November 17, 2021

THE TIMES-DELPHIC The weekly student newspaper of Drake University Vol. 141 | No. 11 | Nov. 17, 2021 FEATURES

SPORTS

COMMENTARY

@martymartini64 talks about their anonymity, “Drake Busy” and more.

Spectators give input on the Drake men’s basketball team’s first name.

One writer calls for the end of partisan influence in the courtroom.

Read more on page 4

Read more on page 5

Read more on page 8

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Drake asks employees to report vaccination by Nov. 23 The university is preparing to comply with a federal standard

DRAKE EMPLOYEES asked to report COVID-19 vaccination include professors, Drake Facilities staff and desk workers. PHOTOS BY ANDREW KENNARD

Mack Swenson Staff Writer mack.swenson@drake.edu

On Nov. 9, Drake released a statement asking all university employees—including full-time faculty, part-time faculty and student employees—to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination

by Nov. 23 in order to comply with an emergency temporary standard (ETS) released by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Nov. 4.

The standard requires that employers with 100 or more employees enforce a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy or allow unvaccinated employees to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing and wear a mask.

Drake’s statement did not disclose whether unvaccinated employees would be permitted to undergo weekly testing in lieu of vaccination.

Jurisdictions across the country have passed legislation that conflicts with the OSHA ETS. In late October, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed legislation into law that allows employees to opt out of employer-mandated testing if they can provide a statement

of medical exemption.

Additionally, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, challenged the standard on “statutory and constitutional” grounds.

“I have a feeling that the federal court is going to find that OSHA overstepped their boundaries and they’re going to resend it,” Drake pharmacology professor and epidemiologist Brian Gentry said. “What does that mean for Drake?

That means that they should probably be pretty cautious enforcing a mandate that the federal courts have rescinded, but that’s a political argument, not a scientific one.”

Drake’s administration said in the statement that “Drake continues to review the ETS and is monitoring pending legal challenges.”

According to a White House report, the mandate will serve to decrease the economic impact of COVID-19. The report also stated that a national vaccination requirement would decrease any anxiety employers might face when they weigh mandating vaccination against the risk of their employees

leaving for another company.

“Increasing vaccination rates among workers by 20 percentage points or more—consistent with what vaccination requirements have been able to accomplish to date—would reduce the number of unvaccinated Americans by tens of millions of people, profoundly reducing the risk of COVID19 to individuals and communities,” the report said.

According to the most recent Drake COVID-19 update, 85 percent of Drake employees have reported their vaccinations to the university. This includes approximately 900 faculty, in addition to both part-time and full-time student employees.

According to Gentry, a 100 percent vaccination rate is not realistic due to allergic reactions and other factors that hinder people from pursuing a vaccine, but some models suggest that a 80 percent vaccination rate may be sufficient to achieve herd immunity.

However, these numbers are based on the transmission of influenza, not COVID-19.

Drake biology professor Eric Swafford said he will not be receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

“I cannot pursue the vaccine for two reasons, primarily due to strongly held religious beliefs and secondarily to very negative physiological reactions to vaccines demonstrated over 20 years ago from a flu vaccine shot, which was the last time I had a flu vaccine,” Swafford said.

Another objection made by those who oppose vaccine mandates—both nationally and on a local level—is that they infringe on personal liberties.

“I understand the public health crisis, but you also have to understand that this is not the measles or polio,” Gentry said.

“There were federal mandates for getting the measles vaccine and the polio vaccine - those are two very different, more aggressive diseases than this.

It’s like comparing apples and oranges in a lot of respects.

On the flip side of that, I will encourage everyone in the world to get their vaccine, but I guess I just don’t feel comfortable forcing everyone to.”

The OSHA standard also allows employers to require unvaccinated employees to take weekly COVID-19 tests instead.

If Drake allowed employees to

| NEWS EDITOR

receive weekly testing rather than a vaccination, they could have the option of administering a home test or scheduling an appointment with a local health care provider, pharmacy or retail testing site.

Test Iowa, the state’s free COVID-19 testing program, offers at-home tests. Multiple sites for both pick up and drop off of these tests are located in the Des Moines area, including the Olmsted Center and the Polk County Health Department.

“I’m not aware of any capacity limits for COVID-19 tests in Olmsted,” Drake Chief of Staff Nate Reagen said over email. “We’ve been ordering a lot—and have not had an issue so far… Each day, we have at least 15 test kits picked up from the Olmsted desk and we expect that volume to increase as we get closer to the break next week.”

Students and faculty can submit proof of their vaccination through Drake’s secure online form.

Reagen declined a request for an interview about Drake’s response to the OSHA ETS at this time.

Larger RHA budget increases opportunities for spring programming

THE RHA BOARD plans and funds programming in Drake’s seven residence halls. PHOTO COURTESY OF RESIDENCE HALL ASSOCIATION

Andrew Kennard News Editor andrew.kennard@drake.edu

On Nov. 1, Drake’s Residence Hall Association passed a budget of $17,743 for this year, up from $14,000 for the 20202021 academic year. While not RHA’s ideal budget of $21,276, the organization has been able to make cuts in line with its goals and set aside more funding for the spring semester.

“We’re super hopeful that it will be able to make us

have bigger, better programming, that kind of thing, especially for our programming chairs,” said RHA president Anya Zarembski.

“They were trying to plan their events this semester, but because we didn’t get a budget until late October … they were very conservative with how much money they were spending on their programs.”

RHA treasurer Matthew Williams said that the amount of money in the budget increases as the number of students living in the residence

halls increases. Over the past four years, RHA has received an average of $18,763 for its budget, according to RHA advisor Randy McMullin.

RHA’s budget includes funding for the environmental, service, wellness and other types of programs that it organizes in Drake’s residence halls, as well as events such as Siblings Weekend. The organization also provides funding for other programming for students in the residence halls, including considerations of funding requests throughout the year.

One specific change the RHA executive board made this year was to add $250 to its funding of Dogtown After Hours, a largescale alcohol alternative event held every year on campus.

“We historically, from what I understand, have given [Dogtown After Hours] $1,000 for their use,” Williams said.

“Last year we did not give them any money just because of budget cuts; this year we were very glad to provide them with $1,250, a 25 percent increase, in recognition that we weren’t able to fund them last year.”

Dogtown After Hours cochair Allison Burke said that

without the funding from RHA last year, event organizers weren’t able to put on the same quality and number of events that they had previously. For example, she said they were only able to hire a caricature artist for a few hours instead of the whole event.

“We try to fill every room in Olmsted, and at this moment we are actually able to fill the rooms in Olmsted and have a couple activities outside that we’re claiming for this year, so definitely the number of events we’re able to bring has been affected by the amount of money that we have,” Burke said. “And we’re also looking at keeping the activities that we’re looking into going for the entire duration of the evening.”

While RHA’s budget is $3,743 greater than last year’s budget, the organization still had to make cuts to balance its budget. The RHA board cut the gifts it usually gives to firstyears at the start of the year and halved a $300 fund that is managed by the RHA president.

Williams said that RHA saved about $1900 when one of the conferences they attend each year went virtual. This

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helped the board make up the gap between their ideal budget and the $17,743 they are working with.

“Because again, programming is our organization’s top priority, so I was glad we were able to preserve those funds in this budget,” Williams said.

Williams said that RHA’s slush or “rainy-day” fund saw an increase to $2,148.40 from $1,100 last year. According to Williams, the RHA board can use this fund to approve funding requests that don’t fall into a budget category, for example.

Williams added that RHA also cut more funds than absolutely necessary to fund their budget, so the board has put $1,860.30 on hold for next semester. Zarembski said she thinks the board will evaluate their priorities in early February to determine what to do with this funding.

“So [the Programming Chairs] are able to go more all out next semester, which is super fun, and it just allows them to have more creative freedom with what they want to do for their programs,” Zarembski said.

