May 05, 2021

THE TIMES-DELPHIC The weekly student newspaper of Drake University Vol. 140 | No. 20 | May 5, 2021

FEATURES

SPORTS

COMMENTARY

After health concerns regarding the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, students share their opinions on the controversy.

For the third time in history, Drake women’s tennis won their conference tournament.

Read more on page 3

Read more on page 5

Outgoing editor-in-chief Rachel James reflects on her time with The Times-Delphic, while incoming editor-in-chief Emma Brustkern shares her goals for the future.

Read more on page 7

Campus elects 11 new student senators timesdelphic.com

Andrew Kennard Staff Writer andrew.kennard@drake.edu

Six academic, one equity and inclusion and six at-large student senators were voted in for the 2021-2022 academic year on Friday night after running campaigns that focused on issues of transparency and accountability, equity and inclusion or sustainability.

All of the students were elected unopposed, although many voters did not vote for every eligible candidate, according to election results posted by student senate on Facebook. The election also suffered from much lower voter turnout in comparison to last year’s elections. Student Body Treasurer Jacob Salazar said the low turnout occurred because the student senate was unable to send out a mass email with the link to the election.

“But because of the phishing emails this year, IT actually restricted the number of emails one email could send to other email addresses,” Salazar said.

“So we were unable to send a mass email because they restricted that, which I think kind of made it difficult for a lot of students to vote.”

The candidates met in a virtual forum streamed on Facebook Live on Wednesday night. Incoming senators-atlarge Nick Trout and Charlie Anthony Adame’s campaigns were centered on promoting transparency and accountability in the student senate.

“One of the biggest concerns that I’ve heard about senate, both in this campaign and throughout the year, is that people don’t feel like senate represents them, and they don’t feel like senate is being transparent and accountable,” Trout said.

Several incoming senators have suggested various solutions to this problem. Trout proposed posting the full text of past student senate motions on senate’s Facebook page, Adame’s platform would have all senators attend at least one student organization meeting each month, and incoming atlarge senator Amber Guzzo’s platform proposes partnering with the Times-Delphic to

DRAKE STUDENT SENATE has seen a decrease in voter turnout from last year’s election. Newly elected senators share their platforms and goals after a low-turnout election. GRAPHIC BY ALLYN BENKOWICH | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

create a column where senators would write about their work in the student senate.

“One thing I’d like to say is that dialogue means being present,” Adame said during the forum. “It means being able to speak the same language as the students.”

Salazar, who moderated the forum, said this year’s candidates represent the interests and diversity of the Drake student body “even more than last year.” Salazar said the level of transparency the student senate should have is like a line on a graph—always changing rather than remaining at a set level.

“And in the last few years that I’ve seen, senate has been coming closer to that line but has never gotten on that line.

They’ve always kind of fallen a little short here and there,” Salazar said. “So I think that the next senate is going to work on kind of closing that gap between the transparency that senate actually has and what it needs to be.”

Incoming senator-at-large Davey Newell and equity and inclusion senator Avasar Sheth also talked about increasing dialogue, but in regards to representing intersectional identities or marginalized

students, respectively.

Sheth, who has served as the Programming Chair of UNITY Roundtable, discussed at the forum how he would connect UNITY to student senate.

“Some of my goals for this position include expanding the number of expanding the number of organizations in UNITY, helping multicultural organizations recruit more members after the pandemic, [and] holding more events, such as professional development events mental health care events, and so forth,” Sheth said. “Additionally, I would like to hold senators accountable to show up to more multicultural events.”

Incoming senator-at-large Brian Orellana proposed the addition of a Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to the senate’s executive board.

“Student senate has had broken relationships,” Orellana said. “We need to fix those relationships, and by pushing for this, we are making sure that, a) we’re building [our] relationship with the multicultural organizations, b) we are showing that we want to be more inclusive, more equitable, more fighting for that change, because if we don’t fight for it, then what are we doing

here?”

Incoming senator-at-large Rhent Addis’s campaign was focused on improving sustainability on campus.

Addis’s platform includes proposals to promote Drake Environmental Action League’s residence hall composting program, stop selling plastic water bottles at the C-Store and use more LED light bulbs on campus.

“There was a fact I found, or actually my campaign found, rather, that in 2018 our total carbon emissions were 23,972 tons,” Addis said. “While this is an 18 percent reduction since we began tracking it in 2013, it is still not enough to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. This is a goal explicitly stated in the Drake Climate Action Plan.”

Drake Environmental Action League President Ella Field said there is “great opportunity for collaboration” between DEAL and the 2021-2022 student senate.

“I’m happy to see many senators including sustainability in their platform and hope to work with them in the future,” Field said.

According to the student senate bylaws, each of the atlarge senators will take up a position and responsibilities

that pertain to a specific aspect of life at Drake. For example, responsibilities of the community outreach senator include chairing the Community Outreach Committee, attending Drake Neighborhood Association meetings and creating initiatives that connect the Drake community with the surrounding community.

Academic senators are responsible for representing the constituents in their college. For example, School of Journalism senator Madeleine Leigh said she would bring the interests and initiatives of student organizations and publications within the journalism school to student senate. Leigh emphasized the importance of being informed as a “first step” to being a responsible member of the Drake community.

“We have a real opportunity here as we move back to a inperson, post-COVID world to not only build back the kind of community we had before but build it back better, create a community that is more inclusive, more informed and more involved,” Leigh said.

“More interconnected. We as senators have a responsibility to participate in that, to facilitate that, and to help everybody else do it too.”

students prepare for second summer during covid-19 pandemic Cassandra Schoene Staff Writer cassandra.schoene@drake.edu

Whether taking online classes, working or spending time with friends and family, some Drake students have started making plans to make the most of this summer, which will mark the second summer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID affected my plans since I have to work from home and I’m not able to work in the office and get the full internship experience,” said junior Jordyn Conard.

Conard will be taking two Drake summer classes and doing a full-time summer internship at Guideone Insurance, where she started interning in May 2020 and will continue to intern until May 2022.

“I’m most looking forward to the weekend when I don’t have to do as much,” Conard said.

Brooke Busch, a first-year

Drake student, will also be taking summer classes, along with working and spending time with her family.

“If the [COVID] case count is still fairly high, the family that’s supposed to come home from out-of-state won’t be here, which is sad since I haven’t seen them in so long,” Busch said. “I want to make up for lost time with my out-of-state family and hang out with my sister before she gets married and moves away.”

Even though she is taking online summer classes, Busch said that it is what she is “least looking forward to.”

“I really value that break from academics and use it as time to reset and motivate myself for another school year, but I think it’ll be good to stay in the swing of things so I don’t entirely lose motivation for school,” Busch said.

Senior Bailey Murphy is also taking online summer classes and working.

“During the summer I’ll be staying in Des Moines to nanny full time for a family close by and I’ll also be taking two online courses. The only struggle is the limited options for activities and things to do with the kids, so I’ll have to be much more creative with how I entertain them compared to a normal summer,” Murphy said.

In addition to work and school, Murphy is looking forward to spending time with her friends. But COVID-19 restrictions that are still in place will affect how they will be able to do that.

“I know last summer it was basically impossible to find a pool to swim in and simple stuff like that, and it likely will be the same situation this year,” Murphy said.

But there are still options to have fun this summer despite COVID-19 restrictions. Firstyear Andrew Copeland will spend his summer traveling the outdoors.

FINDING SUMMER INTERNSHIPS continues to be difficult for many students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Internships are often being held remotely to ensure the safety of interns and other staff. GRAPHIC BY ALLYN BENKOWICH | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Copeland said COVID-19 won’t affect his plans since he will mostly be outside.

“I look forward to exploring

twitter: @timesdelphic | instagram: draketimesdelphic | facebook: the times delphic

the forests with my dog and having a great time outdoors,” Copeland said.

News

NEWS

May 5, 2021 | Page 2

President Biden addresses joint session of Congress Madeleine Leigh Staff Writer madeleine.leigh@drake.edu

On April 28, 2021, the eve of his hundredth day in office, President Biden addressed a joint session of Congress. He outlined what his administration and Congress has accomplished so far this year, and what he hopes they will accomplish in the coming months.

