld with an iron fist, “taking care of ” anyone and everyone that risks his attempts to

save the city. Together with impeccable acting, fluid cinematography and an eerie soundtrack, Marvel’s Daredevil builds and moves easily from one episode to the next. Before you realize it, you’ve watched the entire series. The characters are dynamic and complicated. The casting and writing in the show highlights the diversity in Hell’s Kitchen, with Rosario Dawson portraying Matt’s love interest and nurse, Claire Temple. Both Page, Murdock, and Temple speak Spanish to their Hispanic client Mrs. Elena Cardenas, as they help her with her lawsuit. While the show isn’t perfect — some of the fight scenes are a little long — it portrays issues of morality fully, highlighting on Murdock’s Catholic faith even as he pushes crooked cops off of buildings, and claims to feel the devil inside of himself. With the show’s release, Marvel yet again shows that it knows what it’s doing. It continually moves forward and creates complex worlds. “Daredevil” is just the beginning of a new, shadow-y and dark era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Ruth Ronnau ruth.ronnau@drake.edu Staff Writer NETFLIX’S NEW SHOW “Daredevil” should be add to your ‘shows to watch’ list. PHOTO BY JOEL VENSKE | PHOTO EDITOR

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01 FEATURES

April 20, 2015

FEATURES 2015 Relays Edition

Life as Magoo JUMP TO, page 4

MAGOO, little brother of the late Porterhouse, is an energetic white English Bulldog that enjoys life. Find out more about Magoo, his owners, Kevin and Erin Bell and his adventures on page 6. PHOTO COURTESY OF KEVIN AND ERIN BELL

ENTERTAINMENT

Sitcoms: a changing medium adapts to a changing audience Stephanie Kocer Staff Writer stephanie.kocer@drake.edu NBC canceled a sitcom in 1989 due to low ratings. A year later network executive Rick Ludwin ordered four episodes of that same show. He liked the young comedian it starred. Those

four episodes were shown during the summer season on NBC. It then scored a few viewers. Those new viewers, mostly young men, prompted the network to pick up the show for a second season. That struggling sitcom: Seinfeld. It’s hard to tell whether a sitcom will be a smash hit or a giant flop. Seinfeld had everything working against it: scheduling, ratings and an unknown star. Today it is considered the greatest sitcom of all time. Many shows don’t get that lucky, though.

There’s no secret formula for making a great comedy. Whether a show makes it or not depends on more than just being funny. It depends on ratings, scheduling and style.

NETWORK TELEVISION: A CHANGING MEDIUM Networks release new comedies every fall and mid-season hoping one will connect with viewers. If the shows don’t score high enough in the Nielsen ratings,

The Biggest Sitcom Finales of All Time The most beloved sitcoms usually end with the biggest final episodes. Throughout the years networks have built up the last episodes of shows like “Friends” and “Cheers” to receive massive viewership and high Nielsen ratings. These shows, however, trump the views that show finales get today. The last episode of “Breaking Bad,” aired in 2013, only had 10.3 million views, which was considered phenomenal for AMC. But that number doesn’t even compare to the 105.9 million views that “M*A*S*H” brought in in 1983. Now 32 years later the record has yet to be beat, and even more surprising the record-holder was a sitcom

“Home Improvement”

“Family Ties”

“All in the Family”

“The Cosby Show”

“Friends”

“Seinfeld”

“Cheers”

“MASH”

Ended May 25, 1999 35.5 million views

Ended April 8, 1979 40.2 million views

Ended May 6, 2004 52.5 million views

Ended May 20, 1993 84.4 million views

Ended May 14, 1989 36.3 million views

Ended April 30, 1992 44.4 million views

Ended May 14, 1998 76.3 million views

Ended February 28, 1983 105.9 million views

the audience measurement system developed to track how many viewers a show receives every week, they could easily be canceled. CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” is the highest rated comedy on TV right now. The show averages about 17 million viewers every week, while ABC’s highest rated sitcom “Modern Family” only averages 11.18 million viewers. These shows, however, still don’t even come close to the Nielsen ratings of “Friends” and “Cheers” back in the 1990s — averaging about 25 million viewers per episode with each episode. While networks agonize over how to get more coveted Nielsen ratings, younger viewers are becoming less concerned with watching a show when it airs and more concerned with convenience. Online video streaming sites like Hulu offer a convenient way for people to watch their favorite half-hour comedies whenever they want. Television is changing. People are watching shows on their smart phones. People are no longer concerned with watching a show when it airs. Which holds down ratings. It’s almost impossible for new shows to have a chance in the ratings. No one is watching when the networks want them to. There’s a much larger audience to account for when considering who is watching shows online at a later time, but that audience may not be helpful when it comes to the ratings problem. “We don’t even know yet how much these other audiences matter because advertisers pay for these shows and advertisers mostly want to pay for the live viewers, so a show can build its audience online but it doesn’t necessarily matter in keeping it on the air,” Jaime Weinman, a TV writer for Maclean’s magazine, said. Online viewers are also making it hard for networks to keep up, which may result in poorly crafted sitcoms. Networks tend to spend more time promoting their shows instead of making sure it’s a quality show. “Part of the problem is there’s this rush to get things onto the Internet because of an income flow,” David Anthony Higgins said. Higgins has acted on sitcoms like “Ellen” and “Malcolm in the Middle” and currently works on “Mike and Molly.” “There’s a tendency to cheapen the product,” Higgins said. If a show isn’t making the network money from the very beginning, networks have no hesitation killing it. “The audience is spread out more than it was,” Higgins said. “You have to have shows that have legs that give them a chance to get an audience.” “It’s hard for a network to keep something on air if it’s not succeeding.” Sitcoms also meet the challenge

of network scheduling. Viewers can’t be everywhere at once. If a show is scheduled at the same time as a popular show on a different network it may lose to the bigger show. If networks don’t do enough to market their shows they could be losing potential viewers. Boston University professor Michael Loman spent years working as a writer and producer for pioneering multicamera shows like “All in the Family,” “Happy Days” and “The Cosby Show.” He said the show scheduled before a sitcom is a huge factor. “If the network schedules a show behind a very popular show like “Big Bang Theory” or “Modern Family” like the way they’ve done “Black-ish” after “Modern Family” you’re going to get a much better sampling than you would have if it wasn’t behind a very popular show,” Loman said.

THE “MULANEY” PROBLEM John Mulaney committed a crime. This past fall the former Saturday Night Live writer made a show called “Mulaney” about a stand-up comedian and his wacky friends. The ultimate sitcom sin is stealing from other shows. Critics and Mulaney’s fans alike said “Mulaney” was a “Seinfeld” rip-off. Screenplay writer Nadia Madden says the worst thing a show can be is a copycat. “If ‘Two Broke Girls’ is a hit on one network, the others will try their versions that feel like, well, copycats,” Madden said. “It seems like networks try to come up with a mixture of demographics that they think audiences will like and forget that the writing also needs to be top notch.” “Mulaney” ran all of those offenses and now awaits its imminent doom of cancellation. Critics and audiences agreed the sitcom wasn’t well written. It was trying too hard for gag laughs. “A lot of the time, a show is written toward jokes, and the story suffers because of it,” Madden said. The struggling sitcom’s biggest problem might have been it was just done too many times before. “It can be hard to write a multicamera show that feels new and fresh just because that format has been done so many times,” screenplay writer Amanda Pendolino said. “Will your sitcom about parents and kids hanging out on the couch feel original at all, for example, when we’ve seen so many?” Pendolino said. Mulaney’s show had everything audiences have seen before, including a multiple-camera setup. There are two types of sitcoms: single-camera and multiple-camera. Single-camera setup involves one

JUMP TO, page 3

The Times-Delphic


02 FEATURES

April 20, 2015

FEATURES 2015 Relays Edition

SUPPORTING LOCAL TEAMS

Raising fans’ hope, Cubs look good for upcoming season Cole Norum Staff Writer cole.norum@drake.edu It’s as American as apple pie, Chevrolet and claiming to have seen “them” before “they” got popular. The 2015 season is approaching for the Iowa Cubs, Des Moines’ minor league baseball team, who will play 71 home games at Principal Park beginning

April 17. The I-Cubs recently garnered three 2015 Cityview Best of Des Moines awards, snagging Best Local Sports Team, Best Outdoor Sporting Event and their stadium taking home Best Place to Watch a Sporting Event. Fan-favorite promotions return for the season, including fireworks after Friday night games. The team’s 33 year as the Chicago Cubs’ highest minor league team will have new start times — at 12:08, 1:08, 6:38 and 7:08.

PRINCIPAL PARK is home to the Iowa Cubs since 1992, originally known as Sec Taylor Stadium. Next home game is April 20 against the Oklahoma City Dodgers. PHOTO BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR

The time-change is a result of a recent partnership between the organization and KCCI Channel 8. Also new to the year is the air of hope and anticipation surrounding their parent club, the first in more than five years in which the Chicago Cubs enter their own season with high hopes for reaching the playoffs. A slew of offseason acquisitions, headlined by the arrivals of new manager Joe Maddon and starting pitcher Jon Lester, have fostered a new round of optimism for Chicago’s north-side squad. While they strive in Chicago for their best season in years, the goal is a bit different 298-miles west on I-80: player development. The teams that comprise the multitiered structure of Major League Baseball’s minor league system are often referred to as “farm teams,” more a nod to their existence as cultivators of talent than their geographic locations. Much like the ground in which Iowa farmers sow their corn and soy, the I-Cubs have a rich history of fostering young players in their last stop before the big leagues. From current Chicago Cubs players, including first baseman Anthony Rizzo and right fielder Jorge Soler, to Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, who were integral to the Cubs’ 2003 near-World Series appearance, to Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, the Des Moines’ club boasts a legacy of past and current big league alumni. But there is a reason the Chicago Cubs are especially excited for this season beyond adding Maddon and Lester. The excitement spurs from someone new.

He stands 6 feet 5 inches tall, plays third base, hit 43 home runs in 138 minor league games last season, won every award imaginable and turned 23-yearsold three days after New Year’s. His name is Kris Bryant, and he may only be in Des Moines for a couple of weeks. And while it’s a good thing for Iowa baseball fans, that he will be in the minor leagues for even a day is a source of controversy in the baseball community. A rule exists in MLB’s collective bargaining agreement regarding a team’s control of a player after drafting him, which the Cubs did with Bryant in 2013 when they took him second overall. By preventing Bryant’s ascension to their team by even just two weeks this year, they will prevent him from accruing a full year of service, thus delaying his ability to enter free agency by an entire year. In more simple terms, by refusing to place the player widely regarded as the best in the minor leagues to begin their season, and then waiting to promote him later in the year, the Cubs will get an entire additional year of Bryant’s services before having to negotiate against other teams for what is sure to be a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars. It may make sense to more businessoriented minds, but it doesn’t fly with Tony Clark, the executive director of Major League Baseball Player’s Association (MLBPA). In a conversation with reporters in March, Clark expressed dissatisfaction with the perceived manipulation of a rule by many clubs in order to prolong their control of players. “We don’t think it’s in the industry’s

best interest, to not have the best players on the field all the time,” Clark said. By trading 2014 starting third baseman Luis Valbuena, the Cubs signaled they were one step closer to handing Bryant the starting job. Now, Mike Olt, owner of a career .159 batting average, stands in Bryant’s way — if only for a few weeks. Despite his strong spring training performance — leading all of baseball with eight home runs at the time of this writing — Bryant noted his confusion regarding the disconnect between his high level of play and the equally high likelihood of remaining in the minor leagues. “I’m hearing from my teammates that they want me up and I’m doing well,” Bryant said in a Chicago Sun-Times article. “That’s kind of sending mixed messages to me.” With Clark’s comments about the rule in general and Bryant’s agent, Scott Boras, asserting the Cubs’ handling of his client’s path to stardom is “damaging the ethics and brand of Major League Baseball,” Bryant himself hasn’t kowtowed to the mum’s-the-word-script athletes are more or less expected to follow regarding controversial circumstances. “It’s an honor to wear this uniform every day — I can’t help but smile every time I put it on,” Bryant said. “But I’m not a child out there. I realize there’s a business side to this thing.” That business side could very well allow I-Cubs fans and Drake students alike to brave April chills to see the Cubs’ next phenom-in-waiting.

SPRINGTIME FUN

Sitback, relax and enjoy the show: four local, must-visit theaters in Des Moines Ethan Fickau Staff Writer ethan.fickau@drake.edu There are four significant cinemas that attract residents in the Des Moines area. Those locations are the Varsity Theater next to Drake University, the Flix Brewhouse at Merle Hay Mall, the Cobblestone 9 Theater in Urbandale and the Century 20 Jordan Creek and XD Theater at Jordan Creek Mall in West Des Moines. These theaters often use the Drake Relays as a kick-start to the summer season. Each of these theaters is different in its own way. The Varsity Theater prides itself on affordability. Denise Mahon owns the Varsity and she says that she loves the benefits of having the theater so close to a college campus. “We have $5 matinees and you can’t beat that. We have a lot of staff and instructors and professors that come here on a regular basis. With students, it depends on the film. One thing that gives me real satisfaction is there has been several Saturdays where at the end of a film, they break out in applause and you can’t get better than that,” Mahon said. The Varsity was founded in 1938. Mahon’s father bought it in 1955 and it’s been running ever since. With the Cobblestone 9, the theater’s

top priority is having a family friendly environment for people of all ages. Nick Pielak, an assistant manager at the Cobblestone 9, said that the cinema is family-oriented first and foremost, and he loves putting on special deals. “We usually get a lot of kid movies that are targeted towards young adults or below. We do play a lot of animated movies,” Pielak said. “We also play a lot of action films but not much of the suspense or horrors. Tuesdays are our special days where all tickets are $4.25 per person and all of our combos are $5 off. Nick Pielak said that the Cobblestone 9 has been around for about 20 years. In regards to the two larger cinemas, The Flix Brewhouse and the Century 20 Jordan Creek, their appeal is the deals they put on for their audiences. At Cinemark 20 Jordan Creek, moviegoers love deals such as the “Monday is Seniors Day,” the “Early Bird” and the “Tuesday Discount Day.” The Flix Brewhouse’s specials include similar versions with “Early Bird” and “Wednesday Senior Day.” While hordes of people are racing to watch the Relays, most of those same people probably have some new releases on their personal watch list this summer. Local theaters are looking forward to a profitable summer season this year and they attribute some of that to the audience coming to watch the Relays and later enjoy a flick.

Upcoming Realeases MAY

JUNE

“Avengers: Age of Ultron” “Pitch Perfect 2” “Mad Max: Fury Road” “Tomorrowland” “San Andreas”

“Jurassic World” “Ted 2” “Inside Out” “Big Game” “Paper Towns”

JULY

AUGUST

“Terminator Genisys” “Magic Mike XXL” “Minions” “Ant-Man” “Pan”

“Fantastic Four” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” “Regression” “Straight Outta Compton”

VARSITY THEATER (bottom) located on 25th and University in Dogtown, gives viewers inexpensive entertainment in the neighborhood. Cinemark 20 theater (top) located in Jordan Creek Town Center. Both theaters offer a variety of films in all genres. PHOTO BY EMILY LAMBIE | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Times-Delphic


03 FEATURES

April 20, 2015

FEATURES 2015 Relays Edition

The sitcoms of 2015: bring a new style, sense and perspective to the classic TV genre JUMP FROM, page 1 camera filming several independent shots that will be edited together to make one scene. Think “Arrested Development” and “The Office.” Multi-camera shows — the “Seinfeld” and “Friends” of the world — have several cameras shooting simultaneously to record the scene. They have a live audience. They operate almost as miniature plays. Since the wild popularity of “The Office,” single-camera shows like “30 Rock” and “Parks and Recreation” have become the norm on network television. They’re fast-paced, mocumentary comedies. They rely on quick jokes instead of cheesy physical comedy. “I think there’s always been, in want of a better word, elite TV viewers or people who don’t have mass-market tastes that tend to prefer shows without laugh tracks,” Weinman said. Although single-cam shows like “Sports Night” and “Freaks and Geeks” were not popular when they began, single-camera is now the mainstream. Weinman says he thinks viewers tend

to turn away from shows with laugh tracks now because they break down that comedy wall. “They sound artificial because they shatter the illusion of reality and they change the timing of a show to more traditional comedy timing,” Weinman said. Loman said laugh tracks bother viewers because they present a false idea about what’s being shown. “People get annoyed because what was said was not funny or what was said was not as funny as the laugh track pushed it to be,” Loman said. This artificiality tends to alienate viewers. For this reason, it might appear that single-camera shows have become more well liked by viewers. Higgins says single-cam shows can do more for an audience. “They let you do things you can’t do and perfect things you can’t perfect on a multi-camera. It gives you a lot more opportunity in what you’re showing the audience. They’re much more controlled. It’s like doing a mini film,” Higgins said. Although laugh tracks can have their place, they have to be used with caution.

“I don’t mind a live audience when there’s a source for it. But once you put one on a show you can’t take it off,” Higgins said.

THE BIG BANG: GETTING EVERYTHING JUST RIGHT With all the factors that stand in a sitcom’s way, how do shows that do survive keep their viewership? Loman said it’s not whether or not a sitcom is single-cam or multi-cam. It’s as simple as the characters. “The reason the show succeeds or sells is how well the characters have been developed and what the character traits of those characters are,” Loman said. If characters are written well they will have easily identifiable traits that will help create the conflict in every episode and, more importantly, the comedy. “Sheldon in ‘The Big Bang Theory’ would be funny in any situation you put him in,” Loman said. “If he was the bank teller, if he was an airline clerk, if he worked in a super market, he would be funny because of the character traits they have created for him.” “Cheers” had mass appeal because

viewers related to the bar’s characters. “It’s hard to sell a show now in this day and age with losers. People want everybody to be successful. But if you look at “Cheers” — they’re all losers. There’s not a successful one in the bunch. Maybe Frasier Crane, but even then he’s so damaged and so imperfect that he’s just one of the guys,” Higgins said. “It’s the idea that you know a person like that or you want to know a person like that.” If viewers don’t feel that connection and security with a show they won’t watch, which may be why multi-cam shows like “The Big Bang Theory” are still so popular. “There was something about the edition of the laugh track that, annoying as it was to some viewers, made a lot of other viewers feel comfortable watching a show,” Weinman said. Even some single-cam shows use the “mocumentary” style to establish connection. “One reason ‘Modern Family’ and ‘The Office’ have been more successful than the other single-camera shows is

that both use the documentary format almost like a laugh track to create that feeling that we are watching a show with somebody else,” Weinman said.

NO DUPLICATING “SEINFELD” Although every network wants to recreate the mass audience appeal of “Seinfeld” it may not be possible. “They had this huge appeal while also being this personal, unusual show. The fact that it was both, a huge hit and a little quirky show is one of the things that makes it so interesting,” Weinman said. “Now we have huge hits and little quirky shows, but we don’t have a combination of the two.” Every so often a sitcom can have a larger appeal like “Seinfeld,” but with today’s changing television landscape these comedies may be becoming obsolete. Comedies may be better off with a small audience that will appreciate what’s being done. “Good sitcoms are personal and have a style of their own that goes beyond that mass market style,” Weinman said.

NEW TECHNOLOGY

Students enter the entrepreneurial world, introduce a new app connecting the globe Sarah Mondello Staff Writer sarah.mondello@drake.edu One winter break, four college students gathered together in a basement to brainstorm a way to make money. It was Ethan Turner, a sophomore radio/television producing and writing major, who first came up with the original idea of using panoramic video. The group soon reached a consensus that this idea would not work, but they eventually came up with a new use for video. “We realized there was not a way of connecting people around the world faster than video,” Turner said. “What’s faster than video? Live-streaming video.” The inspiration surfaced in November 2013, and for six weeks these young men worked to create the idea for an app that would bring live video streaming into the realm of social media. This app would later be named Glimpse. Today, the five members of Glimpse include Drake students Ethan Turner, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Johnathan Osifuye-White, Chief Finance Officer (CFO), two students from the University of Pittsburgh named Emeka Ukaga, Chief Operations Officer (COO), and Madhur Malhotra, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and one student from a community college in Minnesota named Chris Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Glimpse was one of five winners of $10,000 in funding out of 18 applicants for the Lorentzen Student Hatchery entrepreneurship program. The Hatchery was founded to encourage students to start their own businesses. The program funds a few select student startups each summer in the hopes that these endeavors will one day grow into larger business investments. There’s only a handful of programs like this in the country, said Thomas Swartwood, assistant director of the Entrepreneurship Center. “To be in business, you need to sell something,” Swartwood said. “You don’t have to necessarily make money, but it needs to go beyond just ideas and dreams. This is a do, not a think about, program. And that’s what I think is particularly valuable about it. It’s not an academic thing, there’s no tests, you don’t have to turn in any homework. We will help students along the way, but they have to find their way.” Chris Snider, assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, is familiar with Turner’s business endeavor Glimpse as his academic adviser. “They knew the thing to do at the right time to do it, so I think that’s more than luck,” Snider said. “I think they’re pretty sharp guys. I don’t think this will be the last app we’ll see from this group of students. So even if this one gets out there and doesn’t hit it big, what they’re gonna learn from doing this is probably more valuable than what they’re learning in most of their classes.” Debra Bishop, director of Pappajohn and Buchanan Entrepreneurship Centers, became acquainted with Turner and Osifuye-White through the Drake chapter of Enactus, an international entrepreneurial organization dedicated to linking students with business leaders.