02 | News

Nov. 17, 2021

News

‘facebook papers’ raise tough questions for meta

FACEBOOK WHISTLEBLOWER FRANCES HAUGEN testified before Congress on Oct. 5 about the results of what she called putting profits before people. PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Luke Clausen Staff Writer luke.clausen@drake.edu

Manipulation and dishonesty at Facebook exposed by former employee and whistleblower Frances Haugen last month have tarnished the company’s reputation as it takes on a new name, Meta.

The umbrella company owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp (a major instant messaging service), and Oculus (one of the largest virtual reality technology companies) as well as other, smaller high-tech related companies.

“I used to work at Facebook

and joined because I think Facebook has the potential to bring out the best in us,” Haugen said in her testimony to Congress in early October.

“But I am here today because I believe that Facebook’s products harm children, stoke division, weaken our democracy and much more. The company’s leadership knows ways to make Facebook and Instagram safer and won’t make the necessary changes because they have put their immense profits before people.”

According to the Washington Post’s analysis of documents released by Haugen, Meta’s upper ranks have weighted angry reactions to social media

content more than other types of reactions in their algorithm. The company has failed to monitor and police hateful speech in non-English languages all around the world and prevent the spread of misinformation throughout its platform, the Post reported.

In 2019, Apple threatened to pull Facebook from its app store due to the amount of human traffickers using the app, and documents released by Haugen revealed that Facebook placed high-profile figures on a whitelist that allowed them freedom from its community guidelines, according to CNN and the Wall Street Journal.

Drake assistant politics

CBPA launches business law major

professor Matthew Record said that Facebook knew that their products were having negative psychological impacts and misled the public about the extent to which they knew.

“Facebook was intentionally designing an algorithm to generate clicks and engagement and they had made an affirmative decision that one of the best ways for them to do that was to push and amplify content that angered people, that made people feel bad, that made people feel anxious, that made people feel less than because as it turns out, that would drive more engagement over a longer period of time with their platforms,” Record said.

Following Haugen’s appearance on 60 Minutes, CBS News published a statement from Facebook that discussed their commitment to keeping Facebook a safe space to interact. The statement also referenced the complexity of addressing the misinformation issue and “deeper issues” in technological society.

Structural algorithmic change to how the company operates is unlikely to occur, according to Drake journalism professor Chris Snider.

“If they shift now into a different sort of algorithm, that looks like they’re admitting that they did something wrong, which doesn’t seem to be what they want to do,” Snider said.

“The thing that a lot of people seem to focus on is ‘Can we make some changes around the algorithm?’ You can go to Facebook, and you can turn off

your algorithm.”

Snider said that when he turned his algorithm off for a couple of weeks it was a totally different experience.

“It’s a much better experience with the algorithm, but not necessarily better for my mental well-being,” he said.

Record said that the public has been in a cycle with Facebook where “Mark Zuckerberg is hauled before Congress, makes a seemingly sincere sounding apology, and then changes exactly nothing about the behavior of the organization.”

“I think that Facebook will respond if, and only if, they see an impact on their bottom line,” Record said. “What they are most scared of is the fact that they are perceived by [young people] as an old person’s platform… If there is a perception that these harmful behaviors are somehow driving away engagement from younger users, I think that might cause them to change.”

Drake student Jacob Yanacheak said he will continue to use Meta’s services, but that these findings only cement his opinion of the company.

“I agree with the sentiment that Facebook is struggling to reach the younger consumer base,” Yanacheak said. “I’ll continue to use Facebook and Instagram despite this news,” he said. “I’ve never been a fan of the company...however this makes me view the company less favorably.”

The Ones: University for All

“WE ARE THE ONES” is the tagline for Drake’s new fundraising campaign. PHOTO BY ANDREW KENNARD | NEWS EDITOR

DRAKE PROFESSOR ROYCE FITCHNER teaches a business law class. Fitchner said 15 students are interested in the new major, which may provide a stepping stone to law school and skills for careers in humans resources, compliance and more. PHOTO BY JOSHUA BRUER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Courtney Jackson Staff Writer courtney.jackson@drake.edu

On Oct. 19, the College of Business and Public Administration announced the launch of a business law major for all students.

“This major was created ​ in response to the growing number of undergraduate students interested in legal studies and was developed in recognition of how businesses find themselves navigating an increasingly complex and dynamic legal environment,” said Alejandro Hernandez, dean of the College of Business and Public Administration.

Through this new program, students will emerge with a thorough understanding of how to practically apply existing law in a business context. This major was previously offered only as a minor for students.

The business law major centers around bringing insurance, law and business classes together, according to Hernandez. ​Royce Fichtner, a professor of business law in the CBPA, said there are two main goals for students wanting to pursue this degree. One is to use it as a stepping stone to law school with instruction by three licensed attorneys, and the other

is to learn valuable skills related to law for careers in fields like human resources, compliance, or risk management in insurance, banking, securities, real estate, or any other highly regulated industry. ​“I am very excited that they have added this new degree. I think that it will open up a lot of doors for the students at Drake,” said CBPA student Kylie Ellis.

“I love the idea that students will now have the opportunity to get a good base knowledge for business law that can be useful in any career path they take regardless of if they decide to continue that education by going to law school.”

Ellis and Jordan Abrams were some of the first business school students who have added this new major, hoping it would provide further help for their career fields. Fichtner said that they are two of fifteen students who are interested in changing their majors to business law.

He said that he is excited for the new students to explore this major and that he hopes it helps them to succeed.

“Before switching to the ​ business law major, I was originally a finance major on track for the 3+3 business and law school program,” Abrams said. “I have just dropped the 3+3 program and added the

business law major.” ​Abrams said his interest in the major started back in high school when he competed in the Congressional Debate and studied a few business law courses his senior year. He said he enjoyed learning about the legal and ethical issues of businesses, contracts and cases.

When he came to Drake ​ University in 2019, business law was only offered as a minor and so he settled for being a finance major with a goal of attending Drake Law School.

Ellis, who is a junior at ​ Drake, said she ended up adding business law as a third major.

“I actually did not switch majors when business law became available. Prior to it being a major I was a marketing and accounting double major with a law & business concentration,” Ellis said.

“When I found out that it was being made a major, I simply dropped my concentration to add the third major since it was only going to be a few extra courses.” ​Students who are interested in this new degree program are encouraged to contact Professor Royce Fichtner at royce.fichtner@drake.edu or contact the College of Business and Public Administration.

Madeleine Leigh Staff Writer madeleine.leigh@drake.edu

One of the priorities in Drake University’s new $225 million fundraising campaign is University for All: Creating Access to Opportunity. This initiative focuses on appealing to students in all stages of life.

“The Ones campaign invests in initiatives that provide life-changing opportunities to people with a diversity of experiences across the full spectrum of their lives,” the Office of University Advancement wrote in a booklet on the campaign. “By meeting the needs of more individuals, University for All will spark growth to strengthen the institution.”

Kathleen Richardson is the dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and one of the champions of this initiative. She took part in the initial brainstorming process for The Ones back in 2018.

“My belief that I came to the table with is that our mission as an institution is to give people the tools through education to build their best lives and their best communities,” Richardson said. “We should figure out a way to meet people’s needs and give them the tools to build their best lives from children all the way to retirees... University for All is kind of a philosophical umbrella under which these various initiatives live.”

University for All’s concrete goal is continued support for existing Drake programs that align with this philosophy of education for everyone. These programs include The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, Gregory & Suzie Glazer Burt Boys & Girls Club, Crew Scholars, John Dee Bright College and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Drake, according to the campaign’s case statement.

Creating a more intergenerational campus, as Richardson puts it, is important for Drake’s continued survival considering how the U.S. population is getting older on average.

“To me, this is essential for ensuring that Drake remains relevant and sustainable longterm. It’s the same motivation that has inspired the school of journalism, over the last few years, to start offering online classes,” Richardson said.