“Tonight, I come to talk about crisis — and opportunity,” Biden said at the opening of his address. “About rebuilding our nation and revitalizing our democracy and winning the future for America.”

As with every other major event over the last year, the address was impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.

Members of Congress in attendance were restricted to a fraction of their total number: 200. They were spaced evenly throughout the chamber audience, with seats in between cordoned off by pieces of paper.

The remaining 338 members watched a livestream with the rest of the nation.

Rachel Paine Caufield is a political science professor at Drake University.

She said that this type of address used to be more common from a U.S. president in their first term.

“For example, after 9/11, George W. Bush spoke before a joint session,” Paine Caufield said. “At particularly key moments in the history of the United States, presidents will ask for time and they will speak before a joint session of Congress. We didn’t see it commonly under the Trump administration, we didn’t really see it a whole lot under the Obama administration. So, it seems as though it hasn’t happened in a very long time, but it’s actually fairly common.”

It wasn’t just the content of the seats that COVID-19 impacted; it was also the content of Biden’s speech. It’s not normal for presidents to have a massive piece of legislation like the American Rescue plan to talk about in their first speech of their first term.

“It’s unique to the pandemic.

Most presidents, as they come into office, they have a couple big agenda items that they feel confident they can push through Congress,” Paine Caufield said.

“The speech to the joint session often comes in the midst of fighting for that first piece of legislation…but it’s rare that a president, 100 days in, has passed such an incredibly sweeping piece of legislation.

And that [it happened this time] is undoubtedly because Joe Biden uniquely came into office in the middle of a global pandemic.”

After spending the first half of his address commemorating the legislation his administration had already seen passed through Congress, the American Rescue plan, Biden spent the second half outlining his future legislative agenda, including the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan.

Biden said the American Jobs Plan will create jobs for everything from upgrading physical transportation infrastructure to building more energy efficient buildings and homes.

“For too long, we have failed to use the most important word when it comes to meeting the climate crisis: jobs,” Biden said.

“For me, when I think about climate change, I think jobs.”

The American Families plan addresses what Biden referred to as four of the biggest challenges facing American families today.

This includes providing access to a good education, to quality and affordable childcare and to up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave. It also proposes extending the Child Tax Credit passed earlier this year, which gives families between $3,000 and $3,600 per child, through the end of 2025.

Overall, Biden’s address was about massive progressive legislation he wants Congress to pass. The likelihood of that happening isn’t very high, given the slim majority the Democratic Party has in Congress. Most of his proposals are unpopular with Republican legislators, which was made clear as early as 15 minutes

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN recently completed his first one hundred days in office. Pictured: Biden in Des Moines in 2019 at the Liberty and Justice Gala event. PHOTO BY MCCADE GOWDY

after his address when Sen. Tim Scott (R, SC) delivered the Republican Party’s rebuttal speech.

That national political divide is also reflected in the Drake community’s response.

Drake University’s partisan political student organizations,

Drake Democrats and Drake College Republicans, had vastly different responses to Biden’s address.

Matt Deike, executive director of Drake College Republicans, was displeased with many of the proposals Biden spoke about.

“As someone that got into politics because of concerns of wasteful government spending and the national debt, tonight’s major proposals outlined in the Biden address concerned me,” Deike said in a written interview. “[In] this speech he promised the American people further crushing debt and higher taxes. So far in the first 100 days, the government has

wasted billions of dollars by tax hikes and a debt burden for years to come.”

On the other hand, Kody Craddick, chair of Drake Democrats, said this speech made him proud to be a Democrat.

“I think Biden was very bold and straightforward with a lot of the more controversial issues,” Craddick said. “Talking about transgender rights and gun control and immigration, he took those issues head on.

It showed to everyone who was there and a lot of people at home that we as Democrats are not afraid to speak up about what we believe in.”

School District Opportunity Center, and still works there today. Her decision to marry was also made for the future of her children.

“This risk also allowed me to be able to give and show our children a life where both parents are needed and both parents bring different characteristics and abilities together to help mold and shape young people into healthy responsible adults,” WalkerMorris said.

And even though the marriage with her husband was a logical choice, it was still one made from true love.

“The biggest reason I ultimately took the risk was because I loved Sean and felt like it was worth risking it all for a chance at making marriage and happiness work for me,” Walker-Morris said.

Das also took a big risk by deciding to marry her husband.

But, she had never met, or seen, him before.

“I always do what I think I’m good at, so I never take risks,” Das said. “But my parents wanted this, and it was the biggest risk of my life.”

Being in an arranged marriage was a big deal for her.

Any choice she would make now would be with someone she didn’t even know, with family she didn’t even know. She went through with the marriage though, and never looked back.

“Me and my family are very happy with my decision.

My husband gives me all the freedom that I’ve always wanted,” Das said. “When we

moved to America, I knew it would be fine because I was with him.”

Passion, whether for a relationship, work, or a sense of adventure, fuels the existence of risks. Walker-Morris and Das made their risk based on love and trust, while Hach made his risk based on his passion for work and friends.

“I had been working at Boeing since it was called McDonnell Douglas,” Hach said. “With this new position, I was able to continue working with products that I liked and knew well as well as working with a wonderful group of people.”

The new group he joined was called Strategic Planning at Boeing. They did long-term contracting for military and commercial purposes. There were a lot of unknowns with this job, since it was so new. But Hach had all the confidence he needed to be successful.

“I played multiple sports in both high school and college which gave me the confidence to know that I could do whatever I needed to do,” Hach said. “I also always felt that I could do any job that someone else had done, even if it was different.”

Passion creates confidence which in turn, creates the ability to take risks. And it’s something that is usually done for the hope of a better future.

This is true for Fajardo, who not only auditioned well, but ended up getting a supporting role in the musical.

“I thought ahead to college admission periods

and transcripts including extracurricular activities,” Fajardo said. “I guess that could be my background of doing things now that can help me in the future.”

He went on to participate in theatre, musicals and plays for the rest of his high school career, both on stage and behind the scenes. By his senior year, the stage was more like a home and the people there were more like family.

“It made for a great experience by learning new things, meeting new people, seeing the differences in musical acting versus play acting,” Fajardo said.

A good risk will have good consequences, whether because one learns from their mistakes or they love the outcome. Just like Hach loved his work.

“I was very proud of this decision as it turned out to be the best risk of my career. I ended up working until I was 73 just because I like the job so much,” Hach said.

And Das loves her husband.

“I am very proud of my risk,” Das said. “My future will be very beautiful with my husband.”

These four people have vastly different backgrounds, stories and risks. But all of them can agree on the importance of risk.

“It made me realize I’m more capable of things than I think I am,” Fajardo said. “I think that in experiencing new things, whether they work out or not, are very good and important lessons that you can learn from.”

“For too long, we have failed to use the most important word when it comes to meeting the climate crisis: jobs.”

Risks of a lifetime: stories on the importance of taking chances

Cassandra Schoene Staff Writer cassandra.schoene@drake.edu

The year is 1996 when a young African American woman walks into a drugstore and shakily picks up a pregnancy test. She has recently started a new job and has only been in a relationship with the man for five months. If the test is positive, it could flip her promising life upside down.

Fast forward and the year is 2005. A 65 year-old white man is moments away from retiring from the job he has worked at all his life that has now begun to grow tiring. Then one morning, a friend approaches him about joining a new, barely developed department group.

“I knew most of the management team and I was dissatisfied with my old job, so it seemed interesting,” Gary Hach said.

If he agrees, he can kiss his dreams of an early retirement and time with family goodbye.

Seven years later, an Indian woman sits on the couch of her living room, listening intently to her parents who stand before her.

She currently lives in Delhi, India, and her parents have just set up an arranged marriage for her.

“I would have to put full trust in my parents,” Lovely Das said.

If she accepts, it will dictate the rest of her life with a man she has yet to meet.

