NEWS
PAGE A7 | MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2011
THE TIMES-DELPHIC FROM MID-AMERICA PUBLIC SAFETY POLICE/FIRE
BEST OF SECURITY REPORTS HE DIDN’T START THE FIRE 5:55 p.m. Jan. 17 Security and the fire department responded to a vehicle fire in the 1200 block of 30th Street. The driver opened his hood and observed the fire. The driver stated he took three strong breaths and tried to blow out the fire to no avail. A security officer put the fire out with an extinguisher. 8:51 p.m. Aug. 13 Security and police responded to an area near Old Main based on a report of a domestic assault. A 37-year-old female who had just gotten out of the hospital said her boyfriend was throwing doughballs at her near 50th Street and Kingman Boulevard. She did not appear to have been running. A friend was called and arrived shortly after, stating she could stay at her house for the night. 12:40 p.m. Aug. 16 A male student reported a male of about 50 years of age with gray hair and a blue shirt, riding a gray mountain bicycle in the 1200 block of 30th Street. The man on the bike became upset as to how he perceived the male student was driving his motor vehicle. He flipped off the student and started screaming about how he was going to kick his rear end and how there was going to be a fire. The cyclist then fled northbound. 7:29 p.m. Sept. 7 Security responded to the Bell Center based on report of an injured person. It was determined a male student was struck in the face by a racket ball. He called his mother to see if he needed to go to a hospital. 7:57 p.m. Sept. 17 Security was made aware of several students stealing food and having a food fight in Hubbell South around closing time.
9:44 p.m. Oct 2 Security responded to Jewett Residence Hall based on a report of a burning odor. It was determined a male student had burnt his macaroni. 7:40 p.m. Oct. 19 Security responded to 1245 34th St. based on report of a small nocturnal marsupial in the kitchen. When the officer arrived he found three females defending themselves from the mammal with dense fur, long snout, and hairless tail, using kitchen armaments including a broom. The creature later identified as an opossum was eating from a bag of apples and seemed very content but was not in the mood to be disturbed. The security officer was able to trap Mr. Opossum and called for animal control who released him in the neighbor’s backyard. Cheers could be heard from the damsels in distress. 2:33 a.m. Oct. 14 Security responded to GoodwinKirk Residence Hall based on report of an intoxicated female who was singing. After several attempts to get the female to answer her door with no results, the room was entered and the female student was lying on her back singing away. She advised she had enough to drink to cause her to sing. She promised not to sing anymore or bother her neighbors. 1:58 a.m. Nov. 14 Security responded to Ross
Residence Hall based on report of loud noise of a fight. It was determined an underage-fordrinking male student and a female student were having an argument because the female spoke to other guys while they were at a bar located in the 3000 block of Forest Avenue where they had entered with a fake driver’s license. The male stated he had given the fake driver’s license away and didn’t have it anymore. They stated they would be quiet for the remainder of the evening. 11:09 p.m. Nov. 18 Security responded to Carpenter Residence Hall based on a report of a strange smell. A residence hall room was entered with five males occupying the room. A quantity of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a throwing star, a knife, a box cutter, several lighters, two 1/4 inch plastic hosing and three bottles of liquor were found. Police were called and all items were confiscated. Residence hall staff was present. 8:48 a.m. Nov. 20 A security officer observed a vehicle in a Drake parking lot located in the 1300 block of 31st Street that seemed suspicious in nature as the windows were fogged over and the vehicle appeared to be moving, but not out of its location. It was determined a female and male were participating in sexual behavior and both were willing parties. They were asked to take their desires elsewhere. 12:44 p.m. Dec. 2 A female student reported one check was stolen from her unlocked room at 1325 31st St. on Nov. 5 while she was moving out. The check was cashed for $375. A male suspect in the case has been identified. 4:44 p.m. Feb. 12 A male adult was advised on trespass when he was observed drinking alcohol from a paper sack in a Drake parking lot located in the 2800 block of University Avenue. The male had no justifiable reason for being on the campus.