“The demographic that Drake traditionally appeals to and has built its institutional culture and financial model around, is shrinking. Drake needs to rethink. Instead of fighting with all the other colleges for every breathing 18-year-old out there, we really need to stick our head up above the trees and think.

We have a whole campus full of smart, engaged people who do a very good job at educating people. We should think a little bit more broadly about who we can offer this to.”

03 | Features

Features

Nov. 17, 2021

Drake’s Delta Gamma sorority dives back into anchor splash JD Snover Staff Writer jd.snover@drake.edu

Since 1936, Delta Gamma has been supporting the visually impaired community through their philanthropic events and fundraising for the organization Service for Sight.

Junior Abby Winkelbauer, Vice President of Foundations for Drake’s Alpha Lambda Chapter of the nationwide sorority, said that Service for Sight advocates for the blind and visually impaired.

“Service for Sight advocates for a sight conversation and the visually impaired community,” Winkelbauer said.

“Delta Gamma has five schools that it helped start and continues to fund all across the country.

These schools work with visually impaired children to provide them with a good education.”

Winkelbauer also said that one of the biggest pulls to Delta Gamma for her was how active the Alpha Lambda chapter is with philanthropy.

“When I was going through recruitment, DG was heavily invested in their philanthropy,” Winkelbauer said. “I listened to members educate me about their philanthropy and their

stories of personal experiences with it. This is what immediately drew me to DG and now to be the Vice President of Foundations.”

One of the main fundraisers for Service for Sight is the annual Anchor Splash event, where all of Fraternity and Sorority life comes together to compete in a synchronized swimming competition.

This year’s event was held on Friday, Nov. 13, and sophomore Ollie Kress, who led the charge in planning and running it, said that the event is one of the biggest of the year.

“DG holds Anchor Splash close to our hearts because it allows us to foster relationships with other chapters in the Drake FSL community,” Kress said.

Delta Gamma Anchorman Kyle Tekautz said that the event is good for the FSL community as a whole and not just the one sorority.

“Often times, Anchor Splash participants will really get into their routine, and members of their respective chapters will come and cheer them on,” Tekautz said. “It’s a great event for the FSL community, as it brings people together and allows some friendly competition to be had.”

As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic linger,

however, Kress said that multiple hurdles were jumped to pull off the event this year.

“I’m a sophomore, so I had never experienced a normal Anchor Splash as last year’s event was held on Zoom,” Kress said. “Typically, Anchor Splash is held at a pool, but due to COVID, many pools in the area were not renting out their facilities. So, I made the decision to have the teams

film the routines and to hold a viewing party in Parents Hall.”

Sophomore Emma Garfoot, who helped coach Sigma Phi Epsilon to become Anchor Splash champions for the third time in a row despite these changes, said that her team was really dedicated.

“The fraternity men were enthused and dedicated, and they made the whole process an absolute blast,” Garfoot said.

In the end, the Alpha Phi sorority and the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity won. But, no matter who took home the crown in the competition, Tekautz said the ultimate winners were those aided by Service for Sight.

“To me, Service for Sight is vital for Delta Gamma’s mission to do good and to serve those in our community,” Tekautz said.

MEMBERS OF ALPHA DELTA PI, another sorority on Drake’s campus, pose in front of a Delta Gamma flag. They placed second at the Anchor Splash competition. PHOTO COURTESY OF LUCY SCHROEDER

Drake theater presents 9-5 the musical drake recieves Miles Fritz Contributing Writer miles.fritz@drake.edu

Drake University Theatre Arts presents their production of “9 to 5 the Musical” by Dolly Parton at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1820 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 21 in the Performing Arts Hall at the Harmon Fine Arts Center.

“9 to 5 the Musical” will be the first Drake musical open to a public audience since November 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Face coverings will be required for all audience members watching the show.

Director and choreographer Erin Horst couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to have live audiences for this musical.

“We’ve all been waiting for live theater to come back,” Horst said. “We’re cautiously optimistic that the world will

continue to move in the right direction, but so excited to have the support of the university to safely share our work.”

“9 to 5 the Musical’’ is based on the 1980 20th Century Fox film “9 to 5” and follows the story of characters Violet, Doralee and Judy trying to make a living in the workforce. Their paths soon cross as they deal with harassment, mistreatment and poisoned coffee in the office.

Jude Thurman plays the leading role of Doralee Rhodes in Drake’s production and celebrates the special moments found in “9 to 5 the Musical” “It’s comedy gold,” Thurman said. “There are plenty of jokes cracked, amusing songs and chaotic scenes leaving you all with a smile on your face after you walk out of the theater.”

Along with an engaging story, “9 to 5 the Musical” has high-energy choreographed numbers. Senior Brent Nery is

TICKETS FOR THE DRAKE PRODUCTION OF “9-5 THE MUSICAL” are now available by visiting online at www.eventbrite.com/o/ drake-university-fine-arts-31132034375 or by calling the Fine Arts Box Office at (515) 271-3841. PHOTO COURTESY OF MILES FRITZ

assistant choreographer for “9 to 5 the Musical” and shares his creative process behind composing dance.

“I start my process with text and character analysis … from there, the fun part begins, which is movement,” Nery said.

“I’m the type of choreographer who doesn’t just choreograph random dances, but uses more storytelling through movement.”

Actor Mia Alaimo believes “9 to 5 the Musical” conveys an important message about the mistreatment of women in the workplace and the strength they find when change is made.

“This show is about women in power … there are so many talented women in the industry who don’t get recognized for their work and talents, and it’s time that they do,” Alaimo said.

“In a lot of cases, women have to work twice as hard to make a name for themselves in today’s world.”

Actor Addie Thrower relates quite a bit to her character when preparing for the lead role of Judy Bernly.

“I do relate to Judy in many ways because she is someone who struggles with finding confidence, and I think this is something that I also have struggled with in the past,” Thrower said.

Thurman had a similar discovery about herself and the larger than life Doralee, who was originated by Dolly Parton herself.

“Doralee is unapologetically herself; she has big hair, wears lots of makeup, wears clothes that make her stand out, she’s kind, empathetic, strong-willed, yet people still seem to rag on her,” Thurman said. “I find it difficult to remain true to myself when it feels like everyone is casting judgement on me, but I’ve slowly realized over my few college years that standing out is a lot better.”

Horst urges everyone to attend this show not only for the entertainment value, but to support all of the Drake students who have put in work for this show.

“Come see it for the students.

Always for the students,” Horst said. “They have put their hearts and souls into this production for the last 6 weeks, and they’re so excited to share their hard work.”

global certification for public relations Piper Davison Contributing Writer piper.davison@drake.edu

Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) announced on Wednesday that Drake has one of the top 50 PR programs in the world.

Drake is recognized internationally for receiving the Certification in Education for Public Relations (CEPR) at Meredith Hall.

The global certification is reviewed annually by randomly selected professional and academic leaders. Last year during April, Drake was reviewed by a professor at Kent State University and a public relations professional from Montana.

“Every few years, the managers of the program come around to access and evaluate the quality of the program, and Drake just got affirmed as having one of the top 50 PR programs globally,” said Eric Adae, an assistant public relations professor at Drake.

The CEPR process is through two members of the PRSA Education Affairs Committee.

The review is conducted by one full-time educator and one practicing professional. These two members visit the campus for two to three days and hold meetings with faculty, students, administrators and outside voters. They consider eight factors: curriculum, faculty, students, facilities, assessment, professional affiliations, relationships and diversity and global perspectives.

“When we were thinking about going up for this, there were about 30-35 in the world, so it’s a growing program, which is excellent for PR education globally, but when we were thinking about what makes a really good program, we knew we had all [the] pieces here,” said Kelly Bruhn, associate dean of SJMC and professor of mass communication and public relations.

This will mark the first time that Drake has been recertified by public relations professionals. This event occurs every six years, and Drake has gone through the process twice

now.