The Times-Delphic

She is the faculty adviser, and Turner is the current president. “Our entrepreneurial environment at Drake is growing across campus and we’re seeing more and more students getting involved in entrepreneurship beyond the walls of the Business College,” Bishop said. “I think this is a good catalyst for them. They’ve got the drive and motivation to make it be successful, but I think they’ve got an entrepreneurial mindset that is going to be very good for them, not just for this app, but in whatever endeavors they go into.” Swartwood admits that he wasn’t immediately hooked by the idea. It took several conversations for him to see the potential for Glimpse. “I think apps are tricky to turn into businesses,” Swartwood said. “They made a very good presentation about how this was different and how it could be

In a recent five-minute scenariobased survey asking people if they would use the app, Glimpse received a 79 percent favorable response. “I think I would obtain the app,” Mary Piegors said, a responder to the survey. “And I might use it once or twice, but I don’t usually record events in my life. I would probably tune in mostly to other people’s events.” Some believe that Glimpse could be the next big thing. “It sounds like a cool way to kind of see what’s going on with people,” another responder Emma Folke said. “Some of my

friends have recently been doing some things and I’ve been like, ‘oh, it’d be kind of cool to actually see what they’re experiencing,’ and so this sounds like a way that you could do that.” The Glimpse app will become available this summer, both for Apple and Android products in the Apple and Google Play stores. The app has already been exposed on an international level to 13 countries, and Turner hopes that its first 1,000 to 5,000 beta users are this diverse. He welcomes anyone who is interested and would actively use the app

to sign up as a beta user. After these initial users, the app will then be opened up to the public. Interested individuals can learn more about Glimpse and sign up to become a beta user at www.glimpse.global. Turner’s goal is for Glimpse to be the next big social media movement, but he is aware that this doesn’t happen overnight. “I need to do the work in order to see it happen.”

“This idea of using the globe as the starting point seemed like a clever entree. And, more than just a fun and good idea, it is one - and this is often not the case with apps - I can see that they will have a variety of ways to monetize it.”

Thomas Swartwood Assistant Director, Entrepreneurship Center

utilized.This idea of using the globe as the starting point seemed like a clever entree. And, more than just a fun and good idea, it is one – and this is often not the case with apps – I can see that they will have a variety of ways to monetize it.” Instead of the traditional scrolling news feed, live stream posts will be integrated into a 3D globe interface. Glimpse users will be able to connect with people around the world up to the third degree (a friend of a friend of a friend). There will be three feeds/ globes to choose from: personal (user uploaded videos), perspective (watching others’ videos) and commercial (advertisements). Developing the commercial feed is next on Glimpse’s to-do list, which will be geared more toward consumer-controlled advertising. For example, it will be an easy way for business travelers or tourists to discover what is going on in the places they wish to visit, and also as a news source for journalists. In this respect, Turner calls himself a “social pioneer.” “I see myself starting things that will help to change society or help to progress society, so that’s what I have a passion for,” he said. None of the Glimpse founders have a formal skillset in computer science, so the company is hiring a developer to create the app from their design plans. “It really opens up the playing field for people who have great ideas but don’t have the ability to physically make it themselves,” Turner said. “It’s just a matter of one person knowing how to do it, and then bringing that person onto the team to have something that could potentially change the world.”

GLIMPSE (pictued above) was created by a group of five college students including Drake sophomore Ethan Turner. Interested students can apply to be beta testers at www.glimpse.global. The app will be launched later this year for all Android and IOS users. PHOTO BY SARAH FULTON | RELAYS EDITOR


04 FEATURES

April 20, 2015

FEATURES 2015 Relays Edition

COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT

Des Moines comedy scene encourages newcomers, provides stepping stone Tim Webber Multimedia Editor timothy.webber@drake.edu Laser Man is confronted by an old foe in the caboose of a train, a gypsy aunt gives too much advice to her niece and a Cub Scout leader picks the wrong embroidery shop for his merit badges. For the Last Laugh Comedy Theater, it’s a typical Thursday. Owned by Josh and Stephanie Chamberlin, the Last Laugh has already established a presence in Des Moines just one year after opening in April 2014. Located in West Des Moines, it’s one of several comedy theaters where people can experience the city’s booming comedy scene. “(Comedy) has really taken off here in the last couple of years,” Mike Kitzman, director of operations at the Last Laugh, said. “It’s really cool to see. The comedy community has grown. It’s a thing now.” Rachel Weeks, who graduated from Drake last May, is a regular performer at the Last Laugh. In the year and a half since she took up comedy, she’s witnessed changes firsthand. “The first time I did stand-up was to an entirely male room,” Weeks said. “The second time was also to an entirely male room. I took a break, and when I came back, I had a little more improv under my belt. I knew a lot more women in the scene.” Weeks and Kitzman both say they have seen an increase in the number of female comics participating in Des Moines shows, from stand-up to improv. In a traditionally male-dominated field, the Des Moines comedy scene’s female presence is unique. “The best part about comedy in Des Moines is that we have a higher girl-toguy ratio than any place I’ve ever seen,” Kitzman said. “We have more female comics than anywhere else per capita. To me, that’s our biggest win. We’re getting more women into comedy, and those are voices that you don’t hear a lot of.”

“The Last Laugh in particular works very hard to keep a balance,” Weeks said. “I get to know people from very different backgrounds. I get to know people who are my age through late 40s, late 50s that love to do what I love to do. There are all different races and all different backgrounds. It’s a beautiful little thing.” The Last Laugh isn’t alone in the vanguard of Des Moines comedy. Other venues where local comics regularly perform include Streetcar 209 (formerly House of Bricks) and the Basement at the Des Moines Social Club. “When I started, it seemed like just a hobby,” Kitzman said. “Now, it’s turning into a legitimate culture.” Eli Gross has made several trips to the Last Laugh before, but this is his first time performing stand-up. After an enthusiastic introduction from Kitzman, he walks up to the stage and begins his first-ever set. “I really loved improv, but I always wanted to try stand-up,” Gross said, whose comedy roots go back to an improv troupe at his high school. “I think it went pretty well. People are pretty nice here. There’s no heckling or anything.” Gross is performing stand-up as part of the Last Laugh’s open mic night, which is held every Thursday. Dozens of comedians and supporters pack the cozy confines of the theater. Less than 20 yards separate the bar in the back of the room and the stage in the front. “Everyone’s super nice,” Gross said. “I’m never really sitting alone when I come here.” As Gross finds his way back to his seat, an audience member shakes his hand and tells him he did a good job. Kitzman seeks Gross out, bear hugs him and compliments his performance. “In the scene in general, everybody’s super supportive,” Weeks said. “(Everybody) goes to each others’ shows and wants to see you succeed. It’s not really competitive. You just want people to do well.” For fledgling comics like Gross, that support system can go a long way. “The community here is really open to helping you learn and try new things,” Weeks said. “If you want to do something,

there is an avenue for you to try.” Laser Man, the gypsy aunt and the Cub scout leader are results of the night’s sketch comedy event, “Sketch Comedy Cage Match.” The friendly competition pits two teams of sketch comedians together and gives each team 45 minutes to develop a sketch based on audience suggestions. For example, the scout leader is in such a dire position because his team of comedians used the audience-selected words of “embroidery” and “erotic.” The sketch comedy is a change of pace from the open mic stand-up from earlier. “After six stand-ups in a row, people’s eyes kind of glaze over,” Kitzman said. “I really like (the Last Laugh’s) open mic because it’s normally not just stand-up comedy. On a regular night for the open mic, it’s stand-up, sketch and improv.” Forty-five minutes isn’t long enough to write a full, fleshed-out sketch, so the performers came up with an outline of their ideas and relied on their improvisational skills to fill in the rest. Improv is an essential component of the Last Laugh’s repertoire. The venue hosts improv shows on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. But the Last Laugh and other theaters in Des Moines support all kinds of comedy, including sketch and stand-up. That variety could play a role in Kitzman’s goal of making Des Moines a launching pad for the careers of young comedians. “Long term, I see – in our region – people moving to Des Moines, doing comedy here, then maybe moving to Chicago, then New York, then L.A.,” Kitzman said. “That seems like something that will probably happen. And I’m seeing a little bit of that (already).” Weeks expressed plans to move on from Des Moines after the end of the year to a more-developed scene but is still grateful for the stage time and support she was able to receive in the city. “(Comedy) is my favorite thing right now,” Weeks said. “It makes me happy right now. And I’m going to do it until it makes me not happy.”

standUP Tues. 21

Stand-up Comedy open mic Streetcar 209 | 9 p.m. Free admission

Wed. 22

Improv show Last Laugh Comedy Theater | 8 p.m. Free admission

Thurs. 23

Stand-up Comedy open mic Last Laugh Comedy Theater | 7:30 p.m. Free admission Stand up comedy: Timmy Williams from “The Whitest Kids You Know” with Andy Sell at the Des Moines Social Club Basement Bar 9 p.m. - Show Relays athlete pass for discount

Fri. 24

Two Improv shows Last Laugh Comedy Theater | 7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. $14 (half-priced for Relay Athletes, or $10 on reservations of 8+) Bombshelter Stand up Comedy Showcase The Beechwood Lounge | 9 p.m. Free admission

Sat. 25

Two Improv shows Last Laugh Comedy Theater | 7:30pm and 9:30 p.m. $14 (half-priced for Relay Athletes, or $10 on reservations of 8+) The Quarterly Revue stand-up showcase The Des Monies Social Club Basement Bar | 9 p.m. Free admission

FOOD

Neighborhood restaurants serve up excitment for the annual Relays week Ethan Fickau Staff Writer ethan.fickau@drake.edu Among the more popular restaurants located in the Drake community, many restaurants like Mars Cafe, the Drake Diner, Jethro’s BBQ and Lefty’s Live Music, which is slated to open just as the Drake Relays kick off, are gearing up for the annual event. Mars Cafe features a menu of coffee and light treats along with a lounge-like atmosphere that consistently draws large numbers. Mars Cafe owner Daniel Bosman said that he always looks forward to Relays in the spring. “All the Drake students are out and everything is just super exciting,” Bosman said. “Every year has been a little bit different for us during the Drake Relays.”

“We’ve done everything from alumni parties that we’ve had here to other special events … The quality of our coffee is the best around in my opinion,” Bosman said. “Our coffee here at Mars Cafe is just out of this world, no pun intended.” Bosman said that the 9-year-old establishment’s signature coffee is the Sputnik, a honey, cinnamon and almond latte. He and his staff like to paint the windows and put out patio furniture to attract customers during Relays. Just across the street is Lefty’s Live Music, which is a new music bar that is set to open during Relays week. Owner Anne Matthey and booking

“We love being an ambassador to the city during Relays. We’re looking forward to being a part of Relays again. We’ll be here and we’ll be ready.” Chris Lehnertz General Manager, Jethro’s

MARS CAFE offers Drake students and visitors a quiet escape from the hustle of downtown and campus with a variety of coffees, bakery treats and sandwiches. Restaurants like these provide patrons with a satisfying experience that brings them back again. PHOTO BY SARAH FULTON | RELAYS EDITOR

manager Erik Brown have put a lot of effort into opening venue. Matthey says that she is psyched for Lefty’s to officially open as their first music event takes place on April 22. “We have live music programming during the whole week going through Sunday that week,” Matthey said. Matthey talked about her fondest Relays memory as a Drake alumna when one year the street painting event was cancelled due to rain, but she and a group of friends went out and did the painting anyway. Brown said that they are excited for Relays, but they also want to really establish themselves in the community and work as partners with Drake University. “Next year, we want to be as closely involved as we possibly can. As our

relationship grows with Drake, we want to bring more interns over. We want to do stuff with the music department and have recitals,” Brown said. Brown said the two of them will be out at the Relays handing out pamphlets and other fun freebies. They may even bring their mascot, Lefty, Matthey’s dog who is missing his front left leg and is the inspiration for the business’ name. Another crowd pleaser in the neighborhood is the Drake Diner, which features their popular Rarebit Burger dish and cake shakes. General manager Shannon Vilmain mentioned that she loves it each year when the Relays take place. “Every year during Relays week we open our patio area,” Vilmain said. “We get a lot of out- of-town visitors so it’s a busy weekend. I really love seeing the star athletes come through here during Relays. We’re a big supporter of Drake athletics so we love everything about Relays.” The Drake Diner has been around for 28 years and Vilmain said it’s great that the Diner is mainly known to people by word of mouth. Rounding out the list is Jethro’s BBQ. Jethro’s general manager Chris Lehnertz said he’s excited for Relays to start. “As always, we’ll have a tent out front serving beer and sandwiches to people coming by,” Lehnertz said. “We’ve had the tent every year since we opened in 2008. The biggest thing is the amount of people that come here from outside of the state. Though Des Moines is a small city, we have this world class event every year. We love being an ambassador to the city during Relays. We’re looking forward to being a part of Relays again. We’ll be here and we’ll be ready.” Lehnertz also talked about how Jethro’s loves to reach out to the community and do some philanthropy. He said that boneless wings, the macaroni and cheese, and the brisket and ribs are what tend to get chosen the most from the menu by customers. For the seventh year, Jethro’s is ready to have a big presence at the Drake Relays. “We’re looking forward to being a part of Relays again,” Lehnertz said. “We’ll be here and we’ll be ready.”

The Times-Delphic


05 FEATURES

April 20, 2015

FEATURES 2015 Relays Edition

CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS

Royal flush: progressive, under-the-radar organization, Poker Club, is worth betting on Ethan Fickau Staff Writer ethan.fickau@drake.edu

Among the more than 160 clubs and organizations at Drake University, there are many that go unnoticed and are relatively unknown to students. One of these clubs is the Drake Poker Club. The club meets once a week with about 25 members that regularly attend. Except for a $5 participation charge each semester, it does not cost players anything to play. While the club primarily meets to play cards, most members also come to socialize with friends and to relax after a long day of classes. First-year student Sarah Mondello said her friend is one of the reasons she joined the club in the first place. “I was recruited by one of my friends, and initially I had no interest,” Mondello said. “I wasn’t any good and I didn’t care for it, but when my friend started to teach me, I realized that it was kind of cool. So I kept going and after a couple weeks, I realized that I really liked it and all the people that I met. I’ve made a lot of friends there through poker club.” At any random meeting, one will observe multiple games going on at once with each player casually chatting with a neighbor as bets are made and cards are shown. Some club members bring food to munch on during the game while a couple just come to watch their friends play. The club is open to any and all students who

want to join, regardless if they are expert players or complete novices. Junior Brien Behling is another club member and he said the fact that everyone is welcome to participate is what makes the club so attractive to the student body. “I’d say it’s a great opportunity for anyone, players with experience or someone who wants to learn, because it provides a fun, risk-free environment to learn in,” Behling said. “You can have fun and learn without worrying you’ll lose money.” First year student Connor McCarthy said what he loves as a member is that people rarely get competitive at the meetings since there are so many new players. “Joining Poker Club is an excellent way to learn more about the game while having a good time,” McCarthy said. “You can take the game as seriously as you want, and other club members are more than willing to help you learn how to play. At the beginning of the year, I joined knowing nothing about poker. Now, I am second place in the club rankings.” McCarthy said that, simply put, the Drake Poker Club is a great group of people that enjoys playing a game that they love. “Poker Club has something for everyone. For some, it is how they relieve the stress of the week,” McCarthy said. “For others, it is a place to hang out with their friends while playing a fun game for a few hours.” The Drake Poker Club is not the only under-the-radar club at Drake. There are many more and a complete list of every club officially recognized by Drake University can be found at http://www.drake.edu/life/ clubsorganizations/.

POKER CLUB brings around 25 students together once a week to enjoy the strategic game. Student skills vary from beginners to experienced with all learning more about the game in a safe, comfortable environment. Poker Club meets every Thursday at 8 p.m. PHOTO BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

Relays provides opportunities for students to expand their skills and experiences Molly Adamson Staff Writer molly.adamson@drake.edu From high school students to Olympic athletes, the Drake Relays brings in many people to the Des Moines area. But for those who may not be able to come out and see the event Drake University has its own TV broadcasting network that brings Relays to people. Drake Broadcasting System (DBS) provides another outlet for people to watch. It broadcasts live on the big screen in the field house and online. DBS provides a whole new level to Relays DBS President Amanda Horvath said. “It gives students access to a front row seat to the Relays (behind a camera).” “It also gives anyone who is interested

the experience of a lifetime. We are able to give students experience in live reporting, producing, directing and camera operating,” Horvath said. “People use this experience to apply for jobs and it’s a fun memory.” Horvath remembers why she got involved with DBS. “I got involved because I have wanted to work in the broadcast news industry since I was 10-years-old, and I wanted to do anything and everything to get more experience in the field. Plus having a radio show is one of the most fun things I’ve done at Drake,” Horvath said. Jeorgie Smith, a broadcast news and politics double major, is the chief editor for the broadcast. She could also remember how she got involved with the program. “I got involved kind of by accident,” Smith said. One of my friends was a

part of DBS and so I emailed last year’s president asking how to get involved and then some how ended up on the executive board,” Smith said Smith also has fond memories from her time with DBS thus far. “I think my favorite memory is just spending time with everyone involved,” Smith said. “We tend to get crazier the more time we spend together so we ride chairs down the slope of the basement, run around campus with a Phantom of the Opera costume and do just about anything that pops in to our head,” Smith said. DBS begins the process of preparing for the Relays early. Reporters and commentators are hired in November and December, and then promotional videos get made to spread the word about the broadcast. Mariah Lewis, the executive producer

for the telecast, voiced her concerns about making sure the broadcast goes smoothly. “I’m worried that I will lose my mind,” Lewis said. She then went on to explain the challenge DBS will face when broadcasting the Relays. “Live TV in and of itself is always a nightmare,” Lewis said. “When you’re doing live TV you have no control over what happens. Inevitably, something is going to go wrong. My biggest concern is making sure whatever goes wrong is fixable. I guess I’m worried about the big stuff, like getting on the air, making sure things play and making sure we don’t sound dumb. I focus on the little things because little things add up to big things.” DBS try something new this year, by bringing the Relays to the campus radio station.

Not only will the two mediums share content, but also some of the content will be played solely on the radio. Lewis, as the program director for Drake’s radio station, came up with this idea. Football games and basketball games get covered on the radio frequently, but this is the first time any track event will be broadcasted. Where the entire DBS crew knows, they will face challenges during the broadcast, there is also plenty to benefit from Lewis said. “You haven’t lived until you’ve been in a control room of a live broadcast,” Lewis said. “There’s nothing in the world that can compare to this. It’s not comparable to anything, except maybe trying to survive a tornado. It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s all very rewarding.”

JAMES MAERTENS broadcasts the many track and field during the Relays last year. Broadcasting students are given a variety of opportunities to grow their broadcasting, news direction and production skills. PHOTO COURTESY OF DRAKE BROADCASTING SYSTEM

The Times-Delphic


06 FEATURES

April 20, 2015

FEATURES 2015 Relays Edition

PUPPY LOVE

Excitement and joy surrounds life of white English bulldog Molly Adamson Staff Writer molly.adamson@drake.edu When entering the Bell home, a very energetic white English bulldog will greet you at the door enthusiastically. This little guy is Magoo, brother of the famous Drake live mascot Porterhouse, who passed away last year. Kevin and Erin Bell got Magoo from a very small-scale English bulldog breeder in Avon, Indiana. He was born on Jan. 31, 2010, and came home with the Bells in late March of that year. Erin Bell can still remember what she

was feeling when they brought Magoo home that day. “Honestly, we were a little overwhelmed when we first brought him home,” Erin Bell said. “We were used to Porterhouse, the most laid-back, easy going, laziest dog ever to live. We naively thought we would be getting something similar with Magoo, but he couldn’t have been more different than Porterhouse. We weren’t quite sure what we had gotten ourselves into, but it turns out it was something absolutely wonderful.” After that day, the Bells settled into life with Magoo. Many adjectives came to Erin Bell’s mind when describing her dog. “Magoo is enthusiastic, sweet, playful, loving, dramatic, expressive, emotional, sensitive, happy, exuberant and full of

life,” Erin Bell said. Magoo has also settled into life with the Bells. A typical day for Magoo consists of slowly getting out of bed in the morning, while his parents are often already up. After breakfast, he then finds comfort on the couch, where he sleeps until Kevin and Erin return from work. Erin is a public health registered nurse for Wesley Life and Kevin is an Assistant Polk County Prosecutor. As soon as Kevin and Erin walk through the door, Magoo jumps off the couch to go and grab his favorite toy, one of his many rubber chickens. The family will go outside and play fetch for a while before coming back inside to hang out for the rest of the night, with Magoo on the couch right

beside Kevin and Erin. According to Erin Bell, Magoo loves his many rubber chickens and snuggling in bed with Kevin and her. Magoo may seem like a dog who loves everything, however he does have his dislikes. “Magoo does NOT like baths. At all,” Erin Bell said. “He loves swimming in his kiddie pool in the summer, but loathes bath time.” While the Bells describe Magoo as a lovable dog, they do admit that he could never be a mascot like Porterhouse was. “In order to be a good mascot, you have to be calm,” Erin Bell said. “There’s tons of stuff going on around you, kids are wanting to pet you, sport events are going on. There’s a lot of excitement. Porterhouse could handle

all that. Magoo is a very excitable dog, so he couldn’t handle the responsibility of being a live mascot,” Erin said. All dogs have different personalities, and that was also true for Porterhouse and Magoo. Magoo would often be wanting to play, while Porterhouse wanted to lounge on the couch, as evident by the Twitter pictures Erin Bell posted on both Porterhouse’s and Magoo’s accounts (@ DUPorterhouse and @MagooCrew). “He has a genuine and pure love for life,” Erin Bell said. “He’s an innocent and honest soul. What you see is what you get,” Erin said. He has moods like humans and they are written all over his face. I’ve never known a more expressive and sensitive dog.”