Now the year is 2017 as a teenage Filipino boy stands on

a high school stage and squints out towards the sea of mostly empty theatre seats.

Only two of them are filled, where the director and the music director sit and judge the auditions for the school musical.

His palms start to sweat and he states his name and waits for his cue to start singing.

“I wanted to push myself and take myself out of the comfort zone of just doing behind the scene type of musical related activities,” Carlsan Fajardo said.

If he gets in the musical, it could determine how he will spend the rest of his high school career.

Everyone takes risks, but rarely are they able to see how big of an impact they have on their life. Four vastly different people share their stories and, most importantly, are reminded of the importance of taking a risk.

“I have known and been friends with my husband since elementary school but we only dated five months before we decided to get married,” Walker-Morris said.

Turns out, that pregnancy test was positive. All the aspects of her life came crashing together at once.

“I had recently started working for Hazelwood School District and I was concerned as to how the district would view and evaluate me being a pregnant unmarried woman who is working with and guiding teens,” Walker-Morris said of that moment.

She worked as a Social Worker for the Hazelwood

FEATURES

Features

May 5, 2021 | Page 3

Drake gets vaxxed

Students, staff discuss why they chose to get a COVID vaccine Cassie Schoene Staff Writer cassandra.schoene@drake.edu

Drake students and staff discuss the COVID-19 vaccines safety, possible vaccination requirement and what the vaccine might mean for the future of Drake University as COVID-19 vaccination rollout continues.

“I think our country’s regulatory agencies, while nowhere near perfect, do a good job for us in testing vaccines before they’re released to the general public,” said Drake professor Lee Jolliffe. “As an older person, I grew up with just a few people my age whose parents didn’t get them the polio vaccinations, and they caught it. I know I’m thankful for the vaccinations against so many once-fatal diseases, too, from measles to smallpox.”

Jolliffe said she got the vaccine because she is over 65 years old and has a weakened immune system.

“I got the Pfizer simply because that’s what my doctor’s practice, UnityPoint, offered to all its over-65 patients this past February,” Jolliffe said. “I was thrilled to get any shot at all, at that point, having been cooped up alone at home for 11 months, barely venturing out and double-masking when I had to leave the house.”

Madison Sanchez, a Drake first-year, also got the Pfizer vaccine.

“Getting the vaccine is going to eventually allow everyone to get back to their normal preCOVID lives,” Sanchez said. “As a student, that means having more in-person classes again, being able to have more events and activities, and also getting to experience college without having to worry about getting sick.”

Sanchez said she got the vaccination because her parents have pre-existing medical conditions. She also said, that it’s because she is exposing herself to the possibility of getting the COVID-19 virus by living on campus and then having to fly to and from her home in Georgia. She says she understands why some people would not want to get vaccinated.

“I personally think that everyone has the right to choose what they believe is best for them, and in my case, I felt that it was best for me to get the vaccine. I appreciate those who have gotten or are planning on getting it, but I am also not going to be rude to those who are not getting it,” Sanchez said. “I understand the fear and anxiety of not knowing the long-term effects of the vaccine because I am also scared even though I already got it. I think that it is okay if someone chooses not to get vaccinated, as long as they follow the CDC COVID regulations that are in place.”

The possible COVID-19 vaccinations in the United States are Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

“Even though a lot of people doubt the research and the safety of the vaccines, they should also know that every shot had to go through a minimum amount of testing before it was approved to be released,” Sanchez said.

All of the three vaccines have been FDA approved and underwent trials to test their effectiveness and safety.

The FDA analysis of each of

the vaccines is available on their website.

The vaccines were able to get approved faster due to U.S. government investments, which covered much of the costs that keep pharmaceutical companies from being able to develop vaccines quickly because of the high expense, according to the FDA. “I trust the science, I trust the expertise behind this,” said Drake President Martin, who got the Moderna vaccine. “Of course I’ve done my own due diligence and reading about it and trying to be smart about it, and I’m very confident in everything that I’ve read, its efficacy and safety… It’s exactly what the solution should be.”

The Moderna vaccine requires two doses of the vaccine with 28 days in between. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires two doses of the vaccine with 21 days in between.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one dose. However, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been recently linked to blood clots and was recalled.

“I personally think that everyone has the right to choose what they believe is best for them, and in my case, I felt that it was best for me to get the vaccine.”

“I think that every vaccine or treatment for health issues has risks that come with them,” Sanchez said. “Anything from medication, vaccines, surgeries, and more has some chance of something going wrong. I read an articlefrom Yale Medicine and it said that over 6.8 million Johnson & Johnson shots were given, but only six people got blood clots.”

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is back to being available to the public, but with a warning of possible blood clots. The FDA is continuously monitoring the safety and effects of the vaccines for public safety.

“After reading up on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in the medical journals and science media, I think they are both very safe,”Jolliffe said. “They’re a new type of vaccine, but not something that was created off-the-cuff in a slap-dash way.

The mRNA vaccines have been in development for a decade now. I was really pleased that these don’t contain any “killed viruses” and instead retrain our immune systems.”

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a viral vector vaccine.

According to the CDC, this means the vaccine delivers a piece of a harmless virus that then produces a harmless piece of the COVID-19 virus.

The body’s immune system then recognizes that it doesn’t belong and produces antibodies to kill what it thinks is an infection. Now the body knows how to kill the COVID-19 virus.

This vaccine is 66.3% effective at preventing COVID-19 according to the CDC. The Moderna and PfizerBioNTech vaccines are mRNA vaccines.

According to the CDC, this is a new type of vaccine that doesn’t include a virus, but rather contains mRNA. The

mRNA teaches the immune system cells to make the protein piece of COVID-19 without contracting the virus. The immune system then makes antibodies that would be used to fight COVID-19 and destroys the instructions from the mRNA vaccine.

These vaccines do not interact or alter DNA in any way since they never reach the nucleus of the cell, which is where DNA is. The Moderna vaccine is 94.1% effective at preventing the virus and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is 95% effective, according to the CDC. “This is the light at the end of the tunnel right, and it just gets brighter by the day, given the numbers that are receiving the vaccine,” Martin said.

“Certainly, we’d love to see even more people showing up to get the vaccine both from our own campus and community and across the state in the country and I’m hopeful that as the message continues to get out about benefits of doing such and addressing some of the concerns that people have expressed that we’ll see more and more of our colleagues, friends, community members, get the vaccine because it is their solution is the answer to these challenges that we’re facing.”

But, some people are not able to get the vaccine due to allergies, being immunocompromised, or other issues.

“Some people cannot get vaccinated and that’s why anyone who can, must,” Jolliffe said.

Drake University recently held a vaccination clinic with the Pfizer vaccine at the Harkin Center on April 16. The University “strongly encourages” everyone who can get vaccinated, to do so. Some Drake students and staff have even helped administer the vaccines.

THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON vaccine is back in use after being paused due to six reports of patients developing blood clots after getting the vaccine. PHOTO BY ALLYN BENKOWICH | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

“After reading up on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in the medical journals and science media, I think they are both very safe. They’re a new type of vaccine, but not something that was created off-the-cuff in a slap-dash way.

But, first-year Xmiena Rogers-Stamps said that she will not be getting the vaccine because of uncertainties with long term effects and her parents didn’t want her to.

“I decided that I would wait a year and see,” RogersStamps said. “However, if it does become a requirement for traveling, then I will get it…I believe that one of the reasons people got the vaccine is because it potentially could be requirements for other things such as universities if they’re private universities or high schools, as well as traveling.”

Drake will not currently be requiring the COVID-19 vaccine of students and staff, and future legislation may prevent them from doing so.

“We are going to do the campaign first. Get voluntary compliance, get the record of that, see where we stand,”

Martin said.

“There’s a complicating factor here, in that there is legislation pending in the Iowa legislature that would punish institutions that require people to have the vaccine in order to come on the premises of businesses, organizations, institutions, and we fall into the category of those that would be subject to negative consequences.”