“We learned a lot about how to prepare from our initial certification process, so we were able to reduce some of the stress this time,” Jennifer Glover Konfrst, an associate professor of Drake’s public relations program. “We have ample examples of how Drake’s PR program meets the standards set out by the CEPR committee, so we worked together to pull those together and make the case that our program is only [getting] better with age.”

“It just feels so good to be part of a team that is well recognized and among the very best and brightest PR programs in the world.”

The hard work paid off for faculty and staff members of Drake’s public relations program.

“Certification means a great deal, because it serves as validation that what Dr. Bruhn, Dr. Adae and I are doing is valuable and meaningful to students,” Konfrst said. “That is what’s most important — how students are served by this designation.”

Members of the PR faculty and staff team are now recognized internationally for their commitment to the PR program.

“It just feels so good to be part of a team that is well recognized and among the very best and brightest PR programs in the world,” Adae said.

Drake alumni can also benefit from this certification.

“It also helps our alumni who can tout their education coming from one of the top 50 programs globally,” Konfrst said.

International public relations professionals will congratulate Drake over Zoom this Wednesday Nov. 17 at Meredith Hall. Students and faculty members gathered around and ate pizza and cookies to celebrate the news.

04 | Features

Nov. 17, 2021

Features

Exclusive: @MartyMartini64 Q&A interview Olivia Klassen Staff Writer olivia.klassen@drake.edu

Since April of 2021, the popular Instagram and Twitter meme account @ MartyMartini64 has been lurking in the safety of anonymity while simultaneously making satirical remarks about Provost Sue Mattison, Chief of Student Affairs Officer Jerry Parker and Drake University President Marty Martin, after whom the account is named.

The account has gained a loyal following through posting polls, memes and jokes. The account leaves many spectators searching for answers to who is behind the jokes, yet the creator remains unknown. Even when the Times Delphic reached out to interview Martini, they would only agree to a text interview.

Here’s that interview, the first ever done with Marty Martini: Q: Why do you choose to be anonymous?

A: I’m nowhere near as interesting, funny or nice as some people have supposed me to be. Multiple people who don’t know of my double life have brought Marty Martini up in a conversation with me, and I think they’d be pretty disappointed if they knew … also, I really don’t want to have a Zoom call with Marty.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish with the memes?

A: Everything I do is motivated strictly by my own desire to make fun of things. It gives me something to do that isn’t work.

Q: Do you have a longterm goal with the account?

What is it?

A: I didn’t start off with any sort of goal other than having a bit of fun. Marty Martini is the outlet for most of my spite at Drake and generally helps keep me somewhat sane. A friend

did ask if I’d be passing on the title to somebody when the time comes, and I’m still undecided as to whether or not I will. We’ll see.

Q: What about the culture at Drake do you feel is broken? Are the memes something to help cope?

A: There are many things that I could probably criticize at Drake, but the biggest thing is the entire concept of “Drake Busy.” It’s one of the dumbest things I’ve ever had the misfortune to hear. Pretty much everybody I know is burnt out and struggling to go on, and the entire concept of “Drake Busy” further cements the fact that if anybody tries to take a break, they’ll be crushed by their course load, extracurriculars and other obligations. I’m “Drake Tired,” dude.

Q: Do you think there would be consequences if your identity was revealed?

A: Depending on how far in the future the hypothetical reveal would be, I think the worst consequence would be having to have a Zoom call with Marty Martin. It happened to the DUiN people when they got banned on Twitter for impersonation, and I’ve also been flagged for the impersonation of Marty Martin, so … yikes. No offense to Zoom, but I think I’d pass on that.

Q: Do you think Marty Martin knows of your account’s existence?

A: Maybe. I’ve been flagged [for impersonation] on Twitter once, which is weird because I don’t really do anything on Twitter. [That] means it was either someone from the university or Marty himself — and I must say, I find the image of Marty reading through my stuff to be rather entertaining.

Q: Does anyone know you’re Martini or do you work alone?

MARTYMARTINI64 flyers appear at random times about random topics all over campus, from Meredith bathroom stalls to FAC practice rooms. PHOTO BY OLIVIA KLASSEN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A: I have a few trusted advisors and co-conspirators hidden around campus. Many of them don’t know my real identity, but they’re all true friends.

Q: What led you to the name Marty Martini? Why did you choose it?

A: The name actually comes from a DUiN article, the hypothetical name for Marty Martin’s OnlyFans account was martymartini64. I’m not sure why I went with that one specifically. Maybe it’s just fun to steal from DUiN. Q: Has Martin ever done anything to you personally?

Is that why you started the account?

A: I find many of the things he does to be foolish. He does many things that I find to be distasteful, which makes me feel less bad about constantly making fun of him. Somebody’s gotta do it.

Q: Do you see yourself as

a villain or a hero at Drake?

A: Neither. I see myself more as a mosquito, annoying but overall insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

Q: Do you see yourself as a voice for Drake students?

A: That depends. Is a Court Jester a voice for the commoners?

Q: What inspires you to make memes?

A: Two things: 1) my immense store of indignation for pretty much everything at Drake, and 2) the prospect of beating DUiN at their own game.

Q: Is there any “beef” with you and DUiN? A: I think I generally annoy them, but I’ve been a DUiN fan for a good while. I read their magazine every time it comes out (and usually force my friends to read it, too.)

Everybody I’ve met who’s a part of DUiN has been quite nice.

Q: Are you also Jerry Parkerino? If not, do you work with them?

A: I’m not Jerry Perkerino, but I’m absolutely flattered by the suggestion. I wish I were Jerry Parkerino. I’ve never talked to him, but I have made friends with some of the people who run other Drake-type accounts like FAC Dungeon and Drake Bathroom Reviews.

They’re good people.

Q: For our over 21 readers, What is your favorite Martini recipe?

A: Ingredients: 4.5 fl oz of Bombay Sapphire Dry Gin 2 fl oz of Good Gather Whole Milk 1.5 fl oz of Ingrilli 100% Lime Juice 4 black peppercorns, whole 1 grape, green Add Gin, Lime Juice, and milk to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds, then strain into a chilled martini glass, garnish with peppercorns and grape.

Outstanding first-years: Lucia Perkins Bryson Rea Staff Writer bryson.rea@drake.edu

Finance major Lucia Perkins is best known by her peers as having a vibrant personality.

“Lucia’s personality is so vibrant,” said her close friend Maria Heath. “She is interested in a variety of things, which makes her interesting…Lucia is truly one of the most wellrounded people I know on Drake’s campus.”

Perkins has found oncampus life both challenging and extremely interesting.

“Unlike high school, the workload is hard and a lot more than what I am used to,” said Perkins. “One of the biggest things I am proud of is how I’ve been able to manage that workload while having time for myself. Learning how I need to spend my time between the rowing team, my sorority, my academics and my friends is a struggle, but I am proud of how I am handing everything.”

Arguably Drake’s greatest selling point for incoming firstyears is the school’s vast array of on-campus activities. To make sure this is understood by all high school graduates during their college search, Drake advisors often point to the 160-plus student clubs and organizations the University has to offer.

Perkins has taken advantage of this, getting involved in oncampus opportunities such as the women’s rowing team and the Delta Gamma sorority.

When asked about her

reasons for pursuing these groups on Drake’s campus, Perkins gave credit to the students already involved for drawing her towards these opportunities.

“For joining a sorority, it was more of a last-minute decision,” Perkins said. “I had never pictured myself joining one, but after meeting the women in the house, I knew that these were the people I wanted to be with. I have no regrets so far this year, and the friendships I’ve made make everything worth it.”

Despite her academic success with a 3.8 midterm GPA, things did not come easily for Perkins.

About the hardships she has faced when adjusting to oncampus life, Perkins said she focused on the difficulty of her class schedule and rigor.

“I find myself struggling with some of my classes,” Perkins said. “As a finance major, I need to take prerequisites before I can start my major classes.