MAGOO AND PORTERHOUSE (bottom) cuddle together on in their family living room. The late Porterhouse (top left) walked through campus wagging his tail at every student. He greeted everyone he met with a smile.. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIN BELL

The Times-Delphic


07 FEATURES

April 20, 2015

FEATURES 2015 Relays Edition

STUDENT PROGRAMS

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Walk brings hope to 35 countries Exchange students experience campus activities Anna Zavell Staff Writer giovanna.zavell@drake.edu Since 1964, professional pharmacy fraternity Lambda Kappa Sigma (LKS) has supported Project HOPE, an organization that provides health training, education and medical supplies to countries that may not have it otherwise. LKS has adopted Project HOPE as their national philanthropy and has donated $162,000 to the organization between 1971 and 2014 and continues to help provide care for more than 35 countries. Lambda Kappa Sigma first appeared on Drake’s campus in the 1980s but folded shortly after. In 2006, LKS was reestablished and has been growing ever since. “LKS was originally created to promote pharmacy among women,” President and P2 Trisha Benjamin said. “We do invite men to join, but it just hasn’t happened at Drake yet. I guess we can be a little intimidating,” she said jokingly. HOPE stands for Health Opportunities for People Everywhere and was founded in 1958 by a doctor who served on a ship during WWII and was moved by the lack of medical knowledge in the South Pacific where he was stationed. This man’s name was William B.Walsh and he persuaded President Eisenhower to donate a U.S. Navy hospital ship. This ship has since become known as the SS

HOPE and served as the face of Project HOPE. “HOPE waLKS started here at Drake in 2010 as a way of raising money for Project HOPE,” said LKS sophomore cophilanthropy chair Amanda Hoerres. Since then, HOPE waLKS has spread to other chapters and has been adopted nationally by Lambda Kappa Sigma. This year marks the sixth annual HOPE waLKS and will take place at Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines on Saturday, May 2 beginning at 8 a.m. “We have been putting this event together for a year now and I can’t wait to see it all come together,” P3 cophilanthropy chair Stacy Reid said. “I hope we have good weather!” “We have been at Raccoon River Park for two years now and it’s becoming more of a set thing,” Hoerres said. “We are working on making it more consistent for the coming years.” The HOPE waLKs run/walk 5K kicks off with a bagel breakfast and a raffle at the end. Participants can receive raffle tickets when they register, which is $30 per person, and this years t-shirt. Prizes include gift cards or coupons to Fuddruckers, Smokey Row, Buffalo Wild Wings and other local companies that have donated to support LKS and Project HOPE. “I love the bagel breakfast,” Benjamin said. “But I really love seeing people from all over come together outside of the classroom and do something fun and for a good cause. It’s a great way to get away from school things for a little while.”

Siyuan Li Staff Writer siyuan.li@drake.edu Racing with due dates, reviewing textbooks and preparing for quizzes are routine for most sophomore students. But Jiayi Cen, an international student from China, also needs to organize the etiquette team, arrange the seats for audiences and manage the financial affairs for the 2015 Chinese Night at Drake, which are a few of the real reasons she chose to study in the United States. Cen is one of a growing number of Chinese students who is studying in the U.S. Between 2012 and 2013, 235,597 Chinese students came to the U.S. for higher education. Thirty one percent of international students in the U.S. are from China and their reasons for studying here varies. “I came to the U.S. when I was in high school, ” Cen said. “I just thought I could have more opportunities here to participate in extracurricular activities.” Cen also admitted that the fee she paid to a study abroad agency for getting into a U.S. high school is almost equal to one year of tuition at Drake. Weizhou Wang, a Chinese student studying at the University of California, Davis, spent a whole year preparing for the TOEFL and SAT exams in order to study in the U.S. “At first, the reason I want to come here is because I didn’t get into my dream college in China. So I started to consider about the universities in the U.S. ” Wang

said. He took the TOEFL exams seven times and finally was accepted to UC Davis. “Although it was my failure of the college entrance exam that brought me to the U.S., during my preparation for studying in the U.S. I found it was not that easy especially when I was trying to get into one of the ‘Top 50s,’” Wang said. “The high quality education is the real reason I want to study here.”

“It could cost more than half my parents’ savings to get my master’s degree in the U.S., but my parents and I all think it should be worthy.”

Xiaoyan Liu student, South China Univeristy of Technology

Cen added that the development of the economy in China, a more openminded generation and the ambition to get a better education has brought more Chinese students to the U.S. “But it can’t be ignored that there are some students who are not so good at studying, they come here just because their parents want them to,” Cen said. “More and more Chinese students come to the U.S. But only a few of them can get into the ‘Top 50s,’ I think this means most of them didn’t care about the

high quality education that much but just in order to avoid the stressful Chinese college entrance exam,” Wang said. Graduate school in the U.S. is also attractive to many Chinese students, though many of them complain about the sky-high tuition. Xiaoyan Liu, a student from the South China University of Technology, is preparing for graduate school in the U.S. Her aunt has been working and living in the U.S. for several decades and studying in the U.S. was Liu’s dream. She spent six months preparing for the TOEFL and GMAT exams. “I’ve heard a lot about America since I was a little girl, and I was looking forward to this kind of study experience all the time,” Liu said. “I’ve heard the price for graduate school there is probably the highest over the entire world. It could cost more than half of my parents’ savings to get my master’s degree in the U.S., but my parents and I all think it should be worthy.” The U.S. government extended the visa for Chinese students after the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November 2014, which made it more convenient for Chinese students to study in the U.S. It might also galvanize the trend of studying in the U.S., although Chinese students find there’s more to gain by studying in the U.S. than academics. “During my time studying here, I have joined several different student’s associations,” Cen said. “And I think through all the activities I really get a good progress in my practical ability.”

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES

Program offers opportunities for community Sarah Fulton Relays Edition Editor sarah.fulton@drake.edu

MARS CAFE offers students and visitors a quiet escape from the hustle of downtown and campus with a variety of coffees, bakery treats and sandwiches. PHOTO BY SARAH FULTON | RELAYS EDITOR

Eleven years and 600 members later the RaySociety is still providing learning opportunities to the Des Moines area. “It is a Drake affiliated organization that consists mostly of retired people who are interested in expanding their mind and extending their network,” Denny Davis, programming chair, said. Founded in 2004 by a group of Drake alumni, the Society was named after Drake graduate and former Iowa Governor Robert Ray and his wife Billie Ray. This year the organization offered over 35 classes on topics ranging from tours of craft breweries to discussions about the economic situation of the United States. “Once you are retired there are a lot of people who just feel like they do not have anything to do,” Davis said. “This provides an organized way for them to remain involved and keep engaged.” Member Paul Horvath said that the Drake connection is “absolutely fundamental.” “I think it is important for institutions such as Drake to have this kind of community outreach,” Horvath said. “One of the benefits of retiring in areas

where there is a University that provides this service is that it improves the quality of life in retirement.” Many RaySociety instructors are former or current Drake alumni. Members range from former teachers to ex-lawyers to those still in the work force. For Davis members “run the whole gambit” with one major consistency. “We tend to be an education group that has a curiosity,” Davis said. “We wouldn’t be doing this if that weren’t the case.” That curiosity leads to diverse topics. Davis’ first class was about the Iowa Caucuses. His last class was about the craft brewing industry in Iowa. During this past year RaySociety members also worked at the Iowa Public Television telethon and hosted viewings of Alfred Hitchcock films. “The [programming] committee consists now of over 20 people so you get a wide view of what they would like to see,” Davis said. “Right now we are in the middle of planning and arranging for the fall semester.” Former RaySociety president Lois Fingerman said not only the breadth but also the timing of classes is important. “You join and you take what classes you want. What is remarkable is that we offer 26 or 27 different classes but they are all offered at different times,” Fingerman said. “You can take as many as

you want.” Fingerman’s goal as president was to increase membership in the society. Over the past few years the number has grown exponentially from around 400 to 600 members. “A lot of it is word of mouth and a lot of it is the caliber of our instructors and our members. People hear about it and they want to learn more, many of them ultimately join,” Fingerman said. Increased membership helps to provide the social aspect of the RaySociety. “I have met so many people that I would never have met if I hadn’t belonged to RaySociety. Connecting with people in the community is very important,” Davis said. Helping to serve the community is at the center of the RaySociety. In part the Society was founded as a volunteer organization. Davis said that the Society has only three paid staff members. All of the instructors are volunteers. “Even though they do not get paid they seem to get a lot of enjoyment out of interacting with our group,” Davis said. Joy is a common thing among RaySociety members. “It very is the best-kept secret I think in Des Moines. The classes are fabulous. We have made friends, both my husbands and I,” Fingerman said. “It has kept us very mentally alert and challenged. It has made retirement an absolute pleasure.”

distinctlyDrake more than 22,000 donors three new buildings $42 m given toward financial aid 170-plus new scholarship funds new inter plinary centers $45 million for new/renovated spaces $185 million ra to-date new endowed professorships distinctlyDrake more than 31,0 More $36 thanmillion 2,200 alumni attended donors three new buildings given toward financial aid 11 new scholarship funds new interdisciplinary centers events hosted by the Office of $34 million for renovated spaces $200 million raised to-date new endowed professo Alumni Relations in 2014. At this more than 31,000 donors three new buildings $42 m FREE Pregnancy Tests I FREE STD Tests I FREEdistinctlyDrake Ultrasounds year’s Relays, staff will host two given toward financial aid 110-plus new scholarship funds new interd plinary centers $45 million for new/renovated spaces reunions, the All-Alumni and $185 million ra to-date new endowed professorships distinctlyDrake more than 31,0 All-Greek reunions! donors three new buildings $36 million given toward financial aid 11 new scholarship funds new interdisciplinary centers $34 million for renovated spaces $200 million raised to-date new endowed professo distinctlyDrake more than 22,000 donors three new buildings $42 m given toward financial aid 170-plus new scholarship funds new inter plinary centers $34 million for new/renovated spaces $185 million ra 2550 MLK Jr. Pkwy I Des Moines 515. 255.0243 I AgapeDSM.com to-date new endowed professorships distinctlyDrake more than 31,0 donors three new buildings $36 million given toward financial aid 11 new scholarship funds new interdisciplinary centers $34 million for The Times-Delphic renovated spaces $185 million raised to-date new endowed professo

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08 FEATURES

April 20, 2015

FEATURES 2015 Relays Edition

MUSIC IN DES MOINES

CAMPUS JOBS

Alternative Yellowcard at Wooly’s Phonathon’s reputation builds with student workers Giuliana Lamantia Staff Writer giuliana.lamantia@drake.edu Punk/alternative rock band Yellowcard has been around for over 15 years. Still going strong today, they played Wooly’s in downtown Des Moines Friday, April 10. The concert was for their current tour in support of their new album “Lift a Sail.” Violinist and backup vocalist Sean Mackin provides some insight about playing a Yellowcard show, being a violinist in a rock band and their new sound. On their current tour… MACKIN: We just did four-and-ahalf weeks in Europe from Scotland to Russia, we had two days off and then we flew right to Kansas. Depending on how you look at it, even though we got two days off, it’s really a nine to 10 week tour. We’re playing as many shows as we can in support of our record “Lift a Sail,” and we’re so excited to be able to be out on the road and touring for a living. On playing shows and what fans can look forward to… MACKIN: We like to deliver the best Yellowcard show every single night, and it’s really hard to do that, so we’re super focused on our music. We’re a music first mentality band. We’re not out getting wild before the show. We warm up and stretch and focus on the show. We know we have a lot of people and fans that go through a lot of hoops to go to our show, so we want to deliver the best Yellowcard show. We like being a high energy band on stage, so if we can run around the stage and act like wild animals all while delivering the best Yellowcard performance ever, that’s what we we’re going to do. How “Lift a Sail” differs from previous albums… MACKIN: It’s actually quite a big departure. We wanted to step outside the Yellowcard box. When we wrote “Lift a Sail,” we were listening to different music, that’s something that happens for people as they get a little bit older. I don’t listen to the same things that I

listened to when I was 10, 20 and now in my young 30s, but we wanted to use some of those modern instrumentation elements that people are using nowadays. So we have that technology sound within the Yellowcard sound. I also think that we wanted to be more liberal about the amount of string that we use, which gets me really excited, because in modern music right now there are so many string musicians, so being in the band for 15 plus years, that’s kind of expanded my role a little bit, and that’s very exiting. According to Mackin, the new sound has been well-received by fans… MACKIN: We are so fortunate to be able to put out a record and go to Europe or Japan and our fans are there in the front of the line digging the new songs. That’s really a special feeling for us, and I understand people have made memories to our older songs. If it wasn’t for those albums, I don’t know if we would be able to afford the ability to do what we are doing right now. For us, it’s the ability to play music for a living and make new memories and have those emotional connections at the show. I think the success story is that we’re still doing it at such a high level and we have so many people that love what we create. There’s not another feeling like it, so we are very fortunate to be where we’re at.

Emily VanSchmus Opinions Editor emily.vanschmus@drake.edu When someone describes their job as calling alumni to ask for money, most students turn their noses up. Despite the fact that it is the highestpaying campus job, there is a negative stereotype surrounding the Phonathon. This position used to be typically held by first-years, known for quitting after one year. However, the student call center recently underwent a makeover of sorts with the hiring of a new manager and an almost entirely new staff. In the fall of 2013, Kourtney Kirkpatrick started at Drake as the Phonathon Manager and hired a new staff. In the past year and a half, the calling center has become livelier as students who love their jobs begin to fill the seats. The calling center, located in the basement of the Kinne Alumni and Development Center, seats 16 of the 30 total callers a night. Kaitlin Brueggen has been calling for two semesters and explained that the atmosphere of

Phonathon doesn’t match the negative stereotypes she’s heard. “It doesn’t deserve the negative stereotypes it has because it’s so much more fun than people think,” she said. “We play fun games at every shift. There are also competitions among callers and great prizes to incentivize everyone to do their best with calls.” Making the job enjoyable is one of Kirkpatricks’ priorities. “When I first started as the Phonathon Manager one of my main goals was to increase retention and improve our reputation on campus,” she said. “I have spent a lot of time coming up with new games and competitions for the callers as well as taking time to get feedback from them. I want Phonathon to be a fun place to work while also a place to gain invaluable work experience.” Kirkpatrick’s efforts have paid off over the past four semesters. Because the callers’ main job is to call alumni and ask for money it is inevitable that they’ll get a few negative responses. But sophomore Derek Nystrom thinks the negative moments are far outweighed by the enjoyable moments. “It all depends on what you focus on. If you focus on your bad calls and the bad stories then you’ll have a negative

view of it, but if you focus on the good and have fun while you’re doing it then you’ll definitely have a more positive stereotype,” he said. “I think it’s more fun than people think. It really depends on your attitude.” Working together to raise over $550,000 for the University each year can be challenging, but the atmosphere of the call center makes the job not only fun, but rewarding. First-year caller Natalie Chin explained that the happy atmosphere is what she loves about her job. “In the calling room, everyone is really friendly. It’s always nice to have that camaraderie when you talk to someone totally amazing (or someone really not amazing),” she said. “It’s a fun atmosphere with no bull****, which is perfect in my opinion.” The camaraderie and the relationships the callers make with one another is something Kirkpatrick enjoys seeing and strives for at each shift. “My favorite part of my job is getting to know the callers on a personal level, that way they feel more relaxed and at ease,” she said. “I want Phonathon to be a fun place to work while also a place to gain invaluable work experience.”

On playing the violin in a rock band… MACKIN: I try and bring a highenergy performance. Even though I play violin, I don’t just stand there in a tuxedo and play. What I’ve been able to do in my relationship with (guitarist) Ryan Mendez is sometimes I’ll play a violin and it will sound like a lead guitar or we’ll harmonize, or sometimes we’ll put together something that has a little more emotional, slowed down pace, and the violin has a more traditional sound and it kind of just works for us. We’ve been doing this for 15 plus years, and I don’t know if right now within rock music if there’s another violinist that does what we do. Mackin expresses his gratitude for Yellowcard fans for allowing them to do what they love… MACKIN: It’s a special thing for us to be doing it as long as we have, and we couldn’t do it without them.

LONDON KOEHN, sophomore, has worked as a Phonathon caller since the Fall of 2013. Koehn favorite part of working at Phonathon is talking to all of the interesting alumni she calls. Over 30 students work at Phonathon and enjoy the calling position. PHOTO BY EMILY VANSCHMUS | OPINIONS EDITOR

STUDENT ENTREPRENEURS

Bringing innovation from Shanghai, home to Des Moines: the fixed-gear bicycle Jessica Lynk Copy Editor jessica.lynk@drake.edu Senior Aaron Hermsen and Junior Joaquín Valdes were studying abroad in Shanghai in the fall of 2013, when they first met each other. They went on the trip as strangers, but left as business partners. “We ended up stumbling upon a guy with a [bike] shop in his apartment and we saw it was simple and how relatively easy it would have been to start a business in the states, so we kind of starting operating before we even left China,” Valdes said. The apartment they went to was small but effective. “It was a super small apartment, but he made really reliable, durable, quality orientated fixed-gear bikes that we loved

and we started riding them,” Hermsen said. The two got inspiration to start a fixed gear bike company after seeing the culture of biking in Shanghai. “We got going on these Tuesday night rides while we were there and it was basically a mass mob of 200 to 300 people riding down the street of Shanghai kind of doing whatever you want to do,” Hermsen said. “It was a very liberating feeling. The culture of Shanghai biking was so immense and diverse that we wanted to bring that kind of culture back to Des Moines because it did not persist here. It isn’t a part of our society.” After coming back to Des Moines, the two got enrolled with Lorentzen Student Hatchery, a business incubator in the business school designed to help students with start-ups. Now the two run Frank’s Fixies out of Norman apartments, along with their third business partner Isaac ShellaStevens. The company sells bikes, apparel

and more recently added screen-printing to the mix. Their apartment acts as a shop and a show room. They also rely heavily on technology to help them with inventory and communication. “You can pretty much work from wherever you are. It doesn’t matter. We don’t really need an office,” Valdes said. The team has worked to not only create bikes, but also make Des Moines more bike-friendly. “To be able to replicate what happened in Shanghai we need to have roads that are bike friendly, commuter friendly,” Hermsen said. “They haven’t had that yet, so we haven’t been able to fully get the culture here because we need to fully get the infrastructure.” One of the ways they are attempting to do this is by partnering with the LEAD capstone in order to advocate for more bike lanes in Des Moines and around the Drake neighborhood. The petition is meant to help get

more people on bikes. “It [the initiative] will give Drake a safe more eco-friendly option to explore the surrounding areas of campus,” senior Megan Nelson said, who is involved with the capstone. The initiative will help make this possible and also make group rides possible, like the ones Hermsen and Valdes went on in Shanghai. Since the team started, they have transitioned from how they originally opened, which was making custom bikes, because it got too expensive. They have focused more on designing their own fixed gear bikes to then sell. “Now we are at the point where we just want to make a bike that we know is going to serve a lot of people,” Valdes said. “[We want a bike] that is going to look pretty good, pretty unique, so we put a lot of time and effort in designing them, talking with the manufacturers to see what can be done and what cannot be done.”

They are currently waiting for a shipment of 32 bikes in early May, so they have gotten more involved with the apparel to stay busy. “Because we are retailers for apparel, because we make our own apparel, it is pretty easy for us on to screen print on the side because we have the equipment,” Valdes said. “Right now we are just waiting for bikes, so we are pretty much open for anyone who would like to approach us and we are starting to market that more and more.” The apparel side has been a way for Frank’s Fixies to make money all year round and get all students involved. “The whole apparel side of this has been a hit, especially during the off season,” Valdes said. “Not all college students have the money for a $450 bike, especially when it is not even the time to ride a bike, but they love buying our apparel. It has been quite successful.”