IT’S OK, MY SISTER LIVES IN THE FINE ARTS CENTER
2:06 a.m. Feb. 26
A security officer observed a male and female walking near the Harmon Fine Arts Center and the male was trying to open doors. When stopped, the male stated it was OK because the female’s sister lived there. It was determined that both were not students but the female was the sister of a student who lives in Jewett Residence Hall. Both stated they had been to a bar in the 2300 block of University Avenue and that no one asked them for ID to enter. The female was hooked up with her sister at Jewett and the male called a friend who was not intoxicated to give him a ride.
‘Did I really owe $20?’ FROM CRISIS, PAGE A1 Newspapers and journalists are going to make it out to be more dramatic than it actually is. I think they’re polar opposites in a way, and in the middle are the students.”
Two pieces of news like this over a threeweek period can be somewhat unsettling. —President David Maxwell Associate Professor of History Matthew Esposito, however, questioned the transparency of the administration’s dealings in the incidents. Speaking at the Faculty Senate meeting, Esposito called the email notifications “somewhat brash and impetuous.” Senior Victor Cedeño said he is curious about the events happening in such close proximity, but that he is not concerned about the uni-
versity hiding any information. “It’d be nice to know more, I suppose,” Cedeño said. “But other than that, I’m going about my life.” Despite the fact that students were never notified by email of Renner’s resignation, Laurent said she didn’t think students were expressing any anti-administration sentiments. “In all honesty, I don’t think students are engaged that much to really care about it,” she said. “I think they’ll be more affected when we start to get a new one (provost).” Cedeño said students were surprised to learn about the misappropriated funds, but it hasn’t affected daily life or overall campus morale. “Everybody expressed shock,” he said. “But I think everybody also expects that now and then, someone’s going to screw up.” Meredith Gallivan, 2010 Drake alumna and Des Moines resident, is a communications project manager at Marsh and McLennan Companies, Inc. She saw the news about Harlan on Facebook. Gallivan said she was familiar with the billing statement emails from Harlan. “My first thought was, this guy was emailing me every semester saying I still owed $20,” she said. “I just wonder now, did I really owe $20?”
‘Strong sense of betrayal’ POLK COUNTY JAIL
ROBERT ALEX HARLAN has been charged with five counts of first-degree theft. He turned himself in Thursday morning.
FROM HARLAN, PAGE A1 acted alone. On April 20, Maxwell spoke at the university’s Faculty Senate meeting. “Charges have been brought, and a criminal case is under way,” he said. Scott said he didn’t think Drake was in crisis. “I’m confident that Drake will work hard to make sure it (embezzlement) will not happen again,” Scott said.
7:41 p.m. Feb. 24 Security responded to Goodwin-Kirk Residence Hall based on report of a solicitor. The magazine salesman was not located but it was determined he made a sale of $45 to a female student and then played her a nice song on his ukulele. 2:16 p.m. Feb. 24 Security responded to Jewett Residence Hall based on report of an unconscious female locked in a women’s restroom. An underage for
2:34 a.m. March 11 A security officer found an underagefor-drinking female student and a male student in Olmsted Center. They were making out and in the process of removing clothing. Both had been drinking and the male stated it was at a bar located in the 2300 block of University Avenue. They were seen outside of the building. The dean of students was advised. 1:43 a.m. April 2 A male was observed on CCTV removing his shirt in the 2900 block
DADDY’S LITTLE BOY 1:58 a.m. April 9 A 21-year-old male student was found in what appeared to be an intoxicated state. He was stumbling and unable to walk straight. He had slurred speech and stated he had no one to call to come and pick him up. He let the officers know on several occasions that his father was a judge and his uncle was in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Police were called and the student was given the alternative of calling a cab or getting a free trip to jail, and he chose the cab. The dean of students was advised. drinking female student was found fully clothed and slumped over on the porcelain throne. She admitted to drinking alcohol and evidence of the beverage was found on the floor. Her equilibrium was not at its best and she had to be helped out of the restroom. Fire/rescue was called and she signed a refusal wavier. She was seen to her room where she was going to spend the night and she would be looked after by another student. Residence Hall staff was present. 3:11 a.m. March 9 A security officer observed a male pulling on doors to Aliber Hall. The male student stated he was merely walking around and trying to clear his head of decisions he had to make and wanting to make peace. The matter was coordinated with the assistant dean of student affairs in the College of Business and Public Administration. 2:30 p.m. March 9 A female student reported she received an attempted fraud letter on her Facebook concerning a friend who was a victim of a crime. Money was asked for to help the friend out. The student was a little wiser than the sender of message and checked with her friend, who was OK.