Since I have all my AOIs done, the classes I have to take are very dense. With my classes, it’s all new information to me and I am struggling with not only understanding but being able to apply the information I have learned.”

The Outstanding First-Years column presents a profile of one first-year student each week, summarizing their successes up to this point in their college experience. The young students featured in this column have displayed exceeding academic performance and on-campus involvement, along with contributing to the campus community in a positive way.

PERKINS said she is proud of her time-management skills.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LUCIA PERKINS

05 | Sports

Sports

Nov. 17, 2021

Men’s basketball wins first game against Coe College, 87-61

WITH THEIR FIRST WIN UNDER THEIR BELTS the basketball team hopes to emulate the success from the previous season. PHOTO BY PAIGE JANSEN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

men’s basketball made it to the March Madness Tournament which has led to students to voice their optimistic opinions about the possibility of the team returning for their second consecutive year.

“I think Drake absolutely has a shot at March Madness,” Roemmich said. “We’re coming back with essentially the same team we had last year and I would argue that this team is overall better than last year.

I think we are very capable of doing well this season.”

News of the Bulldogs’ win spread throughout the student body quickly, even to those who were not present at the game.

“While I didn’t go to the game, it sounds like Drake basketball

really showed up to play,” said senior Adam Albright. “The first game can also be difficult, especially after a year without playing real games, so Drake winning shows they are ready for a pretty successful year.”

With Drake having the support and cheers of the student body and a home win under their belts, the Bulldogs will have an advantage for future games which include highranked teams and conference play. The men’s basketball team will face off against the University of Richmond on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 12 p.m. at the Knapp Center.

Drake football faces defensive woes in latest loss

Sports Results

Logan Hock Staff Writer logan.hock@drake.edu

On Tuesday, Nov. 9 the men’s basketball team took on the Division III Coe College Kohawks in the first regulation game of the Bulldogs’ season.

In the end, the Bulldogs came out victorious with an 87-61 win over the Kohawks.

Senior Tremell Murphy and first-year Tucker DeVries led in scoring with 14 points each.

The win proved to not only be helpful to the team’s record, but their reputation among the fans, which increased optimism for the rest of the season.

After the first game, student

opinion on the team had been positive with students saying the performance was overall a well-executed start to the season.

“I think the team played really well together,” said spectator Ethan Roemmich, junior. “It was good to see the veterans back on the court as well as some of the new guys like Tucker and Ayo. I think this game really set a tone for the rest of the season.”

Students also expressed that, despite the win, the team had things that needed to be worked on before playing higherranked teams and participating in conference play.

“I think some of the things on the defensive end need to be

cleaned up a little bit and we got to improve on our transitions,” Roemmich said. “On some of our transitions, we got a little too out of control, which resulted in turnovers. However, I thought the rest went pretty well.”

Drake was not only able to get the approval of the student body, but members of their staff as well.

“Drake men’s basketball has great team chemistry and lived up to expectations set by the coaches and themselves,” said Liam Nugent, the team’s manager. “It was a close game at one point, but Drake recovered and managed to pull through and secure the win.”

The previous season, Drake

Men’s Soccer Nov. 14 at Evansville Drake loses 2-4 Nov. 6 vs SIUE Drake loses 0-2

Men’s Basketball Nov. 14 vs South Dakota Drake wins 99-50 Nov. 9 vs Coe College Drake wins 87-61

Football Nov. 13 vs St. Thomas A LOSS TO COE COLLEGE means Drake has a record of 2-8, with one more game left. PHOTO BY OLIVIA KLASSEN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Bryson Rea Staff Writer bryson.rea@drake.edu

The Drake University football team have found themselves in a big hole this season, digging a little deeper with every interception thrown and every game lost.

This story has not faltered much at all this season with the Bulldogs only two wins coming against the currently winless West Virginia Wesleyan College Bobcats and the equally 2-8 Butler University Bulldogs.

Drake’s Oct. 23 game against Stetson was canceled due to COVID-19 issues.

“Losing our last game has hopefully opened some people’s eyes to the fact that nothing is guaranteed,” said senior defensive lineman Kiernan Kohorst about the cancellation.

“Practicing with that mentality along with a focus on how we can all improve individually will put us in the best position to be successful.”

While Drake has found ways to compete in several tough

games, the blame for their 2-8 record stands primarily on themselves. A disappointing combination of injuries, lategame performances, and outright disastrous offensive showings have led to their current record.

A sizable portion of Drake’s ongoing struggles have stemmed from an inability to defend against the run game.

This struggle continued well into Drake’s 21-14 loss against the University of St. Thomas on Saturday, Nov. 13.

St. Thomas ran for over 200 total yards and three touchdowns, averaging over five yards per carry between their two starting running backs.

On the flip side, Drake has been elite in passing defense.

Over the past three games, Drake has allowed just two passing touchdowns and an average below 200 passing yards.

This sharp contrast has led many to believe that Drake’s struggles fall on the shoulders of the defensive line and linebacking core, both of which

have admitted to the team’s inability to defend the run.

Senior linebacker Declan Carr spoke of the inconsistent defensive performances, highlighting poor tackling as a primary instigator.

“We need to be better tacklers,” Carr said. “St. Thomas did a great job of falling forward on their runs and getting YAC (yards after contact). We had the right scheme, but we weren’t finishing plays like we normally do.”

The lack of offensive production by the Bulldogs has not helped the situation either, failing to break 14 points since late September. This lack of offensive production had held Drake back from winning games in which their defense has played spectacularly, such as their 0-7 loss against the Marist Red Foxes the week prior.

“There are three phases to the game: offense, defense and special teams,” Carr said.

“Each phase is connected so any inconsistency by one phase affects the other phases. We let up too many points as a defense

versus St. Thomas.”

No matter where Drake has struggled throughout their season, they still have one chance to end the season on a high note.

The Bulldogs will face off against Davidson College this upcoming Saturday, a team that has been elite on the ground this season. The Bulldogs’ defense will have to completely flip the switch defensively this weekend with Davidson coming off of a game in which they ran for over 250 yards and four touchdowns as a team.

“Davidson has got an excellent rushing game and we must suppress that with physical tackling and assignment sound defense,” Carr said.

While their final game of the season will not have many implications on how the stat book paints the season, it could have a lasting effect on the young players hoping to make a more impressive run of the tables next time around. It will be one of Drake’s tougher match ups this season, and thus a win might give the Bulldogs hope

Drake loses 14-21 Nov. 6 vs Marist Drake loses 0-7

Women’s Volleyball Nov. 13 at Indiana State Drake loses 0-3 Nov. 12 at Evansville Drake loses 2-3

Cross Country Nov. 12 at NCAA Midwest Region Championship Iowa City, Iowa Men places seventh out of 28 Women places 19th out of 32

Women’s Basketball Nov. 10 vs Creighton Drake wins 82-79 Nov. 6 Minnesota State (Exhibition) Drake wins 83-58

06 | Sports

Sports

Nov. 17, 2021

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl contenders?

THE PACKERS could to go to the Super Bowl on the back of their defense, a rarely heard statement in Green Bay, Wisconsin. PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Lia Reichmann Sports Editor lia.reichmann@drake.edu

I think the Packers are legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Hold up, give me a chance to explain myself. I know as a die-hard cheese-head I am obviously incredibly biased, but hear me out.

Not only do we have the reigning MVP with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, we have one of the best wide receivers in the league in Davante Adams, a nice one-two punch in running backs and a fast ascending defense.

The last time the Packers had a top 10 defense was in 2011, and guess who won their fourth Lombardi Trophy that season? After 10 weeks of action the defense is ranked third in the NFL, only allowing 202.7 passing yards per game, 309.9 total yards per game and just 18 points allowed per game.

The defense has weathered the storm after playing against some elite offenses in the last three weeks. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, Kyler Murray, Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson (mind you he was coming off of an injury) had combined stats of 62-of-110

(56.3%), 601 yards, one total TD, and four interceptions.