FIXED-GEAR BICYCLES by Frank’s Fixies are becoming popular on campus. Co-owners Aaron Hermsen, senior, and Joaquín Valdes, junior, brought the style to Des Moines from Shangahi, China after studying abroad. PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANK’S FIXIES

The Times-Delphic


01 SPORTS

April 20, 2015

SPORTS 2015 Relays Edition

DRAKE SPIRIT

DRAKE MASK UNMASKED JUMP TO, page 4 THE DRAKE MASK has gamed fame thanks toi his energy in the student section as Drake Basketball’s biggest fan. This Bulldog crusader attempts to distract the opposing team and bother referees, doing his best to give his team the advantage. He only started appearing at the Knapp Center two years ago, but his influence on the games and fan section has been obvious, not to mention the legacy he is sure to leave behind. COURTESY OF

DRAKE RELAYS

First Paralympic competition in Drake Relays history Blind man and two-leg amputee among field of athletes to compete in 200-meter sprint EMILY LAMBIE Staff Writer emily.lambie@drake.edu The Drake Relays is an event that brings together some of the best athletes from all over the country, and the world, for a chance to compete against one another. This year, the Drake Relays will be hosting a new event, one that has never been held at the Relays before. A Paralympic 200-meter race will be held at Relays for the first time on Friday, April 24 at Drake Stadium. The new event is a change for the Drake Relays, a race that is far different from the other competitions. Not to mention the talent that will be displayed in the event. “It’s hard enough for just the elite athletes to get into events now,” Track and Field head coach Natasha Brown said. “But now, also with the Paralympics, you’re going to have less opportunities as well, so the fact that we can actually provide that on our setting, on our stage, that’s fantastic.” David Brown One of those athletes is David Brown, a 100, 200 and 400-meter sprinter. He placed 2nd in the 400m and 4x100 relay at the Athletics World Championships in 2013. He also competed in the U.S. Paralympic Track and Field trials in 2012 and received gold in the 100-meter and

200-meter competitions. David Brown was also the first T11 athlete to finish the 100-meter sprint in less than 11 seconds. The T11 classification represents visually impaired athletes. David Brown’s family has been supportive as he has dealt with his affliction, even as his vision has deteriorated over the years. “I was raised up in an athletic based family, pretty much basketball was the sport that my family does,” David Brown said. “When my vision started going down south when I was six years old I couldn’t really play basketball anymore. My mom signed me up for this thing called the Trolley Run in Kansas City, Missouri. I found out I had some speed there, so I continued to compete against my friends.” His vision continued to worsen through his childhood until he was 13, at which point he could barely see anything, and that has not changed since. This was the result of a disease that David Brown was diagnosed with when he was just 15 months old, which led to him developing glaucoma. His vision’s deterioration soon followed. When he was 16 years old David Brown joined the Paralympic circuit in 2008, the start of his professional career. David Brown’s mother was a main influence on him, pushing the young man to stay active. She didn’t want his disability to get the best of him. In order for visually impaired runners to compete they will be literally tethered

to a guide with whom they run stridefor-stride. “A lot of things did have to get modified, and that takes time and just figuring out different things that work for me,” David Brown said. “I think I’ve found a pretty good way and a pretty good method that works for me, in order to run good and run fast in order to be competitive.” As David Brown heads into Relays, his mindset remains unchanged when it comes down to training for the event. “Get ready, get the mindset and go out there and do what I need to do, and run fast,” David Brown said. David Brown will be the only T11 runner in the Relays this year, facing off with other paralympian athletes. As far as being a visually impaired athlete, David Brown has had to make adjustments to the way he competes, even if he doesn’t view his training as much more of a challenge. “I don’t really call them difficulties. There are things I have to deal with differently than an average athlete, but I don’t look at myself as any different. There’s just things that I have to do differently,” David Brown said. “When it comes to my coach, he doesn’t treat me like a visually impaired athlete. He treats me as just a regular athlete. ... I can do anything an ‘able-bodied athlete’ can do.” Marko Cheseto Marko Cheseto, a native Kenyan, has been running his whole life, but it

wasn’t until college he began running competitively. He originally attended a two-year college and became a teacher, but later enrolled in a running academy. The running academy is where American recruiters first became interested in Cheseto. In 2008 he accepted a full athletic scholarship to the University of Alaska-Anchorage. Cheseto placed first in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference for distance running three years in a row. He was also a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regional champion in 2009 and 2010. He achieved AllAmerican status in 2008 and 2010, and was the conference Male Athlete of the year from 2008 to 2010. On top of all of that, Cheseto holds the record for the Anchorage Mayor’s Half Marathon, set in 2010. In 2011 however, that all changed. In a state of deep depression after his cousin committed suicide, Cheseto left his Alaskan home in the middle of a storm wearing only jeans and a light jacket. He wasn’t found for three days, enough time to develop severe frostbite in his extremities. Doctors had no choice but to amputate both of the runner’s feet. Fast-forward four years, and Cheseto is quickly becoming an elite Paralympic runner. Cheseto said that what he does isn’t much different than what athletes with both legs do ­— he just uses prosthetics. “The prosthetics, it’s like trying

different running shoes,” Cheseto said. “I need the right shoe to run well. ... Each day I learn a new skill on how to use them, how should I land so that I don’t lose my consistency when I have gained my speed.” Being an athlete before his amputations gave Chesesto an advantage when he entered the Paralympic circuit. And so, when he was given the opportunity to run again, he didn’t pass it up. “I had not heard of Paralympic athletes before my amputations,” Cheseto said. “I watched other stories of other amputees and then others started contacting me if I was interested again in running, and I said I would give it a try.” As Cheseto began to run more, he posted a video on Facebook of him and a couple other runners sprinting and that was when he was asked if he wanted to try sprinting, having been a long-distance runner before his amputations. Cheseto is still getting used to running competitively with his new ‘shoes,’ but has made vast improvements in the last few years as a runner, his times are consistently improving as he continues to practice and race competitively. His biggest goal at the moment is to become the second paralympian runner to race in the Olympics. Cheseto and David Brown will face off at 7:07 p.m. in the 200-meter on Friday at Drake Stadium.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Maddy Dean named conference Freshman of the Year Michael Wendlandt Staff Writer michael.wendlandt@drake.edu

STATS DON’T LIE MVC Freshman of the Year Maddy Dean was in the top-five amongst MVC freshmen in scoring, rebounds and threes. PHOTO BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR

For the second consecutive year, a Drake Bulldog was awarded with the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year in Women’s Basketball. Last year Lizzy Wendell won the prestigious award, and this season it was earned by Maddy Dean. “It’s really exciting,” Wendell said. “It shows that our program is going somewhere.” Dean, a freshman from Jordan, Minnesota, started the final 20 games of the 2014-2015 season, earning that spot as her play continually improved as the season progressed. She became a key scorer for the Bulldogs down the stretch and led the team in their MVC tournament loss to Evansville with 21 points. She also led the team in rebounds with 12 in their second postseason game against Eastern Michigan in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. She also averaged 13.6 points with

2.3 three-pointers per game on the season, both of which were the most by a freshman in the MVC. Her 6.9 rebounds per game also placed her at fourth overall in the conference and second amongst freshmen, behind teammate Becca Jonas. “Maddy has been big during conference,” head coach Jennie Baranczyk said late in the 2014-2015 season. “She has become a great player in all aspects of the game.” “It’s awesome, and coach Baranczyk gets all the credit,” Dean said. “She knows how to recruit players into her system.” Dean started off the season a little shakily, scoring prodigiously early but struggling with some defensive issues. However, she began to come into her own once the non-conference season started to wrap up, pulling down a couple of double-doubles to end 2014. She ended with eight on the year. “She has some stuff that she’s working on to develop her game even more,” Wendell said. “She’s already a great allaround player and will come out strong next year.” Dean started her ascent to the top

with a dominant performance on Jan. 9, scoring 19 points and pulling down 11 rebounds against Illinois State University. She followed that up with her best game of the season against Evansville, scoring 23 points and pulling down 16 rebounds. That development wasn’t lost among her coaches and teammates. “Maddy has grown tremendously this season,” Baranczyk said. “She has become a defensive leader and holds her own on the boards.” As the season wound down, Dean continued to flourish, scoring in double digits consistently and is one of the most well-rounded players on the roster. She finished the year second in scoring and rebounding on the team, while also finishing with the top free throw percentage among the starters at 79 percent. Dean now heads into her sophomore season as the reigning Freshman of the Year and a first team All-Conference selection, looking to take the conference championship away from Wichita State University and earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The Times-Delphic


02 SPORTS

April 20, 2015

SPORTS 2015 Relays Edition

SOFTBALL

Rebekah Schmidt talks Drake Softball, Bulldogs and her legacy Michael Wendlandt Staff Writer michael.wendlandt@drake.edu Drake Softball has been successful so far in 2015 as the midway point of the regular season has come and gone. They lead the Missouri Valley Conference with a record of 25-13. One of the team’s catalysts is pitcher Rebekah Schmidt, who was just named as the MVC Softball Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season. The senior hails from Cottage Grove, Minnesota and has led the team from the mound alongside fellow starter Nicole Newman. She has had an exceptional year thus far, striking out 127 batters in 135.2 innings and winning 14 of her 22 starts.

Q: Why did you decide to play softball at Drake? A: I was between here and another school. They’re both smaller and similar, but I really liked Drake’s business school and wanted something different. I knew the other school and their conference teams, and I wanted a fresh start and an adventure. So I went to Drake. Q: What was your favorite thing when you first got to Drake? A: I really like how small it is. We always talk about the Drake family as an athletic program. Each year has been so different with freshmen coming in and seniors graduating and leaving. And we’ve always had a solid core of who we are. Every year my class has done a really good job to establish that more. And this year has been awesome. Q: What’s been your favorite part of being on the softball team? A: I love pitching. It’s a game-withina-game, and it is kind of a roller coaster

sometimes. Sometimes I pitch really well and sometimes I struggle. Obviously that isn’t the case every time, but it is a constant battle and a lot of times it involves staying within myself, but I like the pressure and the overall leadership that it provides.

Q: What is your favorite part of the game-within-a-game? A: Striking people out. Getting ahead and getting to what our coach calls the “kill pitch.” All my hard work in practice comes to a reality when there is an actual opponent and you send them out of the box. Q: Being

the primary pitcher on a great team, what does that mean to you? A: It is a combination of the pitching staff and defense as well as our hitting. Nicole Newman is doing so well finishing games so I have fewer pitches to throw. This is the first year as the primary starting pitcher and I love it. I was in that role back in high school and traveling leagues and to get that opportunity again is awesome. But I really love our staff, and that is what is getting us this far.

was Keilana Ricketts, who is playing professionally now. That was pretty awesome.

Q: What’s been your biggest struggle as a Division I athlete? A: A lot of it is the mental game. We have such a long season and within your season we go through mini-seasons. Sometimes we’re not hitting or the pitching is struggling. Coach calls it a marathon. I think staying mentally focused, not getting too in your own head is the key. Trusting the process is huge for us. Q: What will be your biggest memory of Drake? A: My old pitching coach always talked of when we would leave. You wouldn’t always remember the games or the big moments, but you would miss the family. I’ll definitely remember certain games and moments, but I’ll really miss my teammates. Something that has stuck with me is my class. That’ll be my best memory: playing four years with them and forging lifelong friendships.

A: Megan Sowa has some funny moments. She’s always a character and has me laughing.

Q: In 10 years when you return to Drake, what do you want to follow your name? What will be your legacy? A: I want to be known as an unselfish player who looked out for my team, both on and off the field, someone that truly wanted the most success even if it means that I don’t get it personally. That especially applies to Nicole. I want her to break all the records, and she has so much potential to do that. I play with integrity and am someone who puts the team first.

Q: What’s been your favorite individual memory from your four years of Drake softball? A: Probably sophomore year, I hit a home run against Oklahoma, who won the national title that year. The pitcher

Schmidt’s career win total of 51 is just 15 victories shy of the Drake record, set by Laurie Bowden in 1993. And her play this year has helped the Bulldogs earn their best record at this point in the season since 2010.

Q: What’s your “kill pitch”? A: It depends on the day and on the

wind. I throw an off-speed rise ball. It is slower and makes it hard for hitters to adjust.

Q: Who’s the funniest player on the

team?

COMMANDING THE MOUND Schmidt prepares to fire another pitch towards home plate, always pursuing the next out for her team. PHOTO BY BARON CAO | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

SISTER TEAMS

Drake support crucial for Bulldog Athletics Adam Rogan Sports Editor adam.rogan@drake.edu

STUDENT-ATHLETES SPEAK

PRE-GAMING

FANS SUPPORT the Bulldogs basketball teams in the Knapp Center, influencing the game with their volume and energy from the stands. PHOTO BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR

The Times-Delphic

There are currently over 250 studentathletes who represent Drake University. Together, these students make up the Drake Athletics community, and all of these Bulldogs, along with their coaches and the fans, provide support for one another in their endeavors, on or off the field. “Drake is a small enough campus that normally with the attendance you can tell if there’s another team there and so that makes a big difference, brings in energy,” said John Hugunin, a fifth-year senior and team captain for Drake football. “It’s nice to have your fellow Bulldogs coming out and supporting you just as friends.” In order to help foster that support and friendships between the teams, Drake Athletics has begun the practice of forming sister teams between sports. The Women’s Golf, Football and Softball teams are all sister teams with one

another. However, the support other is not restricted to only their sister teams. “It’s seriously the best,” Hayley Nybo, a Drake senior and softball infielder, said. “We really try and go to a lot of sporting events. We almost never miss a basketball game or a football game if they’re at home.” Nybo mentioned the Bulldog win over Loyola University on April 4, in which over two dozen football players came out to Ron Buel Field to cheer on the Bulldogs. “They’re loud and we hear them and we kind of feed off that energy,” Nybo said. Not only does the football team support Softball, but the Women’s Golf team also gets out to support their classmates. “We’ve been trying to go and support both of the teams for any of the games we can attend,” senior Danielle Brooks said. “We do our best to cheer and encourage them.” In addition to the game attendance, the Women’s Golf team has also made brownies for both the Softball and

John Hugunin

Kayla Giuliano

Ravi Patel

“That’s a tough one. Probably ‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem. Maybe ‘Till I Collapse’ by Eminem. Really anything by Eminem.”

“‘Radioactive’ by Imagine Dragons. It just puts me in a zone.”

“Probably ‘We Dem Boyz’ by Wiz Khalifa, because we are the boys.”

Football

Track & Field

Men’s Tennis

what’s your pump-up song?

Football teams, decorated the football locker room and wrote words of encouragement on the Softball team’s whiteboard. The goal of sister teams is not only to bind teams together by bringing more fans or by making sweet treats, but also to better the community by volunteering together, although it can be difficult to plan this because of conflicting schedules. “This spring we’re going to do a Habitat for Humanity build,” Brooks said. Having a sister teams can also lead to the betterment of the players’ networking and friendship communities, getting together to do more than just cheering each other on. “We played Wiffle ball with the golf and softball teams a couple times,” Hugunin said. “That was fun, just getting together and hanging out with them.” Drake has worked towards a continual devotion to fostering communities and friendships between its students. Sister teams are just another way of doing that, and will stay in place for the future considering how much student-athletes have appreciated them.

Rai AhmedGreen “Right now I would say ‘Energy’ by Drake, just because it gives me energy.”

Track & Field

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DRAKE ATHLETICS


03 SPORTS

April 20, 2015

SPORTS 2015 Relays Edition

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Despite injury, Kyndal Clark is hopeful for future and proud of past Star basketball player powers past setback, makes impact with team and community

Michael Wendlandt Staff Writer michael.wendlandt@drake.edu There is no harder thing in sports than to sit on the sidelines after an injury. It is even more heart wrenching when the team goes on to become one of the best teams in the conference. For Kyndal Clark, it was a deflating feeling to be on the sidelines and not out on the court with her teammates after a knee injury robbed Clark of her senior season after just one game. The 2014-2015 season was supposed to be a defining capstone to an impressive career for Clark. She was the reigning Jackie Stiles Award winner, as the best player in the Missouri Valley Conference, and also led all of NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball her junior year in three-pointers made per game. Averaging 19.3 points per game last season, Clark was expected to be a catalyst for a team that had aspirations of a conference title. But after scoring 17 points in an opening night loss to South Dakota, she went down with a knee injury and was forced to sit out for the rest of the season. Even with the severity of the injury Clark never got down on herself as a result, encouraging her teammates from the sideline and aiding the Bulldogs this season whenever and wherever she could. “God has always taken care of me and shown me that everything happens for a reason, so I knew I had nothing to worry about,” Clark said. Throughout the season Clark was seen on the Drake bench, usually near the coaching staff helping out with recognizing patterns, especially on the offensive side of the ball, where her specialties as a player lie. “My role varied between games depending on what the coaches needed, but the majority of the time I watched out on offense and analyzed what was and wasn’t working,” Clark said. During this time she continued her rehab and jumped ahead of schedule in her recovery, something that could make an impact for the Bulldogs who

are hoping for her to get back to peak physical condition. Part of this hope is that it will allow Clark to play next season in her old uniform. The prospect of Clark donning her old uniform, like her recovery, looks very promising. “Recovery is going well. I can start running in June, and then may be released for full contact in August or September,” Clark said. When she isn’t working with the

team or rehabbing her knee, Clark has been a catalyst for the Bulldogs’ Community Outreach program in the athletics department. The Women’s Basketball team set a goal of 1,000 hours of community service and surpassed it this season, much of that coming as a result of Clark’s efforts. Clark was named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Allstate Good Works Team for her efforts off-the-court and got to travel to the

Final Four this year to be recognized. Regardless of whether or not Clark will return next year, her Drake career is nearing its end. Still, she has more than a few fond memories of this small school in Des Moines. She has learned a lot, but it has been the journey that inspired her the most. “What comes to mind is not what I have learned, but the reminders of things that I have always known,” Clark said. “My mom has always told me that the

journey is the reward, meaning (that I should) celebrate all of the trials and triumphs in life because they help you learn, grow and steer you through life ... and they are meant to be embraced.” Clark may continue to work in basketball, but not necessarily as a coach or player. She may pursue another career, such as working with and supporting retired athletes, as well as encouraging and teaching to others pursuing the game she loves.

KYNDAL CLARK is perhaps most known for her intensity and energy, both on and off the court. She has started 97 games in her career, starting every game she appeared in from her freshman to her senior year. Clark has averaged 14.4 points per game and shot 42.3 percent from the field in her career. PHOTOS BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR

COLUMN

Impactmurals: the significance of intramurals Participating in four years of intramurals at Drake has been one of the most rewarding experiences during my college career. I played sports competitively in high school, and intramurals was a great transition from that. One of the great things about Drake intramurals is that if you can’t get any of your friends to play, you can get picked up as a free agent. All you have to do is fill out a short bio and pick a sport. One of the newest features in intramurals is this new mobile app, Rec’it, which will link up with your Drake intramural account and notify you with game updates and reminders. Long story short, whether you’re looking to just play some volleyball with friends or get into a heated match of basketball, intramurals never disappoint. Some of the funniest memories I have at Drake came when I was a first-year, being a part of the intramural volleyball team, Unprotected Sets. We could bump it, we could set it, we could spike it, but

most importantly, we had fun out on the court. Our team was comprised of my friends from First-Year Seminar and fourth floor Herriot. The whole floor turning up for games turned into a tradition throughout the year as we would be playing music, cracking jokes and attempting to get the ball over the net. After winning a match, we would run into our residence hall chanting, “Unprotected Sets, Unprotected Sets!” until our RA would finally tell us to quiet down. To this day, I can’t play volleyball without thinking about those glory days. As of late, I’ve been kicking around the soccer ball in the Drake Fieldhouse for some indoor soccer action. This was a little more competitive than the recreational volleyball season, as I was competing in fraternity league soccer now. The great part about indoor soccer was it had all the fun and joking around of recreational league, but also brought some tougher competition along with it. In conclusion, you don’t have to be

a superstar athlete to go out and have some fun. Drake intramurals has a little something to offer everybody. So go, grab some friends, make some new ones and get onto the field.

Sam Lowry Columnist samuel.lowry@drake.edu

3-ON-3 INTRAMURAL VOLLEYBALL kicked off on April 13, several teams competing on the Bell Center’s multi-purpose courts. PHOTO BY CODY FROST | STAFF PHOTGRAPHER

The Times-Delphic


04 SPORTS

April 20, 2015

SPORTS 2015 Relays Edition

DRAKE SPIRIT

Drake Mask unmasked

The Bulldogs’ faceless sixth man Adam Rogan Sports Editor adam.rogan@drake.edu The great heroes of sport are rarely those that were expected to succeed. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady wasn’t picked until the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft and Drake’s own Adam Emmenecker, who led the Bulldogs to the Men’s Basketball NCAA Tournament in 2008 for the first time since 1971, had been a walk-on for the Men’s Basketball team the three previous years. However, heroes don’t always make their names on the field, but can sometimes rise in other forms, rising out of the shadows to save the day. And now, it seems that Drake has one such hero. The Drake Mask is an individual who attends nearly every home basketball at the Knapp Center, supporting his school and distracting their opponents, helping the team he loves in whatever way he can from off the court. “No one I know knows who he is, which kind of adds to the excitement,” senior point guard Carly Grenfell said. “He’s a diehard fan and it is pretty cool to see his literally unwavering support. He’s at every game and it’s definitely pretty cool to have that.” The Mask agreed to meet for an exclusive interview, but wished to keep his true identity secret, as so many other great heroes do. “I can’t score baskets on the court, but I do hope that people get some enjoyment watching me cheer on the team or going crazy after the made shots,” The Mask said. “It’s something I’d like to have more of, more people not necessarily showing up to the game in masks, but their cheering on the team really excited about everything.” The Mask first appeared during the 2013-2014 basketball season and has brought many to speculate where his origins lie, but he has sworn to never disclose that information.