Martin said he was told that the legislation will pass, which would cause some businesses and schools in Iowa to lose state grants and contracts if they required COVID-19 vaccinations and proof of COVID-19 vaccinations. But, this hasn’t stopped Drake from pushing it’s students and staff to get vaccinated.

“April 5 I think is when it opened up and we really tried to push that through our community, particularly with our students,” Martin said. “But that’s all been Drake faculty, Drake staff and Drake students at the clinics and administering the shots. I mean, both sides I got were from pharmacy students, so I’m really proud of them. I think we’ve done just a tremendous service not just to our campus, but to the broader community.”

President Martin said that they have data on how many staff have been vaccinated, but will not release it until they are sure it’s accurate. Also, he said they have proof that over 500 students have been vaccinated.

Students can prove they have

been vaccinated by sending a picture of their vaccination card to contacttracing@drake. edu. Students who do this are exempt from quarantine protocols if they have been exposed to someone with confirmed COVID-19.

“Well, what we will, as we always have, follow guidance from the CDC, the Department of Public Health of the state of Iowa, as well as Polk County County,” Martin said. “So I don’t want to cast any particular outcome. As you know Drake University’s going to make this decision to move this thing, because that guidance as we’ve seen, is evolving.”

It is uncertain how the vaccinations will affect the future COVID-19 safety protocols, but some Drake students and staff have hope for a more normal upcoming year.

“I’m thrilled to be able to see my students again this spring, even in one-on-one meetings outdoors, and I can’t wait to get back into the classroom,” Jolliffe said. “In class, I can see who is engaged and who isn’t, I can change pace if I see a lesson isn’t resonating, and I can work to be sure everyone stays interested and learning.”

Moving forward, there is a desire to see campus return to some sense of ‘normal’.

“I am hoping to see Drake more alive and like it used to be pre-COVID,” Sanchez said.

FEATURES

Features

May 5, 2021 | Page 4

Keeping the music alive

Jazz club struggles to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic

CJ Younger Staff Writer catherine.younger@drake.edu

The lights dim and the chatter of the socially distanced audience fades to a murmur.

The full-moon sign, emblazoned with a proud N, glows against blue velvet curtains. Applause sweeps the dark room as the singer steps into the spotlight and thanks everyone for coming. He cues the band with a snap of his fingers and just like that, the night is handed over to the American Songbook.

When COVID-19 shut down the world in March 2020, the escape of a jazz club—or any music venue—became offlimits. Capacity restrictions, mandatory closings and uneasy audiences sent the live music industry into a downward spiral.

Within a few months, popular clubs began closing their doors for good. The Twins Jazz Club in Washington, D.C. closed in September of 2020.

Popular New York club Jazz Standard followed in December.

Los Angeles club Blue Whale is a recent casualty, closing in January.

In December of 2020, the concert industry trade magazine Pollstar estimated that the pandemic lost the music industry $30 billion--10 from ticket revenue and 20 from merchandise, concessions, parking and more. The majority of the loss can be credited to cancelled tours, but the biggest impact can be seen in smaller venues like Noce and the musicians that give it life.

Noce stayed afloat by offering livestreamed performances from the club the second

NOCE JAZZ CLUB in Des Moines is just one of the locally-owned clubs that has been hurt by loss of revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic. The club stayed afloat with the help of regulars and livestream donations. PHOTO COURTESY OF NOCE WEBSITE

week of the shutdown, sooner than almost anyone else. The livestreams were free but included an option to donate via PayPal. They reopened at 30 percent occupancy in July 2020.

“It’s no way to make money,” said Max Wellman, Noce’s general manager and performer.

“It’s a survival game.”

Noce decreased ticket prices, reduced the staff and took advantage of federal stimulus programs, but their greatest support came from regulars like Jane Meyer, a patron since

the club’s opening in December 2015. Due to COVID, Meyer stopped going to live shows, but continued spending her money at Noce.

“I would have bought a ticket and a drink and tipped, so I’ll just send that along, PayPalwise,” Meyer said. “It’s just what I would be doing normally and I’m happy to help them out.”

Other Des Moines venues were not as lucky as Noce.

“We’ve lost some true treasures here in Des Moines, like Vaudeville Mews,” said Maria Reveiz, one of Noce’s

owners.

The punk rock club closed its doors last fall.

Lefty’s, another local club, set up a GoFundMe, asked for donations during livestreams and took advantage of government grants. xBk, a hip hop and rock club, has been closed since March of 2020, getting by with a combination of federal disaster assistance and loans.

“We’re extremely fortunate that we’re still here and performing and doing shows,” Wellman said.

Anyone craving a sense of normalcy can tune in to Noce’s livestreamed shows on their Youtube channel, Noce Jazz and Cabaret DSM. Tickets for live shows can be purchased at www.noce.ticketleap.com.

As the curtain closes on the night’s performance, people young and old pay their tabs and amble out. They venture back out onto the street, humming old jazz standards and chuckling. Despite the late hour, the night seems just a little brighter than it was before.

From Vegas to New York, Drake takes you places Alumnus Max Plenke encourages confidence, passion Charleigh Reinardy Staff Writer charleigh.reinardy@drake.edu

2010 Drake University graduate, Max Plenke, encourages students to find what they love and to obsess over it until they succeed.

Max Plenke is from Minneapolis where he attended Perpich Arts High School in the suburb of Golden Valley.

Perpich allowed for Plenke to take normal high school classes alongside studying music.

Plenke visited colleges his senior year of high school and on the way home from Northwestern University in Illinois, the Plenke family decided to take a look at Drake.

“My dad was a journalism professor at the time, he was aware that they had a pretty upstanding journalism school and he said let’s just stop by” Plenke said.

“There was a guy giving tours who was a Music Performance and Broadcast Journalism double major,” Plenke said. “At the time I thought I could use music to pay for some of school but I really wanted to study journalism.”

In 2006, when Plenke went to visit, he felt at home and saw many opportunities awaiting him in the journalism school.

Plenke began as a Music Performance and Magazine Media double major but after his first year looked forward to focusing more on just Magazine Media.

Plenke dropped music and

added a Graphic Design major that was more for fun than anything and later in his last year at Drake, added an English minor.

While at Drake, Plenke worked for Drake Mag his sophomore and junior and senior year served as the editorin-chief of 515, the former journalism capstone magazine.

“I really liked my Drake Mag experience,” Plenke said. “It was an intense time, we as the editors were always together for sessions working late into the evening.”

“Find something to love and then just obsess over it until people go to you for that thing.”

“The difference between 515 and Drake Mag is that some people in 515 have to be there for their major and are very clearly indifferent towards it, whereas Drake Mag this is what they live and breathe while they are in college.”

Plenke considers himself lucky in the field of internships after receiving an internship from a car magazine he had been writing for since he was 16. Plenke was able to write columns and lay out magazine pages.

Through networking and discussion, Plenke was able to be hired by Meredith on one of their four car magazines outside

of their normal internship program.

After his experience with Meredith, Plenke ended up in New York interning for Gentleman’s Quarterly, GQ at Conde Nast.

“I got really lucky to have an advisor, Jeff Inman, who really understood what I needed and wanted and helped me find the tools to get there,” Plenke said.

“He really instilled in me this idea that the worst thing an editor or some person I wanted to work for can tell me is no.

He would tell me just push and push and push until someone literally says stop. I carried that over and I think that’s why I got my internships and my jobs in the future.”

Plenke offers his piece of advice for current and future Drake students looking for a push of confidence.

“Find something to love and then just obsess over it until people go to you for that thing,” Plenke said.

Plenke graduated in 2010 and since then has had an interesting path.

Right out of school, Plenke was hired as a Arts and Entertainment Reporter for a newspaper in Las Vegas with some assistance from Jeff Inman. After three years there, Plenke found a band looking to tour and quit his job to tour full time.

Plenke would work hard to continue freelancing while touring until he picked up running the music and promotion at a little bar in Vegas.