If the defense keeps trending upwards and players like Za’darius Smith are able to come back from injury, this defense could finally be the reason we make it to the Super Bowl.

Although the most recent game against the Seattle Seahawks was a bit of a snoozefest. Not only were we able to win the game, 17-0 albeit with rusty quarterbacks on both sides, but the game helped cement the Packers as a top team in the NFL. The game also showed that running back AJ Dillion should be able to deal with the increased workload after Aaron Jones’ MCL sprain that will take him out of action for one to two weeks.

When looking at the team, we seem to have been bitten by the injury bug this season. Just in Seahawks game, running back Aaron Jones went down with a knee injury, veteran outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus may be out for the season with a bicep injury and outside linebacker Rashan Gary went down with an awfullooking elbow injury. The team has also been without All-Pro

left tackle David Bakhtiari who is coming back from an ACL tear last season. Bakhtiari and the other cast of injured players will hopefully start coming back in time for the playoffs.

I trust that Rodgers and the offense will keep improving, though they seem to be lacking the lethality of last year’s potent offense. He was very clearly rusty after missing last week’s game against the Chiefs because of COVID-19.

Throughout the season, Rodgers hasn’t lit up the scoreboard as much as he had in the past, or even in comparison to last year’s season. But, he has been effective and has done his job. To me, he hasn’t looked like he has lost a step, but like any well-balanced team, less is being asked of him. When he has to, Rodgers can still amaze you with a throw that no one else can make and will put the ball in places that few can emulate.

Hopefully we can break out of our perpetual loss in the NFC Championship cycle, because it’s not fun. At least we aren’t like the Bears and their revolving door of quarterbacks.

Anyways, I got off topic. Since 2014, the Packers have been to

four NFC Championships.

The next game on their slate is against the 4-5 Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 21. Although this game isn’t a sure fire win, I still expect us to win against the Vikings. Can this defense keep up their impressive performances against the seventh ranked offense? This game will be a good test for a Joe Barry-led squad.

This game could also be one of those games where the team stumbles. The one where you should win, but instead you take a step back and lose in bad

fashion. The Packers need to ensure that this doesn’t happen and lose our momentum, especially defensively. With Rodgers under center and some impressive defensive performances, I think this years Packers squad are Super Bowl caliber.

Maybe I shouldn’t get my hopes up and be optimistic about their chances, as the Packers have continuously managed to crush my heart in previous years (i.e. the 2015 NFC Championship game), but just this once I can’t help it.

THE PACKERS DEFENSE have faced off against elite quarterbacks and have shut them down, bringing hope to fans for the rest of the season. PHOTO COURTESY OF @FIELDYATES TWITTER

Bulldog Cup ends the women’s tennis fall season Darinka Stepan Staff Writer darinka.stepan@drake.edu

This past weekend, Drake women’s tennis competed in their last fall tournament, the Bulldog Cup. The tournament was played at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center over the course of three days starting on Friday, Nov. 5.

On Friday, the Bulldogs started the day off with singles matches against the University of Northern Illinois. On Saturday, all of the tennis players went against Milwaukee, and on Sunday, they played against the University of Nebraska Omaha.

Senior Daria Walczak played two singles matches. She lost her first one on Friday after a close two-set match with a score of 6-2, 6-4. Walczak was able to win her second singles match with a close score of 7-5, 6-4 against Omaha’s Addison Miller.

Sophomore Ines Stephani played three singles matches over the course of the weekend, winning them all. Stephani won her first match 6-2, 6-1 on Friday and then won her second match on Saturday against Mayya

Perova from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a score of 6-2, 6-3. Stephani won her last match against Omaha’s Ines Absisan with a score of 6-1, 6-0.

“I think the team had a strong finish to our fall season this past Sunday after winning all nine matches,” Stephani said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what we’ll accomplish in the spring.”

“I think the team had a strong finish to our fall season this past Sunday after winning all nine matches. I’m looking forward to seeing what we’ll accomplish in the spring.”

Fellow sophomore Darinka Stepan was at the singles three position against Anastasia Rakita from Northern Illinois University and lost 6-4, 6-3. On Saturday, Stepan played in the singles three spot and got a 6-3, 6-3 win for the Bulldogs.

Senior Kelsey Neville

competed in the singles four spot and lost 6-1, 6-2. On Sunday, Neville won her match 6-0, 6-0 against Omaha’s Justine Linscot. First-year Yana Gaskell lost her match at singles five against Milwaukee’s Anika Tylek 6-0, 6-0.

First-year Jyun-Yi Lee played in the five singles spot and lost after a close two-set battle. After losing the first set 6-1, Lee continued to fight in the second set. Lee fell short in the second set, losing 6-7, (6).

Jyun-Yi Lee competed at the singles four position and lost 6-2, 6-2 to Iva Stejskalova from Milwaukee. Jyun-Yi Lee won her second match at singles four 6-0, 6-2 against Omaha’s Lillian Tiemeyer.

“I really enjoyed competing this weekend,” Lee said. “It was great to get a sneak peak at what a real dual match looks like.”

At the singles six position, junior Kendall Hunt lost her match 6-2, 6-0 to Northern Illinois’s Angelica Ross. On Saturday, Hunt competed against Milwaukee’s Giorgia Cavestro and won her match 6-0, 6-2.

First-year Mille Haagensen competed at singles two on Saturday and got the job

done after a three-set match.

Haagensen came back after losing the first set 6-7 (5) to win the second set 6-4. She then won the second set 6-1. She won her second match 6-0, 6-1 at the singles three position.

“I really enjoyed competing this weekend. It was great to get a sneak peak at what a real dual match looks like.”

The Bulldogs won the singles six spot as a default due to an injury from Omaha.

The doubles format for the weekend was different from the usual dual format–this weekend the doubles were an eight-game pro-set.

On Friday at doubles one, senior Liza Petushkova and Haagensen lost 8-4 after a close battle against Milwaukee.

At doubles two, Stephani and Walczak competed throughout the whole match. After being done 4-7, Stefani and Walczak brought it back to 7-7 but lost in the tiebreakers 8-7 (5). At

doubles three, Hunt and Gaskell had a tough battle and fell short of a win with a score of 4-8.

Drake women’s tennis then took on Omaha in doubles on Saturday. At doubles one, Petushkova and Stephani secured the win in their match with a score of 8-5. At doubles two, Stepan and Haagensen lost 8-5. Walczaka and Lee got the job done during their doubles match, winning 8-3.

On Sunday, Nov. 7 the Bulldogs played Northern Illinois in doubles matches.

Petushkova and Walczak won their match at doubles one 8-3. Stepan and Stephani won their match at doubles two 8-3.

Haagensen and Neville also won their match 8-2 at doubles three.

The Bulldogs captured a total of 15 matches over the tournament. On their last day of competition for the fall season, the team got nine straight wins from everyone on the team. The women’s tennis spring season will begin in January. The Bulldogs will continue to train in preparation for the spring season.

07 | Commentary

Commentary

Nov. 17, 2021

Housing plans 2022: conciliation, emigration or eviction?

Maddi Cave Staff Writer maddi.cave@drake.edu

It’s thaaaat time of year!

No, not Christmas…I’m talking about an even more exciting time! On Nov. 1, the Office of Residence Life emailed a survey asking all on-campus residents to indicate their “housing plans” for Spring 2022. THAT’S RIGHT…it’s time to decide if you can live with your roommate for another 16 weeks!

Whether you’re friends with your roommate or not, we’re at that point in the semester where most students have felt some tension in their living situation. So, the million-dollar question is, which problems can be solved with the help of some solid conflict-resolution strategies, and at what point are your differences irreconcilable?

Let’s start on the less extreme side of things— perhaps little issues are bothering you here and there, but it’s nothing extreme enough to set you on the search for a new place to sleep. Maybe your roommate leaves their dirty dishes around for days, stinking up your dorm?