“I started wearing the mask because I thought it would be fun to show up to games and not have to worry about acting too crazy or getting on the refs’ nerves,” The Mask said. “It really gives me the freedom to do a lot of things normal people might feel embarrassed or ashamed of doing. I’m not the kind of person who cares about that type of stuff, but it just gives me the opportunity to not worry about people who would say ‘You’re that kid who goes crazy at basketball games.’” Avoiding those remarks from his classmates is exactly why The Mask wants to keep his identity secret. “It’s two separate things,” The Mask said. “It’s me as a school student, serious about my school studies, but at the same time I want that outlet where I can just do whatever I want.” That freedom not only helps The Mask express himself and have fun, but also helps get the crowd into the game and support the team on the court. “The intensity he brings, rattling the other team and knowing that we’re going to have an intense environment, having the Knapp Center being a tough place for everyone else to play,” freshman guard Reed Timmer said. That hostile environment for opponents to play in seems to be making an impact in games. In the two years since The Mask’s first appearance, the Bulldogs’ home winning percentage has improved significantly for the Women’s Basketball team and held steady for the Men’s team when compared to their road winning percentages (see graphic at right). “I would like to think that the fans have an impact on the games, at least a little bit,” The Mask said. “I can try to do something to try to get into the other team’s head before the game by staring them down ... or dancing to break their focus while they’re trying to shoot free throws. I’ll do pretty much anything so that our team can win.” One of The Mask’s advantages is that he doesn’t need a phone booth to get into character, but simply needs to get into

THE DRAKE MASK is a rather unpredictable character, most known for staring down opposing players before tip-off, dancing during the free throws and, of course, the mask that hides his true identity at every game. PHOTO BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR

the basketball mindset and strap a simple piece of blue plastic over his face. “It’s a comfort… knowing that one guy is going to be there all the time, being as crazy he can, motivating our fans to be as crazy as they can.” Timmer said. “It really helps us create the atmosphere we want here at Drake.” “I think The Mask just embodies everything Drake stands for and his presence, whether he’s dancing in the student section or distracting free throws.” Grenfell added. “It’s huge and it really means a lot to us.”

The players’ responses are what The Mask wants to get out of them, to motivate them to play better, which in turn makes his job of energizing spectators easier. “When the student section gets into it, it makes it a lot more fun for everybody else,” The Mask said. The only times that The Mask has been seen are during Drake’s athletic events. The Mask can be found @DrakeMask on Twitter, and perhaps may be spotted living out his alter ego attending classes as a dedicated Drake student.

THE POWER OF THE MASK MEN’S BASKETBALL WIN PERCENTAGE BEFORE THE MASK HOME: 71.0% ROAD: 29.2% WITH THE MASK HOME: 60.7% ROAD: 20.0% WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WIN PERCENTAGE BEFORE THE MASK HOME: 57.1% ROAD: 33.3% WITH THE MASK HOME: 65.5% ROAD: 51.9%

TRACK AND FIELD

Professional and collegiate athletes prepare for stiff competition at Drake Relays

Olympic gold medalist Dawn Harper-Nelson to make her fourth appearance at the blue oval EMILY LAMBIE Staff Writer emily.lambie@drake.edu

As Drake Relays are now upon us, the Bulldog athletes who will represent their school this week have been preparing intensely so that they can perform as best they can at the biggest event of Drake’s Track and Field season. One of those athletes is senior Steven Jordan, who will be competing in his third Relays. He is not sure what event he will be participating in yet, so he is basing how he prepares on what he ran last year. He expects to compete in the Men’s 1600 Sprint Medley, the 4x100 relay and the 4x200 meter relay. “We have been working out hard again and we can work our base up, just by doing a little longer workouts, but then later in the week we will do

some more speed, just so we’re ready for the meets, and ready to run fast,” Jordan said. Along with the athletic side of it, he has been trying to stay healthy and keep his body in shape in order to become a better athlete and a better runner. “I’m just working hard every day and trying to push myself until we get to that point where we need to show up in front of our home crowd,” Jordan said. He is excited for Relays this year and the atmosphere that comes along with it. Competing alongside Jordan is freshman Mary Young, who is a veteran of Drake Relays, even if this will be her first time competing at the collegiate level. This will be Young’s third year competing, but her first as a college athlete. She won the Women’s 100-meter hurdles two years in a row at the Drake Relays while in high school, setting the high school Relays

record as a senior, and is excited to see what they will be like this year as a college athlete. “I’m trying to just get my mind right,” Young said. “I’m not going in with the same high school mindset, and just going and trying to go in and PR or do better and to not think about everyone else.” Not only is she preparing mentally, but physically as well. Assistant coach LaRon Bennett is working with Young and her fellow hurdlers in order to make sure that they are adequately prepared for Relays. “Coach Bennett has us working hard,” Young said. “He is trying to get me to the 400 hurdles, and a lot of starts,” Young said. However, when it comes to the elite, professional athletes, preparing for competitions functions a little bit differently For hurdler Dawn Harper-Nelson, training is her life. And that training has paid off, as she has placed first in

the 100-meter hurdles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and took home the silver four years later in London. This will be Harper-Nelson’s fourth time competing at Drake Relays, her best performance coming in 2013 when she placed second by .03 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles. Last year her performance wasn’t as strong, finishing in seventh place of eight. Her practice routine is a little bit more intense. She will be given a specific time to run by her coach who asks her to come to practice ‘race ready,’ as if it was an actual meet. “In my head I’m just thinking, ‘You know you have competition besides you, you still got to run this time the coach wants you to run, clean race, fast and it always ends with the scream at the finish line.’” Harper-Nelson said. “He comes over and tells me whether I met the goal or not. So I love that type of pressure at practice because, to me, it’s the exact same pressure that I put on myself at a track meet.”

To Harper-Nelson, the most important aspects of practice are being strong and having an attitude like that of an athlete in competition. “The mindset going in to this is about just saying I really want to execute these things that me and my coach have worked on, and I really, really want to give the fans a good show,” Harper-Nelson said. Harper-Nelson, like Young, prepares both physically and mentally. “In my head, I do a lot of visualization, visualizing a lot of my races,” Harper-Nelson said. “I do a lot of visualizing where if I don’t have a good start, you know how you have to catch up, the moves that you will have to make. I do a lot if I have a good start, and then I’m out in front and I do a great race.” All of that hard work will be put to the test this week once the athletes step into the blocks on the starting line of the historic blue oval.

MARY YOUNG (right) stands intently for an interview after a race at the Jim Duncan Invitational on April 11. She took second in the 4x100 meter relay and won the 100-meter hurdles and the 4x400 meter relay at the event. (Left) Young receives the baton from fellow freshman Rai Ahmed-Green. Ahmed-Green will be running at the Drake Relays this week as well, her first appearance at the competition. PHOTOS BY EMILY LAMBIE | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Times-Delphic


05 SPORTS

April 20, 2015

SPORTS 2015 Relays Edition

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

FOOTBALL

Redshirt athletes reflect on experiences Former Drake offensive lineman Adam Rogan Sports Editor adam.rogan@drake.edu Stepping onto a college campus for the first time, every student is granted four years of athletic eligibility to play for their school’s athletic teams, regardless of their age. Most students don’t take advantage of this, but many athletic programs are able to make the most of this rule through a process known as “redshirting.” A coach may redshirt any player, but they will almost always select exclusively freshmen. A redshirted player will not participate in any games during their first season, but will still be part of the team and practice with them. This allows the player to develop more as an athlete and to improve their skills and athleticism, while still preserving a year of eligibility, now able to compete as a more experienced fifth-year. Drake’s starting quarterback for the 2015 football season will be Andy Rice, who will be a fifth-year senior next year, a player who has experienced firsthand the benefits of being redshirted his freshman year. Rice, as an athlete in a highly physical sport like football, found that it wasn’t so much learning the game that would benefit him on the field, but instead preparing to be competitive on the gridiron with bigger competitors at the collegiate level. “The best part, honestly, is being able to lift on Fridays. I came in at 185 pounds and I ended my freshman year at 215 pounds,” Rice said. “I was a twig coming out of high school.” Casey Schlatter was redshirted this

past season for the Men’s Basketball team and will play for the first time next year as a sophomore, and he has realized the same benefits that Rice experienced. “It helped a lot because I was lifting three days a week, working on getting stronger,” Schlatter said. “On top of that, going against the starters every day, so I was always able to challenge myself with the guys I was playing.” This decision should also help Schlatter, a 6’10” forward, in the development of his more technical skills on the court, not just in pure strength. “I think it’ll help a lot just because big guys take a little longer for us to develop,” Schlatter said. “Just having a year of learning before playing and learning what it takes (is going to help).” Sophomore Darrin MacLeod, the starting goalkeeper for Men’s Soccer, attests to that sentiment as well. He believes that just being a part of the team for a season before playing made him better the following year. “I think just being in a college setting an extra year and having that time to develop in training sessions and learning (helped a lot),” MacLeod said. In addition to that year of development, the experience that comes with being older and oftentimes more mature than most of his opponents has proven to be invaluable to MacLeod. “There is always pieces of my game I want to work on,” MacLeod said. “As you get older you get that sense of composure.” Besides on-the-field benefits, having that extra year in school and on campus has proven to be beneficial to these men as student-athletes. “It makes a huge difference. Next semester I’m taking one class,” Rice said. “The redshirt year is a lot of fun, mostly

because you get to hang out with a whole bunch of guys you just met and get to establish those relationships right off the bat.” Those relationships have also helped Rice become a leader both on and off the field, as he has been part of Drake’s system and the Bulldog team for so long. This surely is something that MacLeod is learning now and Schlatter will realize when it is his time to be an upperclassman. It will be Schlatter’s opportunity to lead the young freshmen redshirts off the court so that they will one day be able to better lead on it, like this year’s seniors did for him.

EXPERIENCED FORMER REDSHIRTS Darrin MacLeod (bottom) and Andy Rice (top) have grown significantly as players in the past several years, now working to win games on-the-field and teaching the current redshirts off of it. PHOTOS BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR

returns to alma mater as coach

Michael Wendlandt Staff Writer michael.wendlandt@drake.edu There will be a new, yet familiar, face patrolling the sidelines at Drake Stadium this coming football season. AllConference Offensive Tackle Steve Flynn will return to Drake to coach the position he excelled at for three years as a Bulldog. Steve Flynn, a starting left tackle from 2009-2011, has returned to Drake to coach the tackles and help the receivers and tight ends with blocking. Earning All-Conference status in the Pioneer Football League in 2010 and 2011, Flynn has prior experience and knowledge in what it takes to win in this conference. “I would bring a get-it-done attitude to the field,” Flynn said. “I was a guy who knew the Xs and Os to get the job done and would find ways to make it happen.” For Flynn, it has been a quick ascent through the ranks. After graduating from Drake in 2011, he spent a season as an intern for Montana State University. Flynn then worked for two years at Wabash College as the assistant offensive line and tight ends coach. Flynn was pleasantly surprised to be back at Drake only three years after he left. “I was surprised and honored that Coach Fox thought enough of me to offer me the job after only three years,” Flynn said. For Coach Fox and this class of fifth-

year seniors, Flynn is a familiar face. Fox was an assistant coach during Flynn’s final years as a player and the fifth-years were redshirt freshmen when Flynn was a senior tackle. While this is the first time that they’re working together as colleagues, Fox and Flynn are closer than the average coaches. “He knows all my idiosyncrasies and hopefully he can translate that to the other guys,” Fox said. “We know each other really well. We’ve been through good times and hard times with this team. Our relationship goes deeper than fellow coaches.” Flynn doesn’t quite have his goals set for the season, but he knows that he wants to help this offensive line be the best it can be, especially in pass protection. “I’m thinking of setting goals for pressures and sacks given up. Start it with a larger number at the beginning of the year and then lower it as the season goes on,” Flynn explained. Drake’s team holds a lot of promise, with some key players returning, especially on offense, and Flynn can’t wait to see them play in person. “I’m excited to see what this Drake team is all about,” Flynn said. “I want to see what these guys bring to the table once the season starts. When push comes to shove, I want to see what they’re like on the field.” Steve Flynn suited up for the first time as a Bulldog for their spring game on April 18. However, suiting up now now means that a headset and a Drake Athletics polo have replaced a helmet and shoulder pads.

STEVE FLYNN hung up his cleats four years ago, but he still hasn’t left the sport of football, coaching teams every year since graduation. COURTESY OF DRAKE ATHLETICS

TRACK AND FIELD

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Hanging back at Relays: What athletes who will not be competing are doing

A match(up) made in heaven

Adam Rogan Sports Editor adam.rogan@drake.edu Several hundred athletes will arrive in Des Moines to compete at the historic Drake Relays every spring. This time is especially significant for the Track and Field team, as world-class athletes in their sport descend on Drake Stadium. Some of the best college-level talent comes to Relays in addition to the worldclass athletes, which is part of what causes the event to draw such large crowds. Many Bulldogs will face off against these competitors, but not all of them get that opportunity. Several members of the Drake Track and Field team will not be participating in the Relays. It is up to head coach Natasha Brown and the other Track and Field coaches to make the decisions on who will be able to participate in the meets and who won’t be able to run on the blue oval this year. “Even though it is our home meet and we technically put them in, we want them to have a good experience with it so it doesn’t make sense to put you out there if you’re not ready for it,” Brown said. The coaches don’t like denying their athletes the privilege of running in the biggest meet of the season, but sometimes

tough decisions need to be made. “It’s kind of hard,” Brown said. “That week is so tough because there are qualifying standards and we won’t necessarily put our athletes out there unless we feel like they are going to be competitive.” Other than that, many of these athletes may be helping out behindthe-scenes at Relays, whether it be taking splits on distance races, ushering spectators or helping set-up equipment for the competitions. Some of the others athletes who will not be competing at Drake or helping out will still be competing this week, traveling to Indianola, Iowa for the Kip Janvrin Invitational on Thursday and Friday. “Usually we’ll send ones who are on the cuffs of making Drake Relays, like if they’re potentially going to develop,” Brown said. “We may send them to the Kip Janvrin race, but it’s hard for us because we can’t be in two places at the same time.” Regardless of whoever represents the white and blue, the team wants the best athletes to represent the Bulldogs this week. “We’re trying to assemble really some powerful relays (teams),” Brown said. “It’s fun for us. This is the one time that we actually can run several different relays.”

Gray Squad and Women’s Basketball team become one

Michael Wendlandt Staff Writer michael.wendlandt@drake.edu Everyone on campus has surely heard about the success that Drake Women’s Basketball had this season. The team finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference and earned a spot in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). With most of their roster getting consistent playing time and needing to learn their own roles, the team looks to the Gray Squad for quality competition outside of official games. The Gray Squad consists of a group of men who practice with the team and help out with scouting and drills. The Gray Squad is essentially the Bulldogs’ practice squad, running plays that the opposition might run in their next game and emulating the play style of Drake’s upcoming opponents. They are almost all former high school players who now attend Drake, and that experience has helped prepare them to play against the skilled Women’s Basketball team. “We want them to succeed,” senior

squad member Alex Smith said. “I first became involved only to play basketball again, but I think I can speak for the other guys when I say that once we became members of the Gray Squad we quickly become dedicated and loyal fans of the team, experiencing emotional highs when they have success and lows when they don’t.” The bond that develops makes this group of guys close not only with the Women’s Basketball team, but also with each other, creating one unit on the court. They learn a lot about the practice habits of college sports and learn how to be better players as well. “I feel like I have greatly improved my game since joining the Gray Squad,” Smith added. “Every time I practice with the team, I learn new moves by watching and defending the girls, but only after getting scored on countless times. I also get the opportunity to listen to some of the best basketball minds in our coaching staff, who have years of experience and success from their various backgrounds of playing and coaching college ball.” Although Smith has had experience playing for the Gray Squad, it is a new experience for freshman Andy Hamilton. After being invited to come play by freshman center Becca Jonas, he has come

to embrace the role as part of Drake Basketball. “Outside of being a practice squad, we also develop relationships with the players and encourage them whenever possible,” Hamilton said. “We do our best to support the team by going to home and away games.” Fans can usually see the Gray Squad at home games in the student section, cheering their team on and analyzing the game from afar. “After working with them all week for a specific game, you know exactly what our girl’s team is trying to do,” senior Matt Dybing said. “You also know the other team’s offense and offensive tendency by player because we are executing the other team’s offense in practice all week.” “My favorite part of this season was seeing how this team developed into an opponent nobody wanted to play,” Smith said. Smith added that seasons like this past one are what makes all the work worth it. The blood, sweat and possible tears from the hours of tough practice has molded these men into teammates and brothers for the Bulldogs, a team that has made noise throughout the country in the past few years.

The Times-Delphic


06 SPORTS

April 20, 2015

SPORTS 2015 Relays Edition

COLUMN

A year in review: looking back at Drake’s accomplishments in 2014-2015 1

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3

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THE 2014-2015 SEASON has been filled with successes by the 16 Drake Bulldogs Athletics teams. 1. Alen Salibasic is currently ranked 36th in the nation and part of the 24th ranked Men’s Tennis team. 2. Caitlin Ingle was the starting point guard for the 2014-2015 Women’s Basketball team whose 20-11 record earned Drake’s first WNIT birth since 2012. 3. Catcher Ashlie Chambers has a slugging percentage of .321 this season for Drake Softball, who are off to their best start in five years. 4. Drake Football finished the 2014 season with a record of 7-4 and 6-2 in conference, ranking third overall in the Pioneer League. PHOTOS BY EMILY LAMBIE AND JOEL VENZKE

Attending a school with Division I level athletics is definitely a privilege that comes along with going to a prestigious university, but it’s even better when that school’s teams are as talented as the Drake Bulldogs. Every season brings excitement and intense competition to Des Moines, but this past year has been especially exciting for us Bulldogs. From buzzer beaters to last second touchdowns to tournament victories and upset, you never know what’s going to happen in Drake Athletics. Our football team had one of their best years in recent memory, their season riddled with close games, five of 11 games being decided by one possession or less. The Bulldogs ended the season with seven wins and four losses overall and posting a 6-2 record against conference opponents, third place in the Pioneer Football League. This was thanks to a string of victories coming at the end of the season, the Bulldogs winning five of their last six games, all of them against conference opponents.

Junior Andy Rice led the team as quarterback, scoring 16 total touchdowns and throwing for over 2,000 yards. Both the Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams have had outstanding seasons on the court. The women have only lost four matches all year, and each one of them was against a ranked opponent. The men are currently ranked 31st in the nation one year after the team picked up their first ever NCAA Tournament win, with senior Alen Salibasic and junior Ben Lott each consistently ranked among the top-75 collegiate players in the country. However, one of the biggest stories in Drake Athletics this year was the success of the Women’s Basketball team. Entering the season predicted to take third in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Bulldogs got off to a weak start with three losses to open the season. To make matters worse, star senior guard Kyndal Clark went down with an injury in the first game of the season, and would be out for the rest of the year. And yet, things may not have been quite so bleak. Sophomore and reigning

Freshman of the Year Lizzy Wendell took the helm, leading the Bulldogs into a season that can best be described as “historic.” The Bulldogs snapped their early season losing streak with an upset over the University of Wisconsin-Madison on November 23, Drake paced by 33 points from Wendell. Drake would also go on a stretch where they won nine games in a row to start 2015. The streak was sparked following a two-point loss to the University of Iowa. The final game of the win streak was a 64-61 victory over conference rivals Wichita State. Two weeks later, however, Wichita State would exact their revenge, demolishing the Bulldogs 80-59. This loss killed much of the momentum the Bulldogs had been building, just three games before the conference tournament. Regardless, Drake was confident entering the tourney, earning a bye with their second seed. They faced off with 7th seed Evansville in the second round, but nobody saw what was coming in that

game. Setting a school record for most threes in a game, Evansville’s shooting doomed the Bulldogs. Drake pushed the game into an extra period behind 21-point performances from Becca Jonas and 2014-2015 Freshman of the Year Maddy Dean, but Evansville killed Drake’s hopes with an 84-79 overtime win. One week later the team played against Eastern Michigan in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), but Drake again fell in another high scoring matchup, 70-80. Regardless of the losses at the end of the season, the Bulldogs still the most wins they’ve had in a season since 2008. Currently, the Drake Softball season is now in full swing and their 24-12 record is the best the team has had since 2010. This is a result of strong hitting, led by Megan Sowa, Hayley Hybo and Laura Brewer. Even bigger than the Bulldog bats is the dominant pitching from freshman Nicole Newman and senior Rebekah Schmidt, who has the most wins as a

pitcher and the highest batting average on the team. This is just a quick look at a handful of the many successes this school has had this year, and possibly a look at things to come as Drake Athletics continues to improve itself for the future.

Adam Rogan adam.rogan@drake.edu Sports Editor

DRAKE RELAYS

With over 500 teams travelling to meet, many college athletes look forward to Relays EMILY LAMBIE Staff Writer emily.lambie@drake.edu Drake isn’t the only school who has the opportunity to compete at Relays, as over 500 teams from middle schools, high schools and colleges across the nation will travel to Drake Stadium this week. Three of those teams will come from the University of Arizona, Baylor University and Marquette University. Each will send several athletes to face off with some of the best collegiate talent in the country.

The Times-Delphic

From Marquette in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, junior William Hennessey is one of the athletes who could potentially be competing in the Drake Relays this year. He is looking forward to the experience, having never been to Relays before. “Just the fact that it’s probably one the most historic relay meets in America, maybe behind the Pitt Relays,” Hennessey said. “The atmosphere is basically insane the week of Relays.” “It’s a great environment and a great feel,” senior Raena Rhone, a runner for Baylor University, said. “There is a lot of competition and it’s just really, really fun.” Even with all of the excitement,

Hennessey has some nerves to deal with. “Anytime you go to a big meet like this there is bound to be some sort of nerves involved.” Hennessey said. “It’s a few weeks out, so hopefully by then I’ll have tamed the nerves.” While he won’t know until the week of Relays, he is hoping that he will get the chance to compete in the steeplechase, but it all depends on his times if he gets the chance at all to travel to Des Moines. Regardless, he is optimistic and believes that he will earn the honor of running at Drake’s historic Jim Duncan track. “I’m excited because it’s a huge

meet, but nervous also, because it’s a huge meet,” Hennessey said. The only way he could describe it is surreal. Pete Lauderdale is a senior at the University of Arizona and is hoping to be chosen to compete in the Drake Relays this season. Arizona has not been to the Drake Relays in four years, so this is an exciting opportunity for the school to jump back into this event-filled week in Des Moines. “It is definitely an amazing opportunity,” Lauderdale said. “I compare Drake Relays, it is as big as Texas Relays and Pitt Relays. … The atmosphere there is indescribable. It’s

kind of like being in the BCS bowl, and Drake Relays to me is kind of like that. The level of competition is so high and the people supporting the sport are so enthusiastic and a great experience to go to and just say you were a part of.” Not only is he excited to compete, but he is also excited to be able to come to Iowa, as this will be his first time travelling to the state. The team will fly to Des Moines in the hopes of taking some awards back to Tucson. “Our coaches are doing a great job of getting us prepared for competitions,” Lauderdale said. “We’re a young team, we’re hungry and we’ll show up and show what Arizona can do.”