DRAKE ALUMNUS MAX PLENKE held internships during his time at Drake that prepared him for the communications jobs he found after graduation. PHOTO COURTESY OF MAX PLENKE

A move out to New York was much needed after his time in Vegas, Plenke took a job as a science reporter. From there, Plenke began covering fitness and drinking for Men’s Journal.

Finally in 2017, Plenke landed a job at Group Nine Media where he is now the

Associate Director of Branded Content.

Plenke also got engaged to a Drake graduate. The two dated briefly in college, but ended up living three blocks from each other eight years later, and they got engaged last year.

SPORTS

Sports

May 5, 2021 | Page 5

Women’s tennis named conference champions after tournament win

DRAKE’S WOMEN’S TENNIS WIN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT, CROWNED 2021 MVCC TENNIS CHAMPIONS. After a tough fight in their conference tournament, the team was able to come out on top and collect their winning title, leading to their inclusion in the upcoming NCAA tournament. PHOTO COURTESY OF DRAKE ATHLETICS

Darinka Stepan Staff Writer darinka.stepan@drake.edu

For only the third time ever in Drake history, Drake women’s tennis won their conference tournament.

This is the first time since 2000 that Drake women’s tennis brought home the title.

Drake started their tournament off with a tough rematch against Bradley, whom they had lost to 4-3 a couple weeks before in their regular season match.

This time, Drake got the win with singles wins from Liza Petushkova, Ines Stephani and Maria Tatarnikova.

After capturing the 4-3 win the Bulldogs advanced to the semifinals where they played Illinois state. Before this match, Drake had lost to Illinois state in the regular season 5-2. During the match Drake was down 1-3 in the team score, with a 7-5, 6-3 singles win from Kelsey Neville at singles 6.

Shortly after Tatarnikova came back to split sets at singles 4, Stephani got a 7-5, 0-6, 6-1 win at singles 3, allowing the team score to be 2-3. At singles 5 Stepan finished her match next with a 7-6, 2-6, 6-1 win allowing the team score to now be tied at 3-3. Tatarnikova continued to fight throughout the full match

until she was able to clinch the match for the team. Tatarnikova won her match 2-6, 7-6, 7-5 allowing Drake to get a 4-3 win over the Red Birds and advance to the finals of the tournament.

Heading into the final day of the tournament, Drake was excited for the chance to play in the finals, senior Liza Petushkova explained how confident she felt with the team and repeated “Drake is winning,” to the team multiple times. All the positive encouragement paid off when the Bulldogs took the court Sunday at 10 a.m.

Before this match, Drake had lost to Missouri State 4-3 in a

regular season match. Drake got off to a great start in the match, for the first time that weekend Drake captured the doubles point, with wins from Petushkova and Tatarnikova at first doubles and Stephani and her partner at doubles 3.

Drake went into singles with a 1-0 win. Shortly after the doubles point Neville got a quick 6-0, 6-3 win at singles 6. Following Neville’s win Petushkova got the win at singles 1, winning her match 6-1, 6-0, allowing Drake to lead 3-0 in the team score.

Tatarnikova was the clinch once again, after capturing a 6-2, 6-0 win at singles 4.

Drake got a 4-0 win over Missouri State, allowing the Bulldogs the opportunity to advance to the NCAA tournament.

“I’m so happy to be able to share this moment with my team,” first-year Ines Stephani said. “It will for sure be a memory that I will hold onto.

I am so grateful to be able to experience this my first semester here. I’m looking forward to the chance to compete in the NCAA tournament.”

The Bulldogs will find out next Monday where they will be playing and who once the selection show begins.

football ends season with first losing record since

2015

Kyle Keegan Staff Writer kyle.keegan@drake.edu

The Drake football team has faced their fair share of adversity this season, both on the field and off it. With a tough loss to Presbyterian College on April 17, they finished the spring PFL season at 2-3, the Bulldog’s first losing record since 2015.

Off the field, injuries, along with the fatigue of taking multiple COVID-19 tests a week since the start of February, made this one of the most challenging and unprecedented seasons in the program’s entire history.

But head coach Todd Stepsis said he could not be more proud of how his team handled the situation, with only one positive case appearing during the whole season.

“Part of that, I’m not gonna be naive, it was luck,” Stepsis said. “To dismiss the fact that the players really wanted to play and that they really made some sacrifices in some normal life stuff...trying to do everything they could to make sure that every time they got tested it was a negative...that’s pretty remarkable.”

Sophomore receiver Colin Howard touched on the sacrifices him and his teammates made to continue playing during the spring.

“We didn’t really do anything outside of school and football,” Howard said. “I’m really proud of our guys for the commitment they made.”

Even with the success of containing COVID-19 within their program, the Bulldogs faced another tough opponent in PFL newcomer the Presbyterian Blue Hose. With injuries in the tight end and running back position, Drake needed some big-time performances from their passing game and defense to match Presbyterian’s offensive firepower.

And the game started off just like that. With a fumble recovery by redshirt senior linebacker Will Kulick on the Blue Hose’s first drive, the

AFTER COVID-19 SCARES, THE FOOTBALL SEASON ENDS IN HEARTBREAK. Led by injuries and fatigue, Drake’s football team found it hard to remain optimistic during their 2021 season, and their record shows their adversity. PHOTO COURTESY OF DRAKE ATHLETICS

Bulldogs were able to capitalize with a field goal by sophomore kicker Nathan De Bruin.

However, the following drive showed Presbyterian’s offensive skill set, as they proceeded to march down the field for 75 yards and a rushing touchdown.

Despite their best efforts to contain the Blue Hose’s passing and running attack, the Bulldogs defense struggled to contain Presbyterian’s quarterback Tyler Huff, who scrambled for 34 yards and two first downs for the touchdown drive.

Coach Stepsis said trying to stop Huff was one of the biggest priorities going into the game.

“The quarterback is very elusive but also has quite a bit of arm strength,” Stepsis said.

“A guy that can buy time with his legs and throw a strike...It makes a challenge.”

First-year defensive lineman Jake Shipla was one of the eleven guys who made an effort to take down Huff, recording 4 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a quarterback hurry. Shipla said Huff was a difficult player to contain.

“He was pretty fast,” Shipla said. “He would just find holes

and shoot through them most of the time.”

Despite letting up a touchdown, the Bulldogs would respond back with a blocked extra point by senior defensive lineman Jacob Richard, making the deficit a mere three points for Drake. The offense would then proceed to strike fast with a three-play, 67 yard trip to the endzone, making it 10-6 with the extra point.

As things winded down in the second quarter, the Blue Hose were able to put together another solid drive of 71 yards, with Presbyterian running back Jarius Jeter scoring his second touchdown of the game. A costly couple of third and fourth down conversions undermined what was an otherwise solid showing from Drake’s defensive interior and secondary.

Once again, junior quarterback Hunter Wendling would respond with a huge 42 yard touchdown pass to his receiver Howard. With the extra point, the score was now 17-13.

Howard reflected on the play that gave the Bulldogs the lead heading into halftime. He compared it to a similar 46 yard

reception he had earlier in the game.

“I dragged the guy into the endzone,” Howard said. “I’m really glad I did because I didn’t want to be short again.”

Later on in the third quarter, Drake would add on to its lead with a creative trick-play near the endzone, putting the Bulldogs at an eleven point advantage.

The game reached a stalemate between the two teams heading into the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the Blue Hose was able to come up with 203 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion offensively, while the Bulldogs’ attack fizzled out to a mere 55 yards and a late interception.

Presbyterian walked away with a 28-24 win to end the PFL regular season.

The loss showed some positives and negatives. While the offense was not able to capitalize on some key drives during the game, the future looks bright with two capable quarterbacks in Hunter Wendling and Ian Corwin, an experienced running back duo returning with Caden Meis and

Cross Robinson, and a solid, young receiving core with Colin Howard and Brandon Langdok.

Defensively, the group will look to continue its dominance from this spring into fall. While the Bulldogs let up 443 yards gained by the Blue Hose, Drake recorded a season-high eight sacks for the day.

Win or lose, the game was the last one for departing seniors Brady Bjorkman, Conner Furu, Braeden Hartwig, Harrison Murray and Ben Nienhuis.