Maybe they talk on the phone with their significant other until 3 a.m. every night? Perhaps they ~gasp~ listen to country music WITHOUT headphones?

While these situations are certainly irritating, they likely aren’t cause for a dramatic breakup. Here are three questions to ask yourself before

requesting a roomie-divorce: 1). Have you told your roommate what’s bothering you? Sounds obvious, right?

However, I’m always surprised by the amount of people I know who hate their roommates for reasons A through Z, NONE of which they have actually brought up with their roommate. Remember, they are a completely different person than you…they may genuinely have no idea their style is cramping yours.

Your roommate isn’t a mind-reader. It isn’t mean or unreasonable to express your feelings to them in a respectful way. You shouldn’t make any rash decisions until you’ve actually talked to your roomie about your concern.

2). Have you asked your RA? You’ve maybe already tried asking your roommate to stop dumping their coffee grounds in your wire-basket garbage can, but they keep doing it. It could be time to get some mediation going.

This could be as simple as asking your RA for advice on the situation, or possibly even asking them to help you facilitate a conversation or written agreement. Your RA (or another trusted upperclassman) is a great resource if you’re looking for a third party to help you sort things out.

3). Do you have a written roommate agreement? If you’re like me, the idea of “roommate contracts” sounded silly at first,

NEVER GET INVOLVED IN A LAND WAR IN ASIA... or your dorm. Perhaps your roommate practices their bugle at a time malapropos, Axe-bombs the room or hides rotten apples under the futon like easter eggs. Whether you’re affable or bellicose, the time has come to either reconcile, decamp or give your roommate the boot. PHOTO BY MADDI CAVE | STAFF WRITER

but they really are helpful in identifying boundaries with your roommate. Maybe the smell of tuna makes you gag and they eat a tuna salad for lunch everyday in your room.

Simply writing down and agreeing to the rule of, “No tuna in the dorm,” is an easy way to completely remove that tension.

Written agreements can also help prevent more complex issues. Maybe you never get alone time in your dorm because your roomie watches movies on their bed 24/7. You have a right to your space, and it isn’t unreasonable to request a written schedule of when each of you gets to have some alone time in the room. Having an established physical contract or schedule can go a long way

in stopping such conflicts from happening in the first place.

So…when is it time to give up conflict-resolution and request a move? The way I see it, there are three indicators that you’ve done all you can do to “make it work.” Firstly, if you’ve tried the above three things to resolve your issues and had no success, that means the two of you just aren’t too compatible. It is okay to kindly request a move.

Secondly, if your roommate makes you feel scared, threatened, harassed or uncomfortable, it is time for you to move. It is not normal for a roommate to make you feel anything more intense than “thoroughly irritated,” so do not hesitate to move if your feelings are anything more severe.

And lastly, it may be time to move if your roommate is blatantly disrespectful towards you, your space or your things.

If you have caught them badmouthing you to their friends about issues that they REFUSE to talk about with you, you don’t have to entertain that drama.

Also, it is not okay if they intentionally steal/damage your property—just because they like red Kool-Aid doesn’t mean it’s okay for them to continually use your wooden ottoman as a coaster and stain it.

No one said rooming with a random stranger would be easy, but as long as you stay patient, be respectful and stick up for yourself when necessary, I have no doubt your spring dorm can be a peaceful place to live!

“No Time To Die” movie review Finn Willett Contributing Writer phineas.willett@drake.edu

“No Time To Die” was first released in late September of this year, and has since surpassed $600,000,000 at the box office worldwide. It is the 25th installment of the James Bond film series, which began in 1962 with the release of “Dr. No,” starring Sean Connery as the first Bond. It is also the last to cast Daniel Craig in the role, a position he has held since Casino Royale in 2006.

Craig has spoken extensively about his feelings towards the role of Bond, and recently expressed his feelings that a female actor should not be cast in the role in future films because “there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman.” The franchise’s producer, Barbara Broccoli, has echoed a similar sentiment, stating she would rather write new, better characters for women rather than simply change Bond’s gender.

Despite these statements, there is evidence that the franchise is changing. “No Time To Die” differs significantly from earlier films in both style and taste.

Notably, the latest installment introduces Nomi (played by Lashana Lynch), a Black woman and M16 agent who takes over the 007 mantle while Bond is in retirement.

Aside from being the first Black woman cast in a leading role in the franchise’s history, Nomi is also one of the first women in the franchise whose sexuality is not utilized as a weapon.

She proves herself just as deadly as Bond in actual combat, often fighting alongside him and holding her own without ever using her femininity to disarm or interrogate anyone (except, to a degree, Bond in the beginning, though it is worth noting that she does not actually sleep with him; rather, she convinces him to head back alone to his house, where she promptly ambushes him and demands to know why he’s assisting the CIA instead of

MI6).

Although the film does portray some of the epic action and witty one-liners scenes the franchise is famous for, it also touches on more serious, somber themes. Rather than callously sleeping his way through a whole line of women, the Bond of this film is monogamous and romantic, expressing more than simply sexual desire towards Madeleine Swann (played by Léa Seydoux) and expressing true heartbreak when she appears to betray him.

Without giving too much away, the film’s heartbreaking ending reinforces the idea of a softer, more reflective Bond — one who did his job to save those he loved, rather than any sense of loyalty to his country.

Madeline Swann also embodies the new Bond era as one of the first truly dynamic love interests. She’s more than simply a throwaway character for Bond to sleep with; her childhood plays a significant role in the development of the plot. Her development isn’t limited to Bond’s presence, however. After Bond accuses her of an attempt on his life and breaks off their relationship, she pursues a career in criminal psychiatry and single-handedly raises her daughter, Mathilde.

The portrayal of the villain, Lyutsifer Safin, by Rami Malek further signals a departure from the franchise’s earlier standards. Unlike previous, more ridiculous baddies (like Hugo Drax in Moonraker, who attempted to build a utopian society in space, or Ernst Blofeld’s plot to create an orbiting super laser out of diamonds in Diamonds Are Forever) Safin is serious and slightly terrifying; he is cold, cunning and matches Bond wit for wit.

Malek’s insistence that the Middle Eastern character not be a religious extremist brings increased depth to the villain and a breath of fresh air to a genre that has long used Islamic extremists as a catch-all for the motivations of villainous Muslims.

Of course, these are the

THE NAME’S NOT CRAIG, or Daniel Craig... anymore. The final installment of the Craig saga ends with a blow to the gut--- literally and figuratively. With the debonair actor retiring the Bond jersey, the question becomes: who will fill his shoes? PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

most obvious signs of change.

There are subtler ones; the confirmation of the new Q (played by Ben Whishaw) as queer and the continued casting of Naomie Harris as a Black Moneypenny, just to

name a few. Though the Daniel Craig era has come to an end, “No Time To Die” has created a template for a new James Bond that will likely appeal to new and younger fans.

As the franchise continues in the coming years — with a new Bond at the helm — it will be interesting to see the increasing evolution of such an iconic character.

08 | Commentary

Commentary

Nov. 17, 2021

12 browbeaten jurors: are politics the foreman?

Caleb Lillquist Staff Writer caleb.lillquist@drake.edu

Defense Attorneys John Adams and John Quincy Adams stood before the courtroom packed not with judges and jury members, but of the hundreds of angry townspeople in the Queen Street Courtroom in Boston, Province of Massachusetts Bay. In the most highly politicized trial and arguably the most essential case in American history up to that date, Adams and Quincy stood alone defending a British officer and British soldiers accused of the murder of multiple protestors.

Despite death threats, the firebombing of John Adams’ law office and social persecution for taking the case, both men rose in defense of the social outcasts seen as symbols of British tyranny oppressing the newly founded colonies.

Standing for opening statements on behalf of the soldiers, John Quincy Adams would utter an opening statement to the jury that would resonate throughout American history.