07 SPORTS

April 20, 2015

SPORTS 2015 Relays Edition

MEN’S TENNIS

Men’s Tennis prepares for MVC Tournament, NCAA Tournament ahead

DRAKE SENIORS Ravi Patel, Ben Mullis, Alen Salibasic and Matt Frost played their final home matches as Bulldogs on March 27 for Senior Day, defeating Georgia State University 4-1 and picking up a 4-3 victory against the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. The team earned the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win last season and look to go even further into the postseason this year. PHOTO BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR

Adam Rogan Sports Editor adam.rogan@drake.edu The Men’s Tennis team finished their regular season on April 11 with a 5-2 final score against the University of Southern Illinois. They ended their season at 22-6, the same record they had last season. An undefeated, 3-0 against conference members made the Bulldogs the Missouri Valley Conference champions for the fifth straight season. “We put ourselves in a great

position,” head coach Davidson Kozlowski said. “First and foremost at the start of the season is to win the conference.” However, when he said this Kozlowski was talking about the MVC Tournament that begins this weekend. Drake’s number one seed in the tournament gives them a bye on Friday, their play set to resume on Saturday. The Bulldogs will face off with either Illinois State University or Stony Brook University, whichever teams wins the first round match. Drake is currently ranked 31st in the nation, which should grant them an

at-large seed in the NCAA Tournament, but the team still wants to take the guaranteed seed that comes along with being at the top of the conference. “We still want to go and take the championship. It’s important for us,” senior Ravi Patel said. “We’ve been building up the whole year to go and get it and we’ve proved ourselves that we’re the strongest seed going into the tournament.” Even if the MVC Tournament is at hand, the minds of the Bulldogs are looking forward to the big dance. “The goal this year is to make the Sweet Sixteen so right now

we’re preparing ourselves mentally to win two rounds in the tournament, hopefully,” senior Alen Salibasic, the 41st best player in the nation, said. As the NCAA Tournament draws closer the competition the Bulldogs will face is sure to toughen. Still, after facing against ranked opponents such as Butler University and Harvard University, the team feels prepared for the change. “We’ve played top teams this year, so we know what the experience is like,” Salibasic said. “We know where we’re at and can make our goals. The belief is there, it’s just preparation in

the next two weeks.” “We believe that we can beat these teams, no matter what rank they are,” Patel said. Regardless, Kozlowski is focused on the MVC Tournament at the moment, knowing how much every match can matter, even if they are against teams that aren’t ranked as highly. “(We just need to) keep doing what we do,” Kozlowski said. “Have the guys come out with a lot of intensity, a lot of energy, stay focused and play as hard as they can from the first ball in doubles to the last ball in singles.”

SOFTBALL

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Bulldog reaches milestone, tough matches ahead Four road wins extend Softball’s Nell Boyd picks up 100th career win, close to school record winning streak to six games Adam Rogan Sports Editor adam.rogan@drake.edu As the regular season draws to a close, the Bulldogs have picked up another two wins against teams in the Missouri Valley Conference, as the toughest matches of the conference season are on the horizon. The Bulldogs now have a record of 19-4 thus far in the 2014-2015 season and are undefeated against MVC opponents. “They’re both very dangerous teams and they’re both very good teams,” senior Nell Boyd said. “Just being able to handle our business and only give up one match was awesome for us.” The biggest story of the weekend was Boyd reaching a personal and Drake Women’s Tennis milestone. She picked up her 100th career singles win against Evansville, just two wins shy of the school record of 102, set by Cecily Dubusker from 1998-2002. “(It’s great) for the current girls on the team who can say she was the best player at Drake, and that’s how I view her,” head coach Sadhaf Pervez said. Boyd already has the doubles wins record with 95, a record that she broke with partner Maddie Johnson earlier this season. Boyd also has the most total Drake wins with 195, shattering the previous record of 139. “It’s amazing to hit 100 wins in tennis,” Pervez said. “That’s showing up everyday. That’s getting it done everyday, since she’s been a freshman.” However, before Boyd could get to her 100th win, she had to reach number 99, which she earned on Saturday against Southern Illinois. The Bulldogs took all three matches in the doubles point. Juniors Jordan Eggleston and Tess Herder were pushed into a tiebreaker, but still won 8-6. Once the singles competition began, half of the matches looked like they were going to be all Drake, while the other three proved to be tightly fought. Eggleston nearly swept her opponent, winning her match 6-0, 6-1. Sophomore Summer Brills followed

that up with a 6-3, 6-2 win, and freshman Adrienne Jensen sealed the match: 6-3, 6-3. Both junior Lea Kozulic and Boyd lost the first set, Boyd getting swept 0-6. Kozulic bounced back and won the final two sets 6-4, 6-2. Boyd’s job would prove to be even tougher. With her back pressed against the wall, Boyd stayed alive in the second set and won the tiebreaker game to push the match into a third set. The pressure was on every single point in set three, but Boyd was unphased and came away with the set, and her 99th win, 10-6. The Bulldogs played again the next day and faced off with Evansville, their second match in the Roger Knapp Tennis Center in two days. Jensen and junior Mariel Ante lost their doubles match in a tiebreaker, but their team backed them up, the Bulldogs taking a 1-0 lead. Five straight set victories for the Bulldogs followed, Drake controlling the game on all courts. However, the first court match between Ante and Evansville’s Marketa Trousilova was much more intense. Trousilova was given a run for her money in the first set, but still defeated Ante 6-4. Ante returned with a dominant 6-2 victory to push the

game into a third set. It was a back-and-forth battle, but Ante was unable to come away with the victory, losing 10-8. The Bulldogs are now set to finish their regular season this weekend at home, facing off with the top two teams in the conference. If they can go undefeated this weekend Drake will be the top seed in the MVC entering the conference tournament. “We really need to stay mentally focused and fight our hearts out this weekend,” Eggleston said. “Going into the tournament in first is our goal, and hopefully winning the tournament as well.” The Bulldogs will face Missouri State on Saturday. If they can come away with the victory they will be guaranteed the second seed. On Sunday they will take on Wichita State, a team that hasn’t lost an MVC match and only given up one point against conference opponents in seven years. “I’ve been telling the team from spring break that we have to play the perfect match. We can’t beat (Wichita State) playing an OK match,” Pervez said. “We have to keep the games tight on every single court and have them prove that they’re the best team, but they are definitely beatable.”

WITH 25 WINS so far this season, Boyd has the potential to make history as the winningest Drake Bulldog in Women’s Tennis history. PHOTO BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR

Michael Wendlandt Staff Writer michael.wendlandt@drake.edu Drake continued their hot streak on the diamond, sweeping four games over the past week against the University of Iowa State and Southern Illinois University in two away matches. The team was paced by pitcher Rebekah Schmidt, who also earned Missouri Valley Pitcher of the Week for the second week in a row and third time of the season. Over the week, she picked up 13 strikeouts over 16 innings and allowed only 3 earned runs while picking up three wins. The Bulldogs remain at the top of the conference, now with a record of 24-12 and 13-2 in the conference. The sweep over Southern Illinois was their third sweep of the season to date. “It’s been a great time so far this year,” pitcher Nicole Newman said. “We’re winning a lot of games.” The week started on Wednesday in Ames as the Bulldogs took care of in-state rival Iowa State, winning 6-3. Schmidt was on the mound for the game, who allowed one run in four and a third innings before being relieved by Newman, who picked up her second save of her freshman season. Hayley Nybo also had a big game, going three for four with two doubles and driving in one run. Megan Sowa and Laura Brewer also had huge days at the plate, each picking up a home run. After two runs in the opening inning, the Bulldogs never looked back. After a few days of practice, the Bulldogs headed to Carbondale on Saturday to face the Southern Illinois Salukis in a doubleheader, sweeping both games. In game one, the offense struggled from the outset, being held to just one hit through the first six innings, trailing 2-0. With their backs against the wall in the top of the seventh, the Bulldogs came back with a vengeance. Nybo had drawn a walk, which gave Schmidt the opportunity to tie the game at the plate when she hit the ball out of the park.

Two batters later Tasha Alexander won the game with a solo homer, giving the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead. Schmidt picked up the win and a complete game while striking out five Salukis. “We struggled in the first few innings, but we had two girls come up and hit one out in the seventh and we were able to take the game,” Sowa said. In game two, the Bulldogs had a much easier time. Nybo continued her great day, driving in the first run of the game on a double in the first inning before Kelsey Wright smoked a tworun triple in the next inning to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. In the fifth, Brewer smoked a solo homer to give Drake their fourth run and Newman went the distance on the mound, allowing only one run in the seventh inning on two hits and struck out eleven batters, tying her career high. Drake completed their sweep on Sunday, demolishing the Salukis 11-0 by mercy rule in five innings. Schmidt led the way, striking out seven of the 20 batters she faced to pick up her third win of the week. “It’s great to be on a run like this,” outfielder Sarah Ryan said. “We have two great pitchers who make it pretty easy for us in the field.” Sunday’s shutout capped off a sixgame win streak for the Bulldogs, their longest of the season so far. Wright also led the game off with a homer and the team never looked back, pouring in the runs while stifling the Salukis offense. Sophomore third baseman Kaitlyn Finneran led the way at the plate, driving six runs on the game, including a grand slam in the final inning, which gives her 13 RBIs on the season. For Drake, patience was truly a virtue as they drew a season high 13 walks and only needed seven hits. For Schmidt, the win Sunday gave her 51 in her career, tying her for fifth in team history. Drake plays a three game series against Indiana State over the weekend.

The Times-Delphic


08 SPORTS

April 20, 2015

SCHEDULE 2015 Relays Edition

KEY CD = College Division HS = High School Competition UD = University Division Elite = Elite Competition Masters = Masters Division (Age 40 and up) Special = Special Invitational BWCP = Beijing World Championships Preview

5:55 p.m. 4x100m MS, Boys, Final 6:10 p.m. 4x100m HS, Boys, Prelims 6:00 p.m. Grand Blue Mile, Downtown Des Moines 6:43 p.m. 110mH BWCP, Men, Final 6:58 p.m. Shuttle Hurdle Special, Women, Final WED., APRIL 22, 2015 7:07 p.m. Paralympic T44 200M Special, Men, Final 11:30 a.m. Decathlon Men, Day 1 7:15 p.m. 4x200m UD, Women, Final 12:30 p.m. Heptathlon Women, Day 1 7:35 p.m. 400m BWCP, Men, Final 5:15 p.m. Street Vault Court Ave. 7:43 p.m. 4x200m UD, Men, Final 8:00 p.m. 400mH BWCP, Men, Final THURS., APRIL 23, 2015 8:10 p.m. 4x800m UD, Women, Final 9:30 a.m. Decathlon Men, Day 2 8:25 p.m. 800m BWCP, Women, Final 10:30 a.m. Heptathlon Women, Day 2 8:33 p.m. 4x800m UD, Men, Final 4:00 p.m. 800m (Unseeded) UD/CD, Women, Final 8:46 p.m. 4x400m HS, Girls, Prelims 4:05 p.m. 800m (Unseeded) UD/CD, Men, Final 9:06 p.m. 4x400m HS, Boys, Prelims 4:10 p.m. 3000m HS, Girls, Final 9:25 p.m. Session Ends 4:25 p.m. 3200m HS, Boys, Final 4:40 p.m. 4x1600m UD/CD, Women, Final SAT., APRIL 25, 2015 5:05 p.m. 4x1600m UD/CD, Men, Final 8:00 a.m. Shuttle Hurdle HS, Girls, Prelim 5:25 p.m. Session Ends 8:15 a.m. Shuttle Hurdle HS, Boys, Prelim

TUES., APRIL 21, 2015

8:00 a.m. 100mH HS, Girls, Prelim 8:16 a.m. 110mH HS, Boys, Prelim 8:31 a.m. 100m HS, Girls, Prelim 8:46 a.m. 100m HS, Boys, Prelim 8:58 a.m. 4x100m CD, Women, Prelim 9:17 a.m. 4x100m CD, Men, Prelim 9:32 a.m. 100mH UD/CD, Women, Prelim 9:45 a.m. 110mH UD/CD, Men, Prelim 10:00 a.m. Distance Medley CD, Women, Final 10:14 a.m. 800m Medley HS, Girls, Final 10:27 a.m. 1600m Medley HS, Boys, Final 10:45 a.m. 4x800m CD, Men, Final 10:58 a.m. 4x100m UD, Women, Prelim 11:10 a.m. 4x100m UD, Men, Prelim 11:25 a.m. Distance Medley CD, Men, Final 11:36 a.m. 100mH HS, Girls, Final 11:40 a.m. 110mH HS, Boys, Final 11:41 a.m. Officials Break 12:08 p.m. 400mH UD/CD, Women, Final 12:21 p.m. 100m HS, Girls, Final 12:25 p.m. 100m UD/CD, Women, Prelim 12:38 p.m. 100m HS, Boys, Final 12:43 p.m. 100m UD/CD, Men, Prelim 12:55 p.m. 800m Masters, Men, Final 1:01 p.m. 4x200m CD, Women, Final 1:13 p.m. 4x200m CD, Men, Final 1:25 p.m. 4x200m HS, Girls, Final 1:37 p.m. 4x200m HS, Boys, Final 1:49 p.m. 800m HS, Girls, Final 1:55 p.m. 800m HS, Boys, Final 2:01 p.m. 800m UD/CD, Women, Final 2:07 p.m. 4x400m CD, Women, Prelim 2:31 p.m. 4x400m CD, Men, Prelim 2:55 p.m. 4x400m UD, Women, Prelim 3:20 p.m. 4x400m UD, Men, Prelim 3:45 p.m. Session Ends- Clear the Stadium

8:30 a.m. Shuttle Hurdle UD/CD, Women, Prelim 8:45 a.m. Shuttle Hurdle UD/CD, Men, Prelim 9:00 a.m. Sprint Medley CD, Women, Final 9:20 a.m. Sprint Medley CD, Men, Final 9:35 a.m. 4x800m HS, Girls, Final 9:50 a.m. 4x800m HS, Boys, Final 10:00 a.m. Sprint Medley UD, Women, Final 10:20 a.m. Sprint Medley UD, Men, Final 10:40 a.m. 3000m Steeple UD/CD, Women, Final 10:53 a.m. 3000m Steeple UD/CD, Men, Final 11:05 a.m. 4x800m CD, Women, Final 11:17 a.m. 800m Masters, Women, Final 11:20 a.m. Officials Break 11:55 a.m. Host and Hostess Recognition 11:58 a.m. Beautiful Bulldog Contest Winner 12:10 p.m. Shuttle Hurdle HS, Girls, Final 12:15 p.m. Shuttle Hurdle HS, Boys, Final 12:20 p.m. Shuttle Hurdle UD/CD, Women, Final 12:25 p.m. Shuttle Hurdle UD/CD, Men, Final 12:30 p.m. Distance Medley UD, Men, Final 12:45 p.m. 1500m HS, Girls, Final 12:52 p.m. 1600m HS, Boys, Final 1:00 p.m. Distance Medley UD, Women, Final 1:13 p.m. 400mH UD/CD, Men, Final 1:25 p.m. 400mH HS, Girls, Final 1:33 p.m. 400mH HS, Boys, Final 1:40 p.m. 800m UD/CD, Men, Final 1:48 p.m. Mile Special, Men, Final 2:02 p.m. 400mH BWCP, Women, Final 2:07 p.m. 100m UD/CD, Women, Final 2:12 p.m. 100m UD/CD, Men, Final 2:18 p.m. 100mH UD/CD, Women, Final 2:24 p.m. 110mH UD/CD, Men, Final 2:30 p.m. 100mH BWCP, Women, Final 2:40 p.m. Shuttle Hurdle Special, Men, Final 2:47 p.m. 1500m UD/CD, Women, Final 2:55 p.m. 1500m UD/CD, Men, Final 3:05 p.m. 400m BWCP, Women, Final 3:12 p.m. 4x100m UD, Women, Final 3:20 p.m. 4x100m UD, Men, Final 3:25 p.m. 4x100m CD, Women, Final 3:30 p.m. 4x100m CD, Men, Final 3:35 p.m. 4x100m HS, Girls, Final 3:40 p.m. 4x100m HS, Boys, Final 3:45 p.m. 4x400m UD, Women, Final 3:52 p.m. 4x400m UD, Men, Final 4:00 p.m. 4x400m CD, Women, Final 4:07 p.m. 4x400m CD, Men, Final 4:15 p.m. 4x400m HS, Girls, Final 4:22 p.m. 4x400m HS, Boys, Final 4:30 p.m. 2015 Drake Relays Ends

FIELD EVENTS

FIELD EVENTS

FIELD EVENTS 3:00 3:00 3:30 3:30

p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m.

Discus HS, Girls, Final High Jump HS, Boys, Final Shot Put HS, Boys, Final Long Jump HS, Girls, Final

DISTANCE CARNIVAL - EVENING SESSION 7:30 8:10 8:40 9:05 9:30

p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m.

10,000m Open, Women, Final 10,000m Open, Men, Final 5000m Open, Women, Final 5000m Open, Men, Final Session Ends

FRI., APRIL 24, 2015

8:30 a.m. Shot Put HS, Girls, Final 9:00 a.m. Discus HS, Boys, Final 9:30 a.m. Long Jump HS (North), Boys, Final 9:45 a.m. High Jump HS, Girls, Final 10:00 a.m. Long Jump UD/CD, Women, Final 10:00 a.m. Javelin UD/CD, Men, Final 11:15 a.m. Shot Put UD/CD, Women, Final 12:30 p.m. Pole Vault UD/CD, Men, Final 1:00 p.m. High Jump UD/CD, Women, Final 1:00 p.m. Javelin UD/CD, Women, Final 1:00 p.m. Discus UD/CD, Women, Final 1:30 p.m. Long Jump UD/CD, Men, Final 5:45 p.m. Pole Vault BWCP, Women, Final 6:00 p.m. High Jump BWCP, Men, Final

HY-VEE NIGHT AT THE DRAKE RELAYS 5:00 p.m. 240 Yard Shuttle ES, Youth, Final 5:10 p.m. 4x100m HS, Girls, Prelims 5:40 p.m. 4x100m MS, Girls, Final

9:00 a.m. Hammer UD/CD, Women, Final 9:00 a.m. Discus UD/CD, Men, Final 10:00 a.m. Triple Jump UD/CD, Women, Final 10:00 a.m. High Jump UD/CD, Men, Final 10:15 a.m. Pole Vault UD/CD, Women, Final 12:15 p.m. Hammer UD/CD, Men, Final 1:00 p.m. Triple Jump UD/CD/Elite, Men, Final 1:30 p.m. Shot Put UD/CD, Men, Final 1:45 p.m. High Jump BWCP, Women, Final 2:15 p.m. Pole Vault BWCP, Men, Final

SUN., APRIL 26, 2015 7:30 a.m. Half Marathon Hy-Vee Road Races 7:50 a.m. 10K Hy-Vee Road Races 10:30 a.m. 5K Hy-Vee Road Races 3:00 p.m. Discus HS, Girls, Final 3:00 p.m. High Jump HS, Boys, Final 3:30 p.m. Shot Put HS, Boys, Final 3:30 p.m. Long Jump HS, Girls, Final

PHOTOS BY EMILY LAMBIE | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Times-Delphic


01 SPEED

April 20, 2015

SPEED 2015 Relays Edition

TRACK RUNNERS compete on the "Blue Oval" at the 2014 Relays at Drake University. Competitors and attendees come from all across the country to compete in and watch the Drake Relays. PHOTO BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR

PROGRESSION

Evolving with a special emphasis on stages Sarah Fulton Relays Editor sarah.fulton@drake.edu It is not just the beginning and end of a journey that matter but every step inbetween. Traditions take time to build. Universities develop over time. Students learn over the course of four years. The steps that lead to the final product are

immensely important and deserve to be recognized. When Drake University began in 1881, Old Main was the first building on campus. Over time buildings like Jewett Residence Hall and Carnegie Hall began to surround it. Additions like the Knapp Center and the Harmon Fine Arts Center stretched the campus’ boundaries. Now more changes are in the works as the University prepares to add a STEM addition this summer.

Campus favorites like Peggy’s Tavern have remained in their place while traditions have grown around them. For 80 years the bar has been welcoming students and alumni to its Forest Avenue location. Some physical changes have taken place but it is the patrons that have shaped the history. The city surrounding Drake’s campus has grown along with it. Des Moines, Iowa on the surface does not seem like a great attraction for young adults.

However, the young professional market is booming. The city is gaining a unique flavor that even made Portland, Oregon acknowledge it as the hipster capital of the United States. Some of those young adults became young professionals at Drake. Students like senior Anna Chott grew over four years to become opposites of what they once were. Others, like Zach Vasseur, discover new passions and change the course of

their lives. Even fewer return to Drake to teach. Professors like Jill Van Wyke began their Drake journey as students and are now continuing it as faculty. The history of Drake is rich because it has evolved. At times the evolution was slow. Other times it was swift. Each trial and triumph builds what it is to be a bulldog. Each student, faculty and staff member adds to the progression and shapes Drake University.