of University Avenue and displaying his physique to anyone passing by. He appeared to be having difficulty walking. He approached a fire hydrant, appeared to embrace it and began licking it. He then walked behind an evergreen tree and appeared to be unfastening his trousers. He was stopped and questioned about his curious behavior. The 22-yearold male student didn’t seem to have a reason and denied urinating behind the tree. He did state that he commonly experiences a glitch that causes his zipper to lower itself out of the blue. He could not give a reason for his affection toward the fire hydrant. He was escorted off campus. 5:50 a.m. April 9 A security officer found a male lying face down in the mud on the west side of Medbury Hall. The student was awakened and stated he was merely chilling and waiting for the officers so they all could party. The underage male student stated he had called security earlier to party, but they would not answer the phone. The student could not provide much information and said that he knew no one to call. Police were called and a fake driver’s license was confiscated from the student. He was then arrested for public intoxication and taken to jail.
‘We need students to step up, bring their A game’ FROM TASK FORCE, PAGE A1 year students with a lot of information about wellness,” Bakari said. He said he anticipates the magazine will be available to all students next fall. The Task Force also had first-years take an online course called AlcoholEdu, which included tutorials and quizzes designed to educate students about the dangers of drinking. First-year Taryn Triveline said she thought the programming was a waste of time. She kept the videos open and running, then came back later. She said she doesn’t think the course will change anyone’s mind about drinking. “I think it’s normal for any college experience,” Triveline said. “I don’t think any test or videos are going to change it. It’s just a part of college, and trying to pretend it isn’t is kind of naive.” Among other changes, fines will be doubled if students are caught drinking underage. “When examining peer institutions, we found that Drake’s fines were substantially lower, and an increase in fines would also increase funding for alcohol-alternative and alcohol education events,” said Lorissa Lieurance, director of residence life. Recommendations for Drake included partnering with and increasing involvement with the Des Moines community, special programming for first-year students, changes in the alcohol and student conduct policies, adjustments in the campus environment, alcohol-free events, academic integration, promotion of these modifications, assessing the impact and reaching out to resources such as Student Health 101. “If we just did half of this stuff, I think it
could be quite an impact,” Bakari said. In planning the changes, the committee met with students, used existing research and practices pertaining to student drinking and surveyed Drake students using an online American Collegiate Health Assessment. The committee will continue next year. Thiedeman says the changes will be made over the next two or three years. She said she wants the
If the law’s not going to stop them, why would the dean telling you what to do make a difference? —Taryn Triveline students’ input on what they missed or didn’t address in the report. “We need to have good partnerships where students take ownership,” Bakari said. “We need students to step up, bring their A game and say, ‘We’re going to be accountable and responsible, to the point where we’re not going to drink and put our health at risk and academic career at risk and academic experience at risk.’” It’s up to the students to change the drinking culture, Bakari said. While he and the Task Force remain optimistic, it’s clear that there’s still a lot to be done. “I think people are going to do what they want to do,” first-year Triveline said. “If the law’s not going to stop them, why would the dean telling you what to do make a difference?”