THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER FOR DRAKE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
THE TIMES-DELPHIC DES MOINES, IOWA • Thursday, September 17, 2009 • VOL. 128, NO. 3 • www.timesdelphic.com
WHAT’S
INSIDE
NUMBER CRUNCH
BURGER AWARD
FARMERS’ MARKET
SOCCER
HOW DOES DRAKE SPEND THE STUDENT ACTIVITIES FEE?
Law professor accepts award in front of the Supreme Court justices.
The Downtown Farmers’ Market is held on Saturdays on Court Ave.
Both the Drake men’s and women’s soccer teams split games this week.
PAGE 8 NEWS
PAGE 2 NEWS
PAGE 4 FEATURES
PAGE 6 & 7 SPORTS
RINGWORM
IS THERE
RINGWORM IN THE BELL CENTER? illustration by SARAH ANDREWS, Photo Editor
Students report ringworm cases to Health Center after going to the Bell Center by ERIN HOGAN News Editor tdnews@drake.edu
by JESSICA MATTES
Staff Writer jessica.mattes@drake.edu
Attention hypochondriacs: Ringworm is the new H1N1. Many students have reported to The Times-Delphic that after using the athletic mats in the Bell Center‘s multi-purpose room, they observed a ringshaped rash develop on their skin. Renee West* (P3) said she believes she got the fungus doing sit-ups on the mats. “I don’t want to accuse the Bell Center of anything I don’t know for sure,” West said. “But I figure it is the only place I could
have gotten it.” West said she exercises at the Bell Center about four times per week on the track, the elliptical and the mats. The Health Center reports that occurrences of ringworm happen each year and that they see it frequently, West said. Jana Peterson, wellness director at the Bell Center, said the facility has a strict cleaning protocol. “On top of the staff we have hired to clean equipment, there are cleaning supplies open to everyone in the fitness, free weight and multipurpose room,” Peterson said. “We keep a record of who cleans what and when.” The Bell Center was not aware of the incidents of Ringworm appearing on
ADAM LIPTAK
campus or of students’ concern of the hygiene of the facilities. “We are confused why a patron would not contact us first,” Peterson said. “I feel as though if Ringworm had been spreading from our community recreation center, it would be an outbreak and communication between users and directors would be important.” West said she did not want to contact the Bell Center because she could not be certain that it was the source of the fungus. “I understand there’s not a lot that can be done to prevent it besides the measures in place,” West said. “But I do think students should be aware and be sure to clean the equipment.” The student first noticed the ring-shaped
rash on Sept. 2. “The first thing I did was go to my textbook,” the Pharmacy student said. West said she suspected it was ringworm, but wanted a diagnosis. She went to the Health Center a week later, after seeing no improvement. A nurse practitioner at the Health Center confirmed it was ringworm. “They said it was textbook quality; she just looked at it and knew it was ringworm,” West said. The Bell Center patron said she got the fungus where she had a paper cut on her wrist, making her skin more susceptible to the fungus. West applies anti-fungal cream to the
SEE RINGWORM, PAGE 2
STUDENT SENATE
Sen. Fields appointed new community outreach liaison in light of resignation appointed diversity interest senator-atlarge. Fields ran for education senator and won the position. Olson said Valacheril did not want to Senator Jennifer Fields (E2) replaced leave his current position, so the vacant Senator Earl Lee (B3) as the community position was offered to Fields, who outreach liaison of the Student Senate. accepted. “Honestly, it will be hard to give up that Lee informed Student Body President Ben Olson (AS4) of his resignation two weeks position (as education senator),” Fields said. “But this is a really ago, and Fields was great opportunity. sworn in during Now, I get to serve the third meeting the whole school, of the academic not just the School year. of Education.” “I was definitely President Olson surprised by the said he anticipates a resignation,” Olson – JENNIFER FIELDS, community smooth transition. said. “Earl seemed “I know that very excited outreach liaison for student senate Earl has made when he got the plans to meet with position, and we’d Senator Fields, and communicated about his plans for community outreach she has already met with Vice President (Ben) Cooper and myself to discuss it,” over the summer.” Fields echoed Olson’s surprise when Olson said. Olson said that changing positions discussing her recent appointment. “I never thought this would happen,” within the Senate is rare. However, Robert Fields said. “It was the last thing I Johnson (J4) did step down from his senate position last year for personal reasons. expected.” Sarah Tucker (E4) will soon be appointed Fields finished in 12th place in the senator-at-large race last May, which fills to replace Fields as education senator. She 10 positions. Senator Seejo Valacheril finished second to Fields in the election last (B2) finished 11th. However, he was later May. by ERIN HOGAN News Editor tdnews@drake.edu
photo courtesy of MATT SHATTUCK
ADAM LIPTAK, the “New York Times” legal correspondent, delivered an hour-long presentation entitled, “The Roberts’ Court in the Obama Era,” Tuesday afternoon.
Liptak shares his inside view of the Supreme Court by KENSIE SMITH
Copy Editor mackensie.smith@drake.edu
Drake honored Constitution Day, Sept. 17, with a lecture by “New York Times” Supreme Court reporter Adam Liptak. His lecture was entitled, “The Roberts Court in the Obama Era: A Reporter’s Reflections.” The standing-room-only Cartwright lecture hall fell silent as Drake students, faculty and the public anticipated the words of Liptak. A distinguished journalist, Liptak has been the U.S. Supreme Court legal correspondent for “The New York Times” since 2002. He has an extensive educational background with both an undergrad and law degree from Yale. The introduction also cited Liptak’s work in publications of “The New Yorker,” “Rolling Stone” and “Vanity Fair.” “I think The Rolling Stone citation officially deems him cool,” Mark Kende, professor of law and director of the Constitutional Law Center, said in opening statements. The role of legal correspondent has led Liptak to report on issues including court nominations of judges Roberts and Alito, the CIA operant Valerie Plame scandal, the judicial system and ethical judgment.
This experience provided a basis for a strong talk about the political position of the current Supreme Court. Liptak opened by establishing a personal tone by revealing feelings of anxiety prior to taking the reporting position. In covering the Supreme Court, he outlined the challenge of having to write for two different groups – the legal specialists and educated readers who only follow it lightly. A main topic of the lecture was the recent shuffling of the court and the paradox of having a conservative-leaning panel conjoined with liberal Congress and president. He also spoke on the subjects of race and sex in accordance with the past and present judiciary changes. Reporting on recently appointed Sonya Sotomayor, the correspondent said that her moderate stance would not affect the balance of the court. Liptak stated that a shift could also occur if Justice John Paul Stevens, 89, were to retire. This would allow President Obama to appoint a second judge, like his democratic predecessor President Bill Clinton. The speaker offered some humor, exemplifying Justice Roberts’ use of Bob Dylan rock lyrics in court dissents, such as
“Now, I get to serve the whole school, not just the School of Education.”
photos courtesy of STUDENT SENATE
SEE LIPTAK, PAGE 2
SEN. JENNIFER FIELDS (left) replaced EARL LEE (right) as community outreach liaison.