Coach Stepsis touched on their contributions to the football team.

“What I’m going to miss most about those guys didn’t have anything to do with what they brought to the table on the field,” Stepsis said. “It was just the type of guys that they were.”

Looking towards the future, it will be exciting to see how the Bulldogs will perform with a full fall schedule in the works.

Coach Stepsis has already given the expected date.

“The first Thursday night game we’ve had in a while,” Stepsis said. “September 2nd, at home.”

SPORTS

Sports

May 5, 2021 | Page 6

Players collect honors in the pioneer football league Kyle Keegan Staff Writer kyle.keegan@drake.edu

While the Bulldogs will be spending this May recuperating from a stressful football season during the pandemic, the program took some pride in seeing 22 conference selections for their players in the Pioneer Football League.

12 of those selections were based on the Bulldogs’ efforts on the field.

Senior linebacker and long snapper Ryan Kriceri earned PFL first team honors. Among those selected for the second team were junior defensive lineman Jake Hoper, senior offensive lineman Mark Bach, junior linebacker Declan Carr, senior linebacker Will Kulick and junior defensive back Danny Morales.

Honorable mentions were given to junior defensive lineman Ben Gerdes, senior tight end Grant Gossling, sophomore wide receiver Colin Howard, senior defensive lineman Max Johnson, senior defensive back Alex Rogers and freshman defensive lineman Shipla.

While Drake’s head coach Todd Stepsis was proud with his player’s acknowledgments, he said the selections carried a “bitter sweet” feeling.

“We had a lot of those guys get recognized, and it’s great to see them come back,” Stepsis said. “I just wish we had a few more wins at the end of

DESPITE THEIR LOSING SEASON, DRAKE’S FOOTBALL TEAM SAW 22 CONFERENCE SELECTIONS FOR THEIR PLAYERS. The team had multiple players named to the second and third Pioneer Football League teams. PHOTO COURTESY OF DRAKE ATHLETICS

the season to validate it a little more.”

Stepsis was among other PFL coaches who were asked to vote for players who they thought stood out within the conference this season.

Seeing his players earn some individual recognition, Stepsis said he reminds them what the selections are all about.

“While a postseason accolade may be a goal of yours...”

Stepsis said. “It wouldn’t have been without that work that you would’ve gotten that award at the end of the year.”

Along with the on-field selections, a conference leading ten Bulldogs made the first and second academic teams for the season. Stepsis accredited his

player’s efforts in the classroom.

“Unless you’ve lived being a student athlete,” Stepsis said.

“It’s really hard to grasp the strain it can put on you.”

Sophomore quarterback Ian Corwin was able to earn first team academic nods while he recovered from an injury this season. Corwin said he knew all too well about the daily grind of being a Drake student athlete.

“There’s definitely some days and some weeks where you might have some tests, and you start to feel stressed out...”

Corwin said. “There’s definitely weeks where I’m like, ‘Man, this is a lot.’”

It goes to show the efforts that Coach Stepsis and the team go through to ensure that every

player is able to earn a 3.0 GPA. Being in the PFL, where players earn their scholarship solely through academics, Stepsis said prioritizing academics is a part of Drake football’s culture.

“There is no place to hide.

There is no easy out at Drake...”

Stepsis said. “The mission of what we’re trying to accomplish as a program is to create this experience that they are going to never forget. When football is over, they’re going to make an impact.”

Corwin agreed with Stepsis’ comments, saying that academics were a big factor in his decision to commit to Drake and play in the PFL. “I knew coming in that Drake was a really good school, a

tough school that was going to get me prepared for the future,” Corwin said. “I love football, but I’m not going to be relying on it for my income when I’m done playing in college.”

Individual spotlights aside, Corwin said he appreciated the support he and other teammates received for their PFL selections.

“We’re all each other’s biggest fans,” Corwin said. “Everybody texted everyone that made one and congratulated them...We’re such a big family...Everybody is so happy for each other.”

Get ready to see this big family play this fall against North Dakota on Sept. 18, 2021.

Men’s tennis prepares for conference tournament

AS THE MEN’S TENNIS SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE, THE TEAM PREPARES TO FIGHT FOR A SPOT IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT. The team has been working hard on the courts and sweeping their competition as of late, and they have one more tournament to determine their post-season place. PHOTO COURTESY OF DRAKE ATHLETICS

Darinka Stepan Staff Writer darinka.stepan@drake.edu

Drake men’s tennis closes out their regular season with two clean sweeps.

Before heading to their conference tournament, Drake men’s tennis captured two 7-0 wins. First against North Dakota and then another win against St. Thomas. In the match against North Dakota the Bulldogs started off strong, winning 2 out of the 3 doubles matches and allowing them to lead 1-0 in the team score heading into singles.

The first Bulldog to get a singles point for Drake was Evan Fragistas. Fragistas won his match 6-2, 6-1. Reid Jarvis was the next Bulldog to get another singles point for Drake.

After his 6-2, 6-2 win Drake led the team score 3-0. Following Jarvis’ win Oliver Johansson won his singles match 6-3,64 clinching the win for Drake and allowing them to lead 4-0.

Markus Bolin finished his match with a 7-5, 6-2 win at singles 6. Benedek Hermann finished his match at singles 2 with a hard fought three set battel.

Hermann won his first set 6-4, lost a close second set 4-6 and then came back to win the third set 6-4. Finally, Gabriel Sardo finished his match in another three-set match. After losing a close first set 6-7, Sardo came back to win the second set 6-4 as well as winning the third set match tiebreaker.

The Bulldogs finished that match with a team score of 7-0.

Heading into their last match, Drake men’s tennis was hungry for yet another win. Drake

men’s tennis had another great start to the match. Although this time, the Bulldogs won all three doubles sets, capturing the doubles point to allow them to lead 1-0 yet again in the team score.

At singles 2 Herman was the first person to finish his match, capturing a 6-0, 6-1 win, allowing Drake to lead 2-0 in the team score. Jarvis finished his match after getting a 6-0, 6-2 win at singles 4, helping Drake lead 3-0. Johansson got a 6-2, 6-2 win at first singles once again, clinching the match for the Bulldogs. Fragistas finished his match at singles 3 with a 6-2, 6-3 win helping the Bulldogs to lead 5-0 in the team score. Sardo was the next Bulldogs to finish his match capturing yet another point from Drake, helping them lead 6-0 in the team score. Bolin finished his match with a 6-2,

6-4 win at singles 6 allowing Drake to get a 7-0 win.

“Overall very pleased with the win, especially since it’s our second 7-0 in a row,” First-year Markus Bolin said. “It felt a little bit strange to play indoors, I just got used to the outdoor climate so that was a change.

Personally, I didn’t play my best tennis, but it was great to be back on doubles 1 with a new partner this time, Evan.”

We started off very bad in the return games but picked it up the longer the match went,” Bolin continued. “I think that was a consequence of being indoors, the serves come so much faster. We got a brake towards the end of the set and sealed it with solid serving. I won my singles match after a real rollercoaster match for me.

I played well in some parts and felt like I didn’t know what I

was doing in other parts of the match.”

Bolin was overall satisfied with the way he performed and is looking forward to working towards the teams conference goals.

“A win always feels great, but a 7-0 win makes a statement, and everyone feels so much better after a 7-0 win,” Sardo said. “I’m proud of the team for getting the job done.”

Drake Men’s Tennis will now move onto the conference tournament as the second seed. The Bulldogs will face Omaha at 1 p.m. on April 30th in Denver Colo. The winner of the conference tournament will get the chance to compete in the team NCAA tournament.

COMMENTARY

Commentary

May 5, 2021 | Page 7

Reusable water bottles: the sustainable savior

Andrew Kennard Staff Writer andrew.kennard@drake.edu

We all have our pet peeves.

Some people can’t stand it when others talk with their mouths full or have messy handwriting.