DES MOINES LIFE

CAMPUS HISTORY

East Village emerges Drake Stadium evolves over time as a hipster paradise Anna Zavell

Grace Rogers

Staff Writer giovanna.zavell@drake.edu Opening just in time for the Drake Bulldogs to take on their Hawkeye rivals, Haskins Field, now known as Drake Stadium, was built in 1904. Drake Stadium has since become an iconic feature to campus that has grown with the years. Originally seating only 2,500 people, the field now seats just over 14,000 and attracts a large audience each April for the Drake Relays. "It's definitely really cool after your first-year and during Relays to stand on the blue oval where so many famous Olympians have before me," sophomore cheerleader Rachel Berggren said. Norman Haskins, father of Drake Law graduate Alvin Haskins, donated the land and funds to build the stadium. The stadium was built in honor of his son Alvin, who passed away in 1896. In 1909, at the request of Norman Haskins, the field underwent a name change and became Drake Stadium. The land that Haskins donated was originally a ravine, which is what the surrounding brick building sits on. The field itself was once below ground level and the bleachers were built on the sides of hills. The terrain was not ideal for the vision Haskins had. Many engineers didn’t like the idea of even beginning construction, but they did. Workers removed the hills and dug a track from the ground, which they paved with black cinders. It takes quite some time to prepare the Blue Oval and Drake Stadium for Relays.

Staff Writer grace.rogers@drake.edu

DRAKE STADIUM was built in 1904 to honor of Alvin Haskins, a Drake Law graduate, whose father donated both the funding and land. PHOTO BY CODY FROST | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

"We start preparing a month in advance. We are currently looking for any damages in concrete and fixing them. We also fix seating, handrails, clean concessions, take down the football stuff, and more," Director of Facilities Mark Chambers said. "This whole process takes about a month to six weeks, depending on weather." The stadium has seen a few renovations to make it more modern.The most iconic and expensive renovation occurred in 2005, when a total of $15 million was spent on Drake Stadium’s “cosmetic” appearance. Major renovations included the widening of the track to meet the standards of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and USA Track and Field Guidelines. Additionally, synthetic turf replaced natural turf and a video scoreboard was added to keep fans

updated during games. "For me, it's not the history of the track that makes it feel different," junior track runner Sean Buczek said. "It's the blue oval where I sweat, bleed and cry to get better. It's home. That familiarity, on top of it being a world class track, is what makes competing in Drake Stadium such a novel experience." Drake Stadium is best known for hosting the annual Drake Relays during the last week in April. The Relays began in 1910 in front of a small crowd that has grown to around 40,000. College and high school students compete on the same track as Olympic athletes from across the nation and sometimes world. In 2011 alone, 14 records were broken on the "Blue Oval." Performance on the former Haskins field has become a rich tradition at Drake.

On a warm Wednesday afternoon, finding parking in the East Village of Des Moines is easy. But come back on a Saturday, and you may run into some trouble. Des Moines’ historic East Village is full of local business and specialty restaurants. While some early commerce areas die out, this district is still going strong. “2005 was the big push for stuff to take off,” Mike Draper, owner of Raygun, said. Draper’s passion for the East Village focuses more on his neighbors than their attitudes. “Part of the reason we love the East Village is that there’s just a lot of well-run businesses,” Draper said. “There’s not an East Village Association or anything. It’s just people who love what they’re doing.” However, it is clear that the Raygun staff have embraced the free-spirit attitude of the district. As they were putting up signs in their new store, they jokingly snapped a few pictures with the letters rearranged. “Oops, we accidentally named the store ‘Gary,’” one employee joked. Kate Shaw, the owner of Porch Light Antiques, moved her shop to the East Village because of that carefree attitude. “There’s a lot of good energy down here and a nice eclectic mix of shops and it seemed as though there just wasn’t that energy in Valley Junction, where my store was before,” Shaw said. Shaw moved her store to the East

CUSTOMERS order at the Mars Cafe on University Ave. Des Moines has been gaining fame for attracting great local business, and Mars is one of them. The East Village is full of local bakeries, antique shops, restaurants and more. PHOTO BY EMILY LAMBIE | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Village in 2010. After five years she has already witnessed changes in the expanding district. “It’s growing by leaps and bounds,” Shaw said. “It’s changed a lot just in the short period of time that I’ve been here.” Draper also experienced these differences firsthand. “When I opened up, this wasn’t a hipster neighborhood,” Draper said. “We

JUMP TO, page 2

The Times-Delphic


02 SPEED

April 20, 2015

SPEED 2015 Relays Edition

HIPSTER JUMP FROM, page 1 were the first mixed-use building in like, 30 years. But it’s kind of become Des Moines’ alternative neighborhood.” The city of Des Moines recognized the potential of the East Village in 2010. According to a city report, “the Market District of the East Village holds promising potential to be a thriving area in downtown Des Moines.” “It is definitely one of the trendier areas in Des Moines,” sophomore Stephanie White said. Coming from a small town herself, she understands the appeal of Des Moines.

“I can see a lot of young professionals living [in Des Moines],” White said. The National Journal wrote an article back in October saying that the most hipster thing you could do is "move to Des Moines." “Lots of new lofts have been built, so there’s a lot of new people living in the East Village,” Shaw said. “It just seems to be expanding pretty quickly.” With the growth of the East Village comes the growth of Des Moines itself. National news outlets throughout the United States have recognized the city as a place for millennials and young professionals to thrive. “I definitely feel like I’ve seen the transformation. Des Moines has a lot to

offer. I think people are pretty surprised when they come here,” Shaw said. “In their mind, they have this idea of what Des Moines is, and it’s like we’re all a bunch of farmers. But they come here and it’s really a vibrant city and it has a lot of culture and a lot of fun things to see and do.” The change is evident. “Whether its music or stores or restaurants or whatever, Des Moines is the best in Iowa now,” Draper said. “It wasn’t like that 10 years ago.” Whether you’re a hipster, a young professional or just a visitor to Des Moines, one thing is for sure: the East Village is here to stay. And finding parking on a weekend will still be difficult.

RAYGUN is one of many businesses in the East Village. Recently, the store moved

locations and now includes Mars Cafe and Thelma's. PHOTO BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR

DRAKE LEADERSHIP

Leadership programs started to create change on campus

JAN WISE, former Director of Student Leadership Programs, congratulates Sumit Sen, a 2014 Adams Academy and Drake graduate. PHOTO COURTESY OF DRAKE UNIVERSITY

Anna Zavell Staff Writer giovanna.zavell@drake.edu Riots across the country through the 60s and 70s caused a stir at college campuses across the country. Donald V. Adams worked at Drake for 37 years, holding positions such as Vice President of Student Life, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Executive Assistant to the President. He came to Drake to change campus life. The early 1960s through the late

1970s was a troubling time for college students across the country. As violence broke out at Kent State University and Jackson State College causing a ripple effect on other colleges. Students became uneasy about the events and held their protests, which caused riots. Many of these student protests were not only a response to incidents of college campus violence but also pushes for civil rights and demonstrations of opposition to the Vietnam War. Adams first came to Drake’s campus as Vice President of Student Life where he was responsible for helping control students’ radical actions.

“I formed a close relationship with Vergos during his years at Drake,” Adams said. “Many years after his time at the university, he told me about his plans of he and other members of his class donating their money collectively to start up the Adams program.” Adams is well-respected among his co-workers. “He made sure students’ voices were being heard,” former Director of Leadership Programs Jan Wise said. “He listened to what they had to say, agreed and disagreed with their statements and became a great influence in student’s lives.” Wise said that former Drake students attribute their success after graduation to their relationships with Adams. Former student Ken Vegors acted on his positive reflections during and after his time at Drake and approached faculty in 2001 with the idea of starting a leadership program. Vergos wanted to replicate his experiences at Drake for current students with an emphasis on leadership, which is how the Adams Academy was born. “He wasn’t calling to ask my permission, he was calling to tell me he was starting a leadership program at Drake in my honor,” Adams said. Wise, who was in charge of residence life at the time, was appointed to serve as the director of the new leadership program by the Dean of Students. “The goal was to create a program that covered a topic students wouldn’t normally cover in their core classes, that topic being leadership,” Wise said.

“Leadership is an important quality in every part of life.” The goal of Adams Academy is to strengthen student’s communication skills and stresses the importance of inclusivity, community service and involvement. “These skills are important because they are facets of life that students are forced to use every day,” Interim Director of Student Leadership Meghan Blancas said. “It is important that students learn how to use these qualities correctly so that they are effective in their lives.” Through the evolution of the Adams Academy, new leadership programs have popped up around campus.The Emerging Leaders Model is aimed at first-year students. Each semester, the campus hosts a leadership conference. Additionally, a concentration in Leadership Education and Development is also available. “Adams is available to sophomore and senior students and over the years we have had around 1,400 students graduate from this program with another 125 students graduating this year,” Blancas said. “Students in the program meet once a week for an hour where they learn leadership skills through guest speakers, workshops and activities.” “The program at Drake reflects years of success,” Adams said. “Drake has always attracted students who valued leadership to better the world, students who are always at the decision making table. The world needs these types of leaders who value leadership as a critical and core value of life.”

ADAMS ACADEMY 2002: 23 graduates 2015: 126 graduates 1,542 graduates in 14 years

ELM 2006-07: 42 first- years 2014-15: 48 first-years 753 first-years in 8 years

Q&A

Passion for people helps Vasseur discover a new path Sarah Fulton Relays Editor sarah.fulton@drake.edu For six years, senior Zach Vasseur was on track to graduate with a degree in actuarial science. In the middle of his junior year, he realized his new passion was helping people.

Q: How would you describe yourself coming in as a first year? A: I am originally from Saint Louis. I came into Drake as an actuarial science major. I originally picked actsci my sophomore year of high school. So when I came to Drake I kind of took it and ran with it. I got so involved with the curriculum and being involved and everything with the major that I never took a step back to see ‘Hey, this is not for me.’ My passions have changed. I have changed as a person. I hate my classes. I actually like working with people. So I discovered I wanted to change my career path into something where I can work with people. I changed my major halfway through my junior year, so pretty late in the game. I realized that I not only want to work with people but have an impact. Pay it forward. Coming into Drake I was a lot different. I was a lot more introverted. I never got out of my comfort zone. I was okay doing the same thing over and over again. But the way I was able to discover who I was becoming involved across campus. The thing I first got involved with was Gamma Iota Sigma. I rechartered the fraternity and they made me president for a year. One of the main takeaways is that

The Times-Delphic

I had to get out of my comfort zone to meet new people. I was forced to do things I normally wouldn’t want to. I got really involved. Overinvolved with working and things like that. Outside from getting out of my comfort zone, I have become a lot more extroverted. I have discovered what my true passions are. They are more servicerelated, like working with people, helping them discover who they are and what their passions are. I like helping people figure out their problems. My personality has totally changed. I am a lot more extroverted and driven.

Q: What did you change your major to? My new major is management with A: an HR concentration. I do not really want

to go into HR or anything. Next year, I will be working for ATO nationals. I am super pumped about it. I am going to be on the expansion team traveling around to different schools helping them start up different chapters of their own. When I came into college I never thought of myself going Greek and here I am going to be working for headquarters when I graduate.

Q: Do you think you would have been prepared to do such an extroverted job as a first-year?

A: Not at all.

I came in and I made a couple of friends that I was close with. It wasn’t until sophomore year when I started branching out and meeting a lot more people. Now when I go to Olmsted, I particularly live in Olmsted, it is nice that I know people there versus freshman year I didn’t. Now, I can start up a conversation with someone I just met.

Q: Was there any specific experience that showed you that you had changed? A: There was this time sophomore year. I did Adams Academy, this was sophomore year, so back when Jan was here. We did the Meyers Briggs test. I took

it a couple times in high school and I was an (introvert). When we got our results back, before we looked at them, Jan said pick where you think you would be. I was like “I was an (introvert) in high school so I am now.” When I opened the results, I got pretty strong extrovert. I was like 'This is wrong. I demand a recount, this is bad.' All of my friends at my table were like Zach you have changed. You are an extrovert and you don’t really realize it. That was one of the things that was hard to realize. I never knew how much of an impact it had.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ZACH VASSEUR

ZACH VASSEUR'S father has been a major influence in his life. He has always supported Vasseur, especially his transition from high school to college, and when he switched majors. Vasseur got very involved in his first-year with many organizations.

VASSEUR during a holiday party with his fraternity brother, Matthew Beine. Vasseur joined Alpha Tau Omega his sophomore year as a founding father to help make change on campus. ATO has made a huge impact on his life, and he will see the Delta Omicron chapter charter this Saturday.

VASSEUR aboard The Liberty Clipper his junior year while on the Lead at Sea J-Term during January 2014. Vassuer changed his major to student affairs after discovering his real passion. All of the organizations he joined during his time in college has helped shape who he is.

VASSEUR and his fraternity brother, junior Mido Mrvoljak, during his senior year spring break trip to South Carolina. Vasseur is going to work for the Alpha Tau Omega National Headquarters. He starts his job as an Expansion Consultant this June.


03 SPEED

April 20, 2015

SPEED 2015 Relays Edition

Q&A

Chott reflects on growth at Drake, moves to Paraguay Sarah Fulton Relays Editor sarah.fulton@drake.edu Senior Anna Chott, an environmental science major, came to Drake University enthusiastic, but anxious about moving from one Midwest state to another. Now as she prepares to graduate, Chott is confident in her decision to join the Peace Corps and move to Paraguay.

Q: How would you describe yourself

coming in as a first-year? A: I would say that I was really excited and really optimistic. I was just excited to be studying environmental science and be on a college campus, just a bit nervous about meeting new people and making friends.

Q: How did that change over the course

was actually taking classes with people who had written literature and had been published.

Q: What aspects of college had the most

affect on your first year? A: I think I would probably say living away from your parents. I think it requires a lot of independence to live in a new city, to find friends on your own and navigate on your own.

Q: Were you different going into your

sophomore year? A: I think what really changed me was studying abroad. The first semester I was not too different from being a first-year. But after studying abroad I just kind of had to grow up a lot within the first few weeks of being abroad. A lot of the people in that program were older. Having so much more freedom than here. Having to learn to get around in a

new country with a new language and figure out the bus schedules. Figure out how to tell if a hostile is a good place to stay or a neighborhood is a good place to be. Q: Did any specific situation abroad show you that you had grown? A: The only story that comes to mind is that I was on a weekend trip to the beach with friends. One of my friends got really sick and we had to take her to the hospital in the middle of the night. No one else in our group could speak Spanish well enough to figure out the insurance with the doctors. They basically picked me to figure out how they were going to translate and pay for everything. Then of course they would not accept our insurances because I am not really sure why. I had to pay with my credit card and then get reimbursed. Just figuring that out in Spanish was kind of a new experience. I am just really proud that I

could do it.

Q: Do you think you could have handled that before coming to college? A: I do not think so. Personally I think it is because I took a Spanish class at Drake that was really good and the professor was really good. Second of all I would not have been up for the challenge as a freshman.

Q: As someone who is preparing for

graduation do you think you are more ready for other stressful situations? A: I think in general I am more willing to take on challenges that maybe seem stressful, but I know will be good things to do in the long run. I think I was not willing to take as many risks before.

Q: How is it to be so close to graduation? A: I am really excited about the Peace

next thing and get a job and not be a student anymore. But I really like being a Drake but I really like being here. I am going to miss my friends and miss being in Des Moines. I am ready excited to move on to the next thing but not excited to leave Drake.

Q: What is the biggest way you have changed over these four years? A: I am more willing to take on challenges and be a more outgoing person.

Q: How do you think Drake shapes people over four years?

A: I think people come here looking for different things. Whether they want to be really good students or have a great college experience or get a good job. Everyone’s experience is really different.

Corps. I am excited to move on to the

of your first year? A: It was a lot easier to make friends than I thought it would be. I made friends with the people living on my floor very quickly, just started to going exercise classes and watching movies with everyone. I think I got less nervous now.

Q: Do you still get nervous in new situations? A: Actually I studied abroad in Costa Rica and I was not nervous at all about moving to a new country like that because of moving from Missouri to Iowa. Not knowing anyone in Iowa was such a big change that it did not even seem like a challenge to be moving to a new country. Q: Was there any specific experience you had your first year that made you feel like a college student? A: This is a really specific thing that happened. One of the classes I took my freshman year was called One Earth. It was just an introductory Environmental Science class. The professor had written the textbook. I realized that on the first day of class and it was kind of a wake up call that I

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANNA CHOTT

ANNA CHOTT as a first-year posing in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Chott said that she was excited to come to college, but was afraid about making friends because she was shy.

CHOTT while studying abroad in Costa Rica her sophomore year. She said the experience helped her to become more mature because of the stressful situations she sometimes encountered.

CHOTT posing by a garden bed in downtown Des Moines her junior year. Chott believes tbe biggest change she has seen in herself is her willingness to take on challenges.

CHOTT is preparing to move to Paraguay after graduation. She will work as a Peace Corps volunteer. She credits her courage to do this to all of the experiences she had while at Drake.

Q&A

Opportunities at Drake offer chance for personal growth Sarah Fulton Relays Editor sarah.fulton@drake.edu Senior Abbey Barrow has always had a passion for volunteer work and nonprofit organizations. During her college experience she channeled that into a future in nonprofit communications.

Q: How would you describe yourself as a first-year? A: I think I was excited that would be one word to use. Ready to begin my experience in college. Ready to develop. Looking back I was naive. I didn’t know a lot of things. I was happy to be here.

I had worked with a lot of nonprofits and knew I liked volunteering and those kind of things. It wasn’t until I had opportunities in college to participate in organizations and have internships that I really figured out where to be.

Q: Were there any specific experiences that stood out?

A: I think working with Drake Habitat

for Humanity chapter has really been impactful in my life. Getting to do volunteer management and connecting with different organizations on campus. Being able to facilitate other students has been great. I really have a passion about community development. As well as some internships.

I have worked for a couple different nonprofits over the summer and that was a kind of good taste of what I want do.

Q: Are you ready for gradation? A: Emotionally, spiritually I feel like I am

in a good place. I have really grown and developed and had the Drake experience. I am ready to move onto the alum portion of my life. Particularly that is a whole different matter. It is a scary world out there just dealing with finances. It is very adult real world concerns. Part of me is really ready and ready to move on. Another part of me knows it is going to be a challenge for sure.

Q: What do you think the Drake

experience is?

A: That is complicated.

Everyone has to find their own Drake experience. Mine has been kind of an opportunity to learn a lot of different things, to take a bunch of different classes, to expand my intellectual horizons, to figure out who I really am.

Q: Did you expect the ways in which you would change?

as first-years. We had our FYS together and we would all each lunch together at Hubbell. Now to see that those people have really grown and developed, they have real world jobs. They are becoming competent real world professionals. It is a surreal experience. I am really proud of some of the folks I know.

A: Yes and I think that is always the goal

to figure it all out in four years. I do not think I could have anticipated the ways in which I would have developed. But generally.

Q: Have you seen similar progression in

your classmates? A: For sure. I think it is kind of fun looking back now on the people I knew

Q: Do you think you changed over the course of college?

A: Oh definitely.

I think the opportunities I have had at Drake to get involved in different organizations and internships have made me grow as a person. Hopefully a professional too. I think looking back definitely a lot of growth.

Q: Any specific ways you have changed? A: I came into school looking to take

part in a lot of things and experience the whole world of college. During my college career, I really have narrowed my focuses and found what I am really passionate about. So for me that is nonprofit communications work. I have developed that passion and have become a leader in a lot of ways. That has been really meaningful for me.

Q: Did you have the passion for nonprofit

communications when you came into Drake? A: No, I don’t think I knew.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ABBEY BARROW

ABBEY BARROW would describe herself as a Drake first-year with one word: excited. She was excited to get involved on campus, excited to develop and excited to discover new passions, even though she felt like she didn't know many things about Drake her first-year.

BARROW hangs out with friends in the Goodwin-Kirk kitchen her sophomore year. During this year she began to get more involved with organizations and broaden her general activities. She got involved in UNICEF @ Drake during her sophomore year.

BARROW hangs out at Drake Stadium with her friends. During her time at Drake grew to value all of the deep connections she made with her fellow students. She enjoyed being able to expand her horizons through the different clubs and classes.

BARROW credits working with Habitat For Humanity as having a major impact in her life. She has a strong passion for community development and wants to work in nonprofit communications. She currently works as a marketing intern at the Boys and Girls Club of Central Iowa.