“About some five or six years ago..measures were alternately taken in Great Britain that awakened jealousy, resentment, fortitude, and vigilance... that our dearest rights were invaded...These are concerns... we must keep far away from us when in a court of law. It poisons Justice when politics tinctures its current. You are not sitting here as statesmen or politicians. You have nothing to do with the injuries your country has sustained.”

Historian and author of “John Adams Under Fire,” Dan Abrams, notes how Adams would later write in his legal notes how “Representative government and trial by jury are the heart and lungs of liberty.

Without them, we have no other fortification against being ridden like horses, fleeced like

sheep, worked like cattle and fed and clothed like swine and hounds.”

Any preconceived notions adopted before trial were to be left at the courtroom doors, advocated Quincy and Adams.

Politics and biases against the accused, no matter what was printed and or said during that dire time before the Revolutionary war, could not be used to taint the eventual verdict of the biggest and polarizing trial of their lifetimes.

Fast forward now to over two hundred and fifty years later; has the American Justice system held up to that standard?

No. No it has not.

In State Of Minnesota v.

Derek Chauvin, despite the verdict, one can not deny the politics tainting the case even before a verdict was rendered.

Maxine Waters called individuals to action, saying that if Chauvin was not convicted, people should take to the streets to get “more confrontational,” even despite ongoing riots leaving cities across America burning.

Even President Joe Biden weighed in on the case before due process could be fully established when he announced to the world on Twitter he was “praying” for the “right verdict.”

This is not to mention how progressive prosecutors dropped arson charges of many summer “protestors” while Vice President Kamala Harris raised bail funds for them.

Fast forward a year later, where Americans find themselves again exposed to the divisive case of State Of Wisconsin v. Kyle Rittenhouse.

Republicans and Former President Donald Trump have rallied in Rittenhouse’s defense, using it as a political weapon, asserting the essentialness of “self-defense” with assault rifles. Additionally, without any evidence whatsoever, Biden propelled the narrative of how 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse

THE STATE IS ALWAYS RIGHT, YOUR HONOR... or so it seems. Have politics suborned witnesses and corrupted due process? One writer thinks so; running the gamut from 18th century defense of redcoats to 21st century red votes, not much has changed. And that poses an insidious threat to the once-inviolable legal system. PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

was a “white supremacist.”

Rittenhouse had raised $586,940 between August and January in 2020, where some donations have been from officials and others in power, reports The Guardian. The state of Iowa is no exception to the politicization of American courtrooms. In State of Iowa v.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera, again Republicans and then President Trump used the case to spew harsh criticism of immigrants and used it to prove the alleged “violence” that could ensue by allowing more immigrants in the states.

As American court cases become more and more like theater for social media outlets laced with political fuel to issue yet another talking point for yet another politician, when will such statements cross the line of justice for the accused?

Who’s to rule out the very real possibility of out-of-court statements from those of high authority influencing the jury in

a decision, especially when said juries are not sequestered from media attention?

The assertion of “Well, these are just high profile cases that will happen here and there, it is a given that politics will occur,” is utter hogwash that reveals pure ignorance to the rights of the accused.

Chief Chicago Public Defender Gerald W. Getty asserts in his book Public Defender, that, as long as one defendants’ rights are violated, then that case is to the detriment of all Americans who are accused. In other words, Americans are all doomed if mob rule and overzealous prosecutors use politics to render a specific verdict.

Former federal prosecutor and congressman Trey Gowdy brings to light the parasitic issue embedded in today’s society: In a time of social media and political hyperpartisanship, Americans are forced to make

decisions and opinions quickly for current events. How it is then that people can trust our judicial system to play out with this type of mentality of everyday Americans, let alone those who are willing to infiltrate the building blocks of our criminal justice system of due process by using positions of power to sway the populace when the due process hasn’t even occurred?

Referencing again to the Boston Massacre trial, historian Dan Abrams continues in his book asserting how, “If the legal system could be bent to achieve a desired political outcome, any liberty that came of it would be worthless.”

Republicans and progressives must end the partisanship of our courtrooms before the hyperpartisanship of political warfare bleeds any more into the precious belief of due process of all defendants in the criminal justice system.

We are the world: sustainability tips from DEAL Drake Environmental Action League Andrew Kennard, Mack Swenson andrew.kennard@drake.edu mack.swenson@drake.edu

Reducing your food waste at Drake: Food made up over 24 percent of the waste that Americans threw away to landfills in 2018, according to a report from the Environmental Protection Agency. Reducing food waste saves the resources and byproducts that are a part of producing food, including land, pollution and contributions to global warming. It also keeps food from emitting methane in landfills, which also contributes to climate change.

While there are many ways to do this—the EPA suggests planning your shopping around your meals for the week, freezing perishables that you may not

eat in time and donating or composting surplus food. Also, while many people may use the dates on product packaging to decide when it’s time to throw something away, this may not be the best guide. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, none of the “Best If Used By/Before,” “Sell-By,” “Use-By” and “Freeze-By” dates on packaging are safety dates, and none of them are required by law. The only exception is infant formula.

There are multiple composting options available at Drake that students can take advantage of. The food you leave on your plate in Hubbell Dining Hall is put in the group of orange GreenRU bins in the loading bay near Stalnaker Hall and later taken to an industrial composting facility. Additionally, Drake Environmental Action League has implemented a composting

THE TIMES-DELPHIC The student newspaper for Drake University since 1884 EMMA BRUSTKERN Editor-in-Chief emma.brustkern@drake.edu JEFF INMAN, Faculty Advisor jeffrey.inman@drake.edu

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

ANDREW KENNARD, News Editor andrew.kennard@drake.edu

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

CASSANDRA SCHOENE, Features Editor cassie.schoene@drake.edu

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

LIA REICHMANN, Sports Editor lia.reichmann@drake.edu COLIN FRIER, Commentary Editor colin.frier@drake.edu

CAT FARRELL, Media Manager cat.farrell@drake.edu ERIN DUNWALD, Copy Editor erin.dunwald@drake.edu

program in the residence halls.

Students can put excess food from their rooms into a bucket in their hall kitchen, and it will be taken to the community Sprout Garden on 30th Street every Friday. We can also use old containers to collect compost in our room before bringing it down to the hall kitchen for collection. If you’d like to get involved, we’re also looking for volunteers to help collect compost for about an hour to an hour and a half on Fridays.

Energy saving tips for living in a dorm: Even as a college student in a communal living space, you can help sustain a more healthy planet by reducing your energy consumption. Here are a few simple lifestyle habits for saving energy in your dorm.

The first tip is pretty simple, but it’s also easy to forget on a busy day. When it is rational to

do so, turn off the lights and air conditioner when leaving your room. Try leaving a sticky note on your door in order to kick start this habit if you frequently forget. Along this same vein, if you have additional lights in your room, use LED bulbs.

Unplug your devices when they are fully or nearly charged, as devices can draw electricity even when they’re not being actively used, a concept known as ‘vampire power.’

To the extent possible in a Midwestern state with a continental climate, you can also attempt to adjust and stabilize the temperature in your room by making efficient use of windows - and conversely, blinds - as an alternative to air conditioning. During nice days in the fall and spring, open your dorm window to allow in cool, fresh air, and during the summers, utilize blinds or curtains to hinder the room

from heating up. Even during the frigid winter months, using light from the window to warm your room can decrease your reliance on electricity-guzzling heating systems.

Besides in your room, there are other energy-saving measures you can take in the bathroom, laundry room and more. When you enter the dorm, take the stairs rather than the elevator, when possible.

Additionally, don’t leave water running and take shorter and colder showers, as the methods used to extract, clean, pump and heat water require a large amount of energy. Then after that short, cool shower (maybe), try letting your hair dry naturally rather than using a hair dryer.

Check out blog.studentcaffee. com for more information on these tips.

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

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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.

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