Me, I can’t stand plastic water bottles. When I see one, it’s like I’m Wall-E, trying to get the last living plant back before it gets blown up —all I can think about is the environmental impact of that little bottle. The worst disposable water bottles have got to be those tiny plastic ones that are like three inches tall. Drinking one of those seems to me like it would be more unsatisfying than getting a cheeseburger at Hubble when all you really want from the world right then is a quesadilla.

Disposable water bottles do have their benefits. When you’re thirsty, it’s convenient to snag one from the C-Store. They’re easy to tote around, and a pack of them is handy for a trip or for having water ready for a big group. In some countries, where you can’t trust the water coming out of the tap to be safe, plastic water bottles can be vital.

However, in general, reusable bottles are your best friend. They tend to hold more water, you can fill them up at the water bottle filling station next to the bubbler (it’s a Wisconsin thing, and no, I’m not going to explain) and your water bill would be Joker-level insane if you paid the price of a plastic water bottle for the same amount for water from the tap.

Most of all, plastic water bottles are terrible for the environment. According to the World Wildlife Fund, less than 10% of the plastic waste in the U.S. gets recycled, so these

BENIGN BEVERAGES? Think again, entreats one writer. Plastic water bottles are not only the locus of a bygone Internet fad; they’ve been indicted on first-degree murder against turtles, too, with Greta Thunberg as their prosecutor. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREW KENNARD

bottles end up in landfills and take hundreds of years to break down. Plastic waste also makes it into rivers and oceans where it poses a danger to wildlife.

Well, that’s depressing. Hey, speaking of those filling stations, you know how they have a little digital counter that keeps track of how many disposable water bottles might’ve been used if people hadn’t used the station

instead?

Someone should make it so the person who saves the 100,000th or millionth bottle wins a Tesla or something.

They could have the machine blast confetti in the air and start playing “We Are The Champions.”

The World Wildlife Fund says the average American consumed 318 standard-sized water bottles in

2017, so we’d make pretty quick progress if we started using the station instead of buying plastic bottles from the C-Store.

The filling station in Carpenter Hall is already at 94,803—if you’re the one who makes it to 100,000, take a photo of the number, come find me and I’ll buy you some chocolate or something. You can hold me to that.

Every time we don’t buy a plastic water bottle (or at least recycle it), it’s like we’re saving a tiny piece of an Infinity Stone from falling into the wrong hands.

Because if we keep churning out new plastic bottles and chucking them in the landfill, it won’t take a snap of Thanos’s fingers to ruin our environment.

Outgoing Editor-in-Chief Incoming Editor-in-Chief reflects on their time

shares vision for paper

Rachel James Editor-in-Chief rachel.james@drake.edu @kindisgroovy

Emma Brustkern News Editor Editor-in-Chief-Elect emma.brustkern@drake.edu

The Times-Delphic has been my home since my first-year at Drake. I have witnessed both the struggles and successes of my peers. The prosper and plight of our bulldog community. The triumph of my fellow man and also the devastating challenges of being human.

COVID-19 has forever changed this world. We have all lost time and loved ones and our sense of what is normal. There are no words that could do this collective mourning justice. All I can say is that I see you and I love you.

Being a journalist, at least personally, has afforded me an interesting perspective. I am acutely aware of the fact that the events, moments, and memories that occur both to and around me will one day fade. That I will be left to tell the stories with a foggy recollection and paled newspaper.

There have been some titular events I have gotten to report on: Paint it Black, the 2020 election, a call for racial justice, COVID-19. But the majority of stories we tell exist in a middle ground: the promotion of a professor, a change in RSO status requirements, the birth of a new organization. These can seem minor in comparison, but I have learned that those moments matter. That there is a certain beauty in the little things, that it’s those stories, the day-to-day memories that add up to the sum of our parts.

This year the student body has come together to support journalism more than ever before. With any move to defund or discredit journalism, the community has showed up with a deep well of love and support.

I will forever be grateful for that outpouring.

“There’s nothing more important in a democracy than a well-informed electorate,” this is a quote from one of my favourite television shows and something I repeat a lot when asked about why I got passionate about the news. As we have seen, there is something to be said for speaking truth to power. There is something to be said for writing about things because people have a right to know, because people have an obligation to remember. It is my hope that the legacy and importance of this paper does not wane.

I am very grateful for my three years at Drake and that all of it was spent in the newsroom.

I want to thank everyone who let me tell their story, even if it was but a slice of it. I want to thank my staff, advisors, and team who work tirelessly to make something happen each week. I want to thank the School of Journalism and Mass Communication for their topnotch training, support, and for allowing me to cause chaos and keep coming back the next day. And I want to thank you, readers and bulldogs. It’s been a privilege.

Lots of love, Rachel James 2019-2021 Editor-in-Chief

Dear Times-Delphic readers, My name is Emma Brustkern.

You may know me for being mildly funny on Twitter, for having a major Taylor Swift obsession or for my strong opinions on the future of queer media. However, perhaps the most important thing you need to know about me is that I’m excited and honored to be next year’s Times-Delphic editor-inchief.

For the past two years, I have served on The Times-Delphic staff; first as Features Editor, then as News Editor.

Although being a student journalist isn’t always glamorous, I have cherished every moment.

I will never forget laughing in Meredith 124 with my fellow editors, the connections I formed with writers or how I felt when I first saw a story I had written on the front page.

My time with The TimesDelphic has shaped me into a better writer, a better editor and arguably a better person.

Now, as incoming editorin-chief, I want to give back to the publication that has done so much for me. I plan to continue highlighting the diverse perspectives and lived experiences of our students. I hope to expand our breaking news coverage to quickly and

accurately cover pressing issues on campus.

More than anything, I want to continue holding institutions accountable, whether that be our local government, our very own student senate or the Drake administration. All of these goals are reflective of my own beliefs on what journalism should be: a way to represent and inform those whose voices are too often left untold.

Of course, I could not be in this position today without an excellent support system.

I would like to thank my fellow editors, specifically my predecessor Rachel James; you have done such an excellent job as editor-in-chief and I know I have big shoes to fill. I would also like to thank Jeff Inman and Jill VanWyke, for not only being great advisors for The Times-Delphic, but for supporting me endlessly the past two years.

Lastly, I would like to thank all the students and members of our campus community who have supported me as a journalist throughout my time with The Times-Delphic.

I hope I can make all of you proud next year. As always, feel free to email me with any questions, comments and/or concerns - or, if you just want to talk about Taylor Swift, that’s fine too.

Sincerely, Emma Brustkern 2021-2022 Editor-in-Chief

BYE, BYE, LITTLE SEBASTIAN ...and/or the Times-Delphic’s beloved editor-in-chief, Rachel James (below). A new age has dawned: one of prosperity, fecundity, and a proliferated reader base of two students. Emma Brustkern (above), the TD’s new editor-in-chief, reflects on the halcyon days, and turns toward the next hill with a smile on her face and a cadre of underpaid writers in her quiver. PHOTO COURTESY OF RACHEL JAMES & EMMA BRUSTKERN

COMMENTARY

Commentary

May 5, 2021 | Page 8

Summer: sunglasses, sand, and... work?

Colin Frier Commentary Editor colin.frier@drake.edu

This year has been like trying to free a pick from the inside of an acoustic guitar. You’re shaking that thing up, down, and sideways like you’re Clark Griswold, you know, shaking the meowing Christmas present from Great Aunt Bethany… by that same token, this year’s also been like trying to remove an eyelash from your eye. Sure, you might save that private Ryan after a half hour’s worth of expletives and convulsions, but the end result, the bloodshot eye, albeit freed from its aggravator, certainly wasn’t worth the innumerable costs.

But, not to fear, summer’s here. You picture the class at the end of the semester, everyone’s doing the “High School Musical” chant: “Summer... summer… summer…” but in reality, when school lets out, the days become cyclical like Taxi Driver, filled with eight-hour minimumwage shifts, all to pay for college. Which, when it comes to tuition, college universities are the biggest crooks since the late Bernie Madoff. The price tag is so overinflated that it makes Jeff Bezos’ annual income look like sofa-crack change. They claim to make you well-rounded. With the allyou-can-eat buffet, that’s one promise they have yet to break.