The Times-Delphic


April 20, 2015

04 SPEED

05 SPEED

April 20, 2015

SPEED

SPEED

2015 Relays Edition

2015 Relays Edition

PEGGY’S

Local tavern maintains tradition

Peggy’s stays true to roots with new leadership Sarah Fulton Relays Editor sarah.fulton@drake.edu

Giuliana LaMantia Assistant Relays Editor giuliana.lamantia@drake.edu For 80 years Peggy’s Tavern has been a rite of passage for Drake University students. “It is the only place that has lasted as long. There are campus traditions but they phase out,” senior Sam Lowry said. “Peggy’s is always there and the alumni are the ones who keep buying it and keeping it going.” Alumna Annie Baldwin recently purchased Peggy’s after the previous owner’s legal issues made the bar’s future uncertain. “Each of our predecessors has done a good job of keeping the tradition alive,” Baldwin said. “But, all the credit goes to the Drake community, especially the alumni.” Baldwin believes that when alumni come back to Des Moines, Peggy’s is a necessary stop. “Thousands of alumni each year come back to Peggy’s to relive their glory days and catch up with their fellow classmates,” Baldwin said. Notably few things have changed over the years. Gary Zimmerman, ’79, visits Drake three times a year and makes it to Peggy’s every time. “When you go there for the Relays its like a case of deja vu,” Zimmerman said. “The inside of Peggy’s just looks the same, and you get inside and it’s packed like it's 1978 again.” Zimmerman’s favorite Peggy’s memories came not from the crowded weekends, but spending time there on the

less crowded weekdays. “I went to study at the law school library every night, and my best memory of Peggy’s was not during the weekends when it was packed, but when we walked back from the law library back to our frat house, we stopped at Peggy’s.” When David Beall, ’81, went to Drake, Thursday was Peggy’s busiest night, when groups from all over campus came together. Beall’s favorite memories came from Relays and all the crowded nights at Peggy's. “A lot of the other bars nearby weren’t nearly as crowded and weren’t nearly as busy at various times of the year as Peggy’s has always been,” Beall said. “It’s those memories that everybody has from every generation.” Beall stills pictures Peggy’s as it was when he went to Drake. “It’s really fun still to be able to go back in there and instantly your memories come alive and you hear music on the jukebox that you were listening to when you were there,” Beall said. However, small changes pop up over time. During Beall’s time at Drake the legal drinking age was raised from 18 to 21. “The dynamics of it changed quickly. There were fewer people to really frequent it,” Beall said. “It changed as far as being less accessible by all of the students.” Another Peggy’s change during the years was an expansion to the dart room. “It was a lot smaller than it is now, and there was no dart room,” Susan Stocum, ’92, said. “The bathroom sink in the women’s room came off the wall all the time.” The bathrooms have since been renovated along with one of Stocum’s favorite parts of Peggy’s, a former wall off to the right of the entrance. The doorway that now serves as the entrance to additional seating was

formerly a white board. “If your sorority was having a date party there, you could draw all over that board and write your names and your letters all over it,” Stocum said. Changes Stocum noticed as an alumna were apparent to Nikki Syverson ,’03, during her time at Drake. “When I started as a freshman it was a beer only bar, and I believe it was my sophomore year that they got liquor, so it was kind of a big deal,” Nikki Syverson, ’03, said. “The Peggy’s Relays comp was ‘Peggy’s Gets Liquor, Priceless.’” Peggy’s changed owners Syverson’s junior year, and current favorites such as Twofers Tuesdays and Wednesdays Mug Night resulted. “They experimented for a little while with hot dogs, that didn’t go over very well and it didn’t stay long,” Syverson said. Syverson’s favorite memories included playing cards in the booths, listening to Bob Dylan’s "Hurricane" on the jukebox and connecting with people from all different groups across campus. “I know there have been little changes throughout the years, but for the most part when alumni walk in they still feel like it’s just like it was when they were in college,” Syverson said. “It’s just a place of great nostalgia and everyone had great memories there.” Current students like Lowry are now making their own memories. “Peggy’s is sort of a timeless Drake landmark,” Lowry said. “It is the one place where alumni come back and hang out and it kind of unites the students and alumni.” In order to keep the Peggy’s tradition alive for students like Lowry, current owner Baldwin has no intention of changing it. “Outside of a coat of paint and some new equipment not much will change,” Baldwin said. “Ask me again in 2095 with another 80 years of history behind us.”

New ownership brings small renovations to Peggy's Tavern In a room just to the left of the door, black and white photos line the wall of Peggy’s Tavern. They chronicle the history of Drake University and the bar itself. The photographs are one of the few changes co-owner Annie Baldwin made when she bought Peggy's Tavern late last year. “Some of those people in the photos I know. Some have worked for me in the past at other establishments,” Baldwin said. “Some were just historical photos that I thought were important.” The photographs range from an opening shot of when Peggy’s opened in 1935 to more recent shots of the Relays Peggy’s tent to pictures of famous alumni. Baldwin said that the photos came from numerous sources and she is always looking for more to put up.

TOP: The wall mural Peggy's. Lower left: The front door to Peggy's. Lower right: The on tap beverages at Peggy's. Peggy's Tavern has undergone many changes throughout its 80 years. It opened as a cafe, and became a tavern a few years later. Recently, Peggy's has went through some ownership changes and renovations. Alumni and students have many fond memories of their time at the local tavern. PHOTO BY SARAH FULTON | RELAYS EDITOR

SAY WHAT?

Students, alumni share funny memories while at Peggy's Sarah Fulton

Giuliana LaMantia

Tom Scearce

Relays Editor sarah.fulton@drake.edu

Assistant Relays Editor giuliana.lamantia@drake.edu

Assistant Relays Editor thomas.scearce@drake.edu

Stephanie Esker

David Beall

Susan Stocum

Class of 2014

Class of 1981

Class of 1992

“Why did you come to Drake?”

“Someone shouted out, ‘Dog Pile.’ I had no idea what that meant, but soon a group students began to lay flat on a table and bodies began to pile their way up to the dollar bill ceiling.”

“We were at Peggy’s and, shouting over the music I

“I mistook Drake for Duke – they’re both preppy English names.”

TOP right: Paul "Mr. Drake" Morrison poses with a bulldog on the court in the Knapp Center. Top left: Drake alumbus Zach Johnson receives his green jacket after winning the 2007 Professional Golfers Associations Masters Tournament. Middle: Drake students pack a 1963 football game at Drake Stadium. Bottom: Athletic Director Sandy Hatfield-Club pets beautiful bulldog winner Porterhouse. PHOTO BY SARAH FULTON | RELAYS EDITOR

The Times-Delphic

asked where she wanted to go next. She shouted in

reply, but the music stopped, so everyone heard her yell,

“I’m easy! I’m flexible!”

Stephanie Esker

Stephanie Kocer

Class of 2014

Class of 2015

“Why did you come to Drake?”

“Daddy was trying to get his hands in the cookie jar!”

Stephanie Kocer Class of 2015 “Somebody get me an order of him.”

Claire Vandercar Class of 2014 “Why isn’t Drake’s mascot a Drake [as in duck]?”

overheard by The Times-Delphic


06 SPEED

April 20, 2015

SPEED 2015 Relays Edition

BUCKSBAUM

Bucksbaum lectures bring history of leadership to campus Geoffrey Daley

Jimmy Carter

Staff Writer geoffrey.daley@drake.edu

Former President Jimmy Carter and his first wife Rosalynn gave the 29th Bucksbaum Lecture. Students and community members came to listen to topics such as mental health care and philanthropy. The visit flooded Drake with nearly 6,000 attendants to see the 2002 Noble Peace Prize winner speak to crowded Cowles library Reading room.

Vicente Fox Quesada

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Walter Isaacson gave the 32nd Bucksbaum Lecture. Isaacson is a journalist, a businessman and an author. He is the President and CEO of Aspen Institute, an organization trying to promote nonpartisan policy and programs. Isaacson has been the chairman and CEO of Cable News Network (CNN) and the managing editor of Time magazine. Isaacson’s writing talents are proven by his biographies that he wrote for Steve Jobs and Albert Einstein.

The 28th Bucksbaum Lecturer was Vicente Fox Quesada, the President of Mexico from 2000 to 2006, representing the National Action Party. A native of central Mexico, Quesada attended Harvard University Business School and then was hired by the Coca-Cola Company as a driver. Eventually, Quesada worked his way up to supervisor of CocaCola’s operation in Mexico.

Neil deGrasse Tyson gave the 31st Bucksbaum Lecture. Tyson is known for his work with astrophysics. Tyson received his doctorate in astrophysics from Columbia. He founded the Department of Astrophysics in 1997 and has conducted research under the department since 2003. On his off time, he delivers lectures to colleges, hosts scientific television shows like Nova ScienceNow on PBS and Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. He is as also an author.

ers

The Bucksbaum Lecture: a speech delivered nearly every semester to inspire students funded by Martin Bucksbaum. Bucksbaum was a successful business man with leadership roles on the Drake Governing Board as well as the Des Moines community. After his passing, the Bucksbaum Lectureship committee was created and funded by Martin and Melva Bucksbaum in 1996. The committee is made up of representatives from all respective schools at Drake with Melva Bucksbaum herself. The first lecture debuted in the spring semester of 1997. The committees’ job is to search for speakers and schedule lectures given by highly successful people in their respected fields, like Neil deGrasse Tyson, Jimmy Carter and Bob Costas. These are only four of the 34 distinguished speakers that have graced Drake students with expedite and knowledge from their respected fields, that range from physics to journalism. Each year, the goal of the committee is to find lectures to promote education and success on Drake's campus. They hope to show off a variety of professionals in the field.

Walter Isaacson

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF DRAKE UNIVERSITY

DOGTOWN DEVELOPMENT

Dogtown area grows, increases business over the years Sarah Grossman Staff Writer sarah.grossman@drake.edu Just east of Drake University is the Dogtown area. Dogtown is a well-known area for Drake students because of its convenience. Students can walk right off campus to various establishments: Mars Cafe, Jimmy Johns and so forth. While this area has been developed for some time now, it has drastically changed over the last 10 years. Denise Mahon, owner of Varsity Theater, has seen many of these changes occur. Her family has run the theater since 1954 “I’ve seen a lot of growth,” Mahon said. “It used to be, the students were almost afraid to go past 25th. It just seems, as far as shops and restaurants, that things have really expanded.” Susan Hanson is another owner who has seen the changes of Dogtown. She owns Second-hand Rose Antiques. “I came in 1990 to teach French and Literature at Drake,” Hanson said. “I opened it about two years after the department disbanded. I’ve been collecting things for quite some time. I looked for a place on my own, and this building had been vacant for a couple years.” The majority of growth has occurred over the last 10 years or so, when businesses started moving into the area. Another such business that moved in at this time was Mars, which although it has switched owners, still remains in the same place. Daniel Bosom, one of the five owners, has been with Mars for about eight years, although he became an owner about three years ago. “When we started nine years ago, I think it was kind of at the very beginning of some of the revitalization of this building and this block of businesses,” Bosom said. “We’ve seen a lot of these businesses fill in as far. We’ve seen more Drake students getting out of campus.” Students, although patrons of these

The Times-Delphic

MOST OF DOGTOWN stretches down University Avenue between 25th and 23rd St. The businesses are popular spots for Drake students to visit. Varsity Theater has been a Drake staple since it opened in 1938. Other hot spots include Fernando's Mexican Grill, Mars Cafe, Planet Sub and China Place. PHOTO BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR establishments, can fail to see the importance of their business on the surrounding areas. “Sometimes, I’m not sure if the students know we are here or not,” Mahon said. “We’ve always had a lot of faculty and staff that patronize the theater. For students, it just really depends on what we are playing. It seems like if we can get them to come in freshman year, they will come throughout their years at Drake.” While that may be true, the owners

have seen a shift in student activity around the Dogtown area. “I think Drake students have been getting off campus a lot whether it’s over here or by the Drake apartments they put in by Scooters, and the sushi place over there,” Bosom said. “I think Drake as a campus has been expanding which is nice to have places for students to go.” With Lefty's opening in the upcoming weeks, more places are available for students to patronize. “I think it’s a great neighborhood,”

Hanson said. “I live close by and I love this, and I just wish we could get a few more fun places.” Her wish might be coming true, and as the traditions of Dogtown grow, they will also continue. “It’s just kind of amazing how grand kids will be bringing their kids and their grandkids third generations are coming to the theater,” Mahon said. “Its just kind of special that they are continuing to support us.” There might be a need for increased

business from students, but these owners believe there is a bright future in store for Dogtown. “I think we are here to stay,” Mahon said. “We’ve been in 76 years, before that the theater was around the corner back in the 1930s. We are here to stay.” Varsity Theater is having a showing April 27 open to Drake students.


07 SPEED

April 20, 2015

SPEED 2015 Relays Edition

DRAKE ALUMNI

Bulldogs coming back to Drake to try their 'paw' at teaching Professors stay at Drake to teach after earning undergraduate degrees Assistant professor of journalism Jill Van Wyke graduated from Drake University in 1985 with a degree in news-editorial journalism. Van Wyke started working at The Des Moines Register while still in college and stayed for 14 years. In 1996 she received her masters degree in education from Drake. She then transitioned from student to employee in 1997. It was not the path she always saw for herself. “I started part time when my kids were little and then the job sort of evolved into a full time position teaching,” Van Wyke said. “It was good mix for me professionally and personally. Never did I dream that I’d still be in Des Moines 30-some years later.” Teaching assistant Alyssa Frakes graduated from Drake University in 2011 with a B.A. in psychology, a minor in sociology and a concentration in behavioral analysis and developmental disabilities. In the spring of 2012, Frakes started graduate school at Drake. She graduated in 2014 with masters in mental health and school counseling. This fall Frakes will start her course to earn a doctorate educational leadership also through Drake. Throughout this time she also worked at the University. “[Working at Drake] has been really great because I’ve been in the position my students are currently in,” Frakes said. “I was in their shoes not that long ago. I also get to work with the faculty I had as a student. Working with them as a student and now as a faculty member has been great.” Frakes was also a Resident Assistant

Michael Lopez Staff Writer michael.lopez@drake.edu Traditionally, college students graduate and move away from their university to pursue a career. However, at Drake University a few former students have returned to continue their stories as professors.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR JILL VANWYKE graduated from Drake in 1985. She never thought she'd still be in Des Moines 30 years later. PHOTO COURTESY OF JILL VAN-WYKE

during her time as a student at Drake. When she became a teaching assistant, she had some of her residents as students in her psych lab class. The dual role was not easy. “Probably the biggest struggle was being an RA and having dual relationships,” Frakes said. “I had students as an RA that were then my students as a lab instructor. Having to switch up those boundaries was kind of difficult at first but now all my RA students were all gone so it’s not an issue anymore.” Assistant Professor of Public Relations Jennifer Glover Konfrst graduated in 1996 with a degree in public relations, and continued on to get her Masters in Public Administration in 1998. Konfrst credits her years of experience in the public relations field to her success. "It was important for me to go away and have a career in the industry that I love," Konfrst said. "That way I was able to combine what I learned at Drake with what I learned in the field. I'm adding my own experience to teaching." Konfrst, Van Wyke and Frakes all fall in a tradition of many professors who come back to Drake and teach. Konfrst thinks that says a lot. "What's fun for me about that is that it shows that a Drake education is valued here," Konfrst said. "We really walk the walk. Having the Drake perspective, as well as the perspectives of other graduates, I think provides for a great undergraduate experience."

TEACHING ASSISTANT ALYSSA FRAKES came back to Drake to teach after

earning her undergraduate degree from Drake. Frakes has enjoyed working with her students as a faculty member and student. PHOTO BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR

DRAKE BUILDINGS

Campus buildings possess rich history, undergo changes removal of the dining facilities housed where the laundry machines are currently. The Morehouse Ballroom use to be a cafeteria. As the staple on campus, Old Main has gone under some transformations as well. “You originally could not get into Sheslow Auditorium — which was then called Old Main Auditorium — without going outside,” Director of Operations Mark Chambers said. “There was not an interior pathway. If you go in and look on the brick, you can still see on the brick the roofline, where the roofline was caulked in. You can see the black tar caulk on the brick. And that’s why there are stained glass windows on the inside.” Sheslow Auditorium also use to have large columns that came down from the ceiling to support the building. These columns would block the view of the stage for many seats. They were replaced when a support beam was installed. While campus has changed dramatically, there are even more changes

Zachary Blevins Staff Writer zachary.blevins@drake.edu With the expansion of programs and the steady increase of enrollment at Drake University, the makeup of campus is continuously changing to match the needs of the University. While Old Main is the staple building one campus, and the first one built, many buildings on campus have transformed in intriguing ways. Morehouse Residence Hall houses first-year and upperclassmen students. While it currently is home to many students, it use to be the home of the International Center, the Language Center, and the office of the "I Have A Dream" campaign. These were held in the basement of Morehouse, but were moved out when Morehouse was renovated to create extra living spaces. Part of that renovation included the

OLD MAIN was built in 1881 and was the first building on campus. New buildings will

OLD MAIN was built in 1881 and was the first building on campus. New buildings will be added to campus in the coming years. PHOTO BY CODY FROST | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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scheduled to take place. The board of trustees approved the building of the STEM@DRAKE complex to hold classes for science, technology, education, and mathematics majors. With this, the University is in the process of purchasing 27th street. “As part of this project, we’ve got about 122 new parking spaces in a parking lot where the houses use to be on the east side of 27th street,” Chambers said. “So, you’re going to net 60-some spaces depending on how it lays out over what there is now.” Once the University is the owner of the street, it will have to close it for liability purposes and it will be used for storage for building materials. “What we would like to do is to not renovate that street until the School of Education, Olin Hall, and the new connector building are built,” Chambers said. While the University endorses the project, some students are skeptical. “It’s very problematic to a lot of students and will cause a lot of issues for students, especially commuter students, during the winter,” said first-year Hannah Collins, a current resident of Herriott Residence Hall and future resident of Goodwin-Kirk Residence Hall. Sophomore Maya Bolter expressed concerns over the loss of non-permit area parking spaces. “Street parking is really good because you don’t have to buy a permit,” Bolter said. “We’re broke college students, and permits can get expensive. There are oversold spots, and there are too many people trying to park in the spots anyways.” Nevertheless, the continued remodeling of campus is a clear sign that the University is prospering. Current students will be able to notice changes to campus whenever they come back for the

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The Times-Delphic


08 SPEED

April 20, 2015

SPEED 2015 Relays Edition

DES MOINES LIFE

Iconic Des Moines park a popular staple among students Giuliana LaMantia Assistant Relays Editor giuliana.lamantia@drake.edu Open to visitors since Sept. 2009, the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park has become a staple of downtown Des Moines. According to Christine Doolittle, director of marketing and public relations at the Des Moines Art Center, John and

Mary Pappajohn are philanthropists in Des Moines, Iowa that have been collecting artwork since they were married. When they noticed people driving by to look at a sculpture in their yard, they thought Western Gateway Park, which had just opened during the revitalization of downtown, would be a good spot for it. They donated their art to the Des Moines Art Center and Western Gateway

Park. There were initially 16 sculptures in the park, which eventually became a total of 28 as of today. All of the sculptures were donated by the Pappajohns or commissioned specifically for the park. Doolittle loves how the city has embraced the sculpture park. “We knew that it would be a fantastic addition to the city of Des Moines, but the fact that the community has embraced it as they have has been really thrilling for us,” Doolittle said. “It’s almost as if the

park has become iconic for Des Moines, you see it every time you see anything about Des Moines.” Being free and close, Drake students have also embraced and enjoyed the sculpture park. Sophomore Jessica Didominick likes that it is open any time of year and believes it creates a nice entrance for the city. “My favorite sculpture is the one of the person made out of letters

(Nomade),” Didominick said. “I think it’s really unique.” Sophomore Maura Scott’s favorite piece is Panoramic Awareness Pavilion for its endless colors and happy vibes. Scott feels the sculpture park brings people together in a place to enjoy art. “The fact that it’s free is really nice because it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy art, no matter what socioeconomic status they are in, which is really important,” Scott said.

Jaume Plensa Nomade 2007 Donated: 2009

Mark Di Suvero T8 Donated: 2009

One of the most recognizable pieces of the sculpture park, Nomade depicts a crouching human figure composed of letters in the Latin alphabet. Plensa showcases his ideas of human culture and society through this work. The shape portrays the human body and the way it perceives the world, and the letters symbolize language and ideas, people coming together to enhance society.

Mark Di Suvero creates his sculptures primarily of industrial I-beams and heavy gauge metal with no former plans or models. T8 was built in this same format, made to portray energy as its pieces become entangled towards the sky. It is painted orange-red for contrast against the blue sky.

Deborah Butterfield Juno Donated: 2009

Gary Hume Back of Snowman (White) Back of Snowman (Black) Donated: 2009

Horses inspire Butterfield’s work, and her horse sculptures each have unique personalities. Juno portrays a bashful creature. Butterfield’s process to make her horse sculptures takes three months. They are made with cast and reassembled branches to form the basic shape of the horse. Butterfield then attaches real sticks until she achieves the correct gesture. The pieces are then photographed, disassembled and cast in bronze before being reattached. A patina is applied to enhance the look.

Imagery from Hume’s childhood, such as the snowman, plays a large role in his art, hence Back of Snowman. Since Hume is a painter as well as a sculptor, the piece contains a smooth, glossy finish. The title Back of Snowman is a joke to the viewer, since the snowman does not have a front.

Keith Haring Untitled (Three Dancing Figures, version C) 1989 Donated: 2010

Olafur Eliasson Panoramic Awareness Pavilion 2013 Donated: 2013

Haring found his inspiration for this piece, as well as his work in general, from the chaos of New York City. The human figure in simplistic form is one of his main focuses in his work, like in this sculpture. This piece is brightly colored and portrays the human dancing, showing energy so as to brighten the world around it.

Panoramic Awareness Pavilion is the newest gift from John and Mary Pappajohn and was created specifically for the sculpture park. Made of 23 panes of colored glass, the work represents a circular color spectrum from the outside. At night, a lamp is lit from the inside, creating a kaleidoscope with lights shining from the outside. PHOTOS BY JOEL VENZKE | PHOTO EDITOR

The Times-Delphic


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