Look, not to be the wet blanket, but summer’s not all Colbie Calliat, Starbucks refreshers, and Disney Channel TV movies. In fact, summer ends when you turn sixteen and you’re old enough to be shipped off to the rat race. It’s no longer lemonade stands, Slip ‘N Slides, or pedophile ice cream trucks.

Friends ask about summer plans, you exhale glumly like Eeyore, “Oh, you know, back to the coal mines…”

Cortisol levels should in theory drop. In theory. But no, just look at the sort of punishment the summer temps mete out: grass that grows.

Lawn mowers… the sound is inescapable. It’s agoraphobia writ large. John Deeres roaring 24/7… you wake up at 1:00 am, Good Neighbor Clarence is out mowing his lawn, headlamp on forehead, Michelob in hand, like Clark Griswold with a hockey mask on cutting down his tree… you go vacationing in Micronesia, just for some damn respite… you wake up the next day in your plush DoubleTree bed, jetlagged as can be, the plane engine roar still humming in your ea— Wait a minute.

You look out your window: the greenskeeper is out cutting the front lawn. You’ve gotta be kidding me, you say. Can a guy in a bear suit just relax?

You die, go to Heaven, shake hands with God, settle in a beach chair, sip down three rootbeer floats, feel a hundred years being lifted off your chest with a single sigh: “Finally,

WELCOME TO THE MACHINE, one writer sighs plaintively. Summer pretends to be “Phineas and Ferb;” in reality, it’s “Office Space.”

GRAPHIC BY RACHEL JAMES | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

some damn peace—” To your right, Gabriel the Angel is there with the weed eater, trimming the edges at the entrance gates.

“Oh for fu—” Bob Dylan got it right when he sang, “I haven’t known peace and quiet for so long, I can’t remember what it’s like.”

Then there’s the ticks. Ticks are the worst thing devised since the atom bomb. God made cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born, He couldn’t rest until He’d made that parasitic arachnid. The lost chapter of Genesis probably went something like this: “And then God saith, ‘I know I’m omnipotent and stuff and could just create more aweinspiring phenomena like the Aurora Borealis and solar eclipses and stuff, but, just for the hell of it, I’m gonna go ahead and scatter a few million ticks across the planet.’”

God is like a doctor. A doctor doesn’t wash his hands… that’s like an animal rights activist shooting a Bengal Tiger for sport. To this day, I can’t comprehend why I see overweight doctors. Stress, genetics, yeah yeah, I know the factors. You have a reservoir of

THE TIMES-DELPHIC The student newspaper for Drake University since 1884 RACHEL JAMES, Editor-in-Chief rachel.james@drake.edu JEFF INMAN, Faculty Advisor jeffrey.inman@drake.edu

TARYN RIPPLE, Managing Editor taryn.ripple@drake.edu

EMMA BRUSTKERN, News Editor emma.brustkern@drake.edu

AUTUMN OSIA, Photo Editor autumn.osia@drake.edu

GRACE ALTENHOFEN, Features Editor grace.altenhofen@drake.edu

MAX BROWN, Digital Editor max.brown@drake.edu

EMILY GODSEY, Sports Editor emily.godsey@drake.edu

OLIVIA HECKER, Media Manager olivia.hecker@drake.edu

COLIN FRIER, Commentary Editor colin.frier@drake.edu

TRISH RICHARDS, Copy Editor patricia.richards@drake.edu

EMILY HANNA, Business Manager emily.hanna@drake.edu

SARAH BOGAARDS, Breaking News sarah.bogaards@drake.edu

knowledge at your disposal on how to lead a healthy life, just like God had the power not to create ticks.

Ticks aren’t the only downside to the heat. The amount of sunscreen required for a two-hour outing is verily obnoxious. I feel like I’m readying myself for a Sports Illustrated swimsuit photoshoot, you know, pasty white like the Abominable Snowman. If you don’t arm yourself with SPF 100, your skin begins to peel off like chocolate shavings. You could show up to the casting call of Hellboy 3 and they’d hire you on the spot, probably thank you for saving some costs for the makeup department. And then you’ve gotta sport five-dollar Walmart sunglasses. I swear, people wear sunglasses so often, it becomes another limb. Shades in the shower, shades in bed… these people are like Elton John or Ringo Starr. There’s a solar eclipse, the world goes dark, these people still have their shades on like the Blues Brothers.

What about the upsides to summer? you ask. Three options: water parks, “the lake,” or a well-earned beach vacation.

Rest assured, I can find the blade-sized hole in the chain mail in all of them.

First, I never understood the appeal of body slides at water parks; in fact, I think you’re better off taking a cheese grater to your back. Second, notice how no one ever specifies what lake they’re going to. It’s always just “the lake.” What lake is this?

Lake Wobegon? And last, beach vacations serve their purpose, but there’s a reason why people like Anakin Skywalker don’t like sand: “It gets everywhere.” It’s like powdered sugar. You get back from Destin, it’s like you were on the set of Lawrence of Arabia, sand in every nook and cranny. In your hair, up your moons, between your teeth… maybe that’s why your bread has a crunch to it. You go to empty out your socks, swing it around like a shot put… pouring it out is like breaking open an hourglass or puncturing a medicine ball; the stream of sand is endless. It’s like a magician’s bottomless bag of tricks. An hour later, the sand is still flowing out of your Adidas sock like a waterfall, your place has been flooded with sand like Mr. Popper’s Penguins…

So May fourteenth finally

comes around, and it’s time to bid adieu to your associates.

How does one cut the phone line and leave on amicable terms? How does one avoid a “Bachelorette”-esque awkward silence? Well, do I have a solution for you.

Ever notice how the breathless “Well…” is used to tacitly signal the end of a conversation? Five seconds of silence go by. “Well…” You don’t even continue the sentence.

Just pat your pant pockets, clap your hands together like you’re doing body percussion or something. You know, this “well…” could be employed in any situation in which you want to get the hell out of.

Eccentric neighbor leans over to the fence to regale you with their personal transformation tale of vegetarian-gone-vegan, “Well…” Professor enjoins you to cite Riemann’s Hypothesis by memory in front of the class, “Well…” Highschool exboyfriend asks about your sex life at the fiftieth high school reunion, “Well…”

It’s fool-proof. Thank me later. And… well… have a good summer.

The Times-Delphic is a student newspaper published weekly during the regular academic year and is produced by undergraduate students at Drake University. The opinions of staff editorials reflect the institutional opinion of the newspaper based on current staff opinions and the newspaper’s traditions. These opinions do not necessarily reflect those of individual employees of the paper, Drake University or members of the student body. All other opinions appearing throughout the paper are those of the author or artist named within the column or cartoon. The newsroom and business office of The Times-Delphic are located in Meredith Hall, Room 124. The Times-Delphic is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press. The editor-in-chief sits on the Board of Student Communications.

LETTERS & SUBMISSION POLICY The Times-Delphic strives to represent student views as accurately and honestly as possible. We rely on readers to provide us with criticism, comments and new ideas so that we can continue to serve the interests of the students in the fairest possible way. We encourage interested readers to submit letters to the editor. Letters must include the author’s name and phone number. Unsigned letters will not be published. Deadlines for guest submissions are noon Sunday for the Wednesday edition. The Times-Delphic reserves the right to edit letters and submissions for space and in the interest of taste. Letters and submissions reflect only the opinions of the authors and should be limited to 250 words.

Emailed letters can be sent to rachel.james@drake.edu.

ADVERTISING POLICY

The Times-Delphic’s business office is located at 2507 University Avenue, 124 Meredith Hall, Des Moines, IA 50311. The Times-Delphic is published on Wednesdays during the university’s fall and spring academic terms. The newspaper is distributed for free around the Drake University campus. All advertising information is to be submitted noon Sunday for the Wednesday edition. Advertisements can be designed by The Times-Delphic or submitted via e-mail. We accept cash and check. A 10 percent discount is offered for prepayment on advertisements. The business office can be contacted at 515-271-2020.