Times-Delphic

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER FOR DRAKE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

THE TIMES-DELPHIC DES MOINES, IOWA • Monday, September 28, 2009 • VOL. 128, NO. 6 • www.timesdelphic.com

WHAT’S

INSIDE

QUIDDITCH CLUB

STUDENT SENATE

LITERACY

NEW MASSEUSE

VOLLEYBALL

BROOMSTICKS, SEEKERS AND A SNITCH.

Drake University Adult Literacy Center trains new volunteers.

The Bell Center now offers massages to students for reasonable prices.

Drake volleyball beat Illinois State for the first time in 26 matches.

PAGE 4 FEATURES

PAGE 2 NEWS

PAGE 5 FEATURES

PAGE 7 SPORTS

RECYCLING

CPBA to integrate writing in more courses

DRAKE’S GREEN INITIATIVE:

Single-stream recycling The Drake Environmental Action League, Drake Administration and Facilities worked together on the new recycling program

by ERIKA SEVIGNY

Staff Writer erika.sevigny@drake.edu

Drake business courses may demand more writing from students in the future, as more writing-based coursework is integrated into the curriculum.

College of Business and Public Administration (CPBA) faculty has collaborated with the English department to brainstorm ways to incorporate more writing into the classes, CPBA Senator Shaochen Yu (B3) said at Thursday night’s Student Senate meeting.

Yu said the CPBA also plans to decrease the number of adjunct professors teaching within the college.

Approximately 25 percent of courses offered within the CPBA are taught by adjuncts.

Due to consistent growth in the college, the CPBA administration hopes to add three full-time faculty positions in the near future to compensate for the growth.

One-time funding was approved for the Chinese Student Association’s (CSA) Mid-Autumn Carnival, which will take place during the upcoming Parents’ Weekend. The event will coincide with a traditional Chinese festival and is open to all students.

CSA was allocated $268.60 from the one-time funding pool by a unanimous vote.

“This is a great event,” Treasurer Kyle Lewandowski (B4) said. “A conservative amount was requested and this is a great way for us to start off our one-time funding initiatives for the year.”

Discussion on the use of the campuswide FacStaffStu e-mail server continued this week. The issue was first brought up by Vice President Ben Cooper (AS3) two weeks ago, continued this week. In the past, efforts have been made to ensure that the e-mail account is used only in special situations, such as student safety. This year the server has been used for three

by JACKIE WALLENTIN

Staff Writer jaclyn.wallentin@drake.edu

After a year of collaboration, Drake Environmental Action League (DEAL), the Drake administration and facilities are ready to unveil a new component to campus recycling on Oct. 1.

Single-stream recycling means recycled commodities can be processed together, rather than separately. Hall Executive Councils will no longer need to sort recyclables when they collect them each week.

“DEAL is extremely excited about singlestream recycling,” DEAL Earth Week coordinator Robb Krehbiel (AS3) said. “For at least the past four years, DEAL members have made improving Drake’s recycling a priority.”

Drake is the first commercial account

with Greenstar Recycling in the Des Moines metro area.

Director of Facilities Mark Chambers said that Drake received a grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to help fund the new program. Matching funds from the university provided the rest of the necessary funds.

The single streaming begins with the students. Students should throw recyclables into their blue bins and place them outside their doors for pickup each week. The collectors place the materials into blue dumpsters marked with the university’s “Blue is Green” logo, located outside each hall.

“The contracted recycling company (Greenstar) comes and picks up all of the dumpsters and transports the recycled materials to a processing plant where it is thrown into a giant sorting machine,” DEAL member Matt Jurysta (AS2) said. “The

machine will separate all the materials into their rightful category.”

The material is then sold to private corporations to be reprocessed into new materials. These products are sold back to Drake, which allows the single-stream process to begin again.

“With this new change, not only will recycling be spread more widely throughout campus, but it will be easier for students to recycle,” Krehbiel said.

This week, each academic building and administrative office will receive a recycling container and a small trash receptacle, expanding the initiative beyond the residence halls.

“Each morning the custodial crew with be

SEE RECYCLING, PAGE 2

MATERIALS ACCEPTED UNDER NEW PROGRAM: • Aluminum food and beverage containers • Glass food and beverage containers – brown, clear or green • Tin cans • Plastic containers with screw tops only, without caps • Milk and water bottles • Detergent, shampoo bottles, etc.

• Narrow and screw top containers • Newsprint • Old corrugated cardboard • Magazines • Catalogs • Cereal boxes • Telephone books • Printer paper • Copier paper • Mail

SEE SENATE, PAGE 2

illustrations by SARAH ANDREWS |Photo Editor

HEALTH CARE FORUM

401(k)s or 4.0s: Which are Drake students thinking about?

by TIFFANY KRAUSE

Staff Writer tiffany.krause@drake.edu

photo by TIFFANY KRAUSE |Staff Photographer

CHRIS ATCHISON was one of three panelists who discussed health care issues. The event, hosted by IowaPolitics.com, was held in Levitt Hall.

Have you thought about retirement? How’s your stock portfolio? When are you planning to cash in your 401k?

At Thursday’s health forum, panelist Diane CrookhamJohnson said adults should start saving for retirement in their early 20s. Drake students and community members gathered in Levitt Hall to hear Johnson and three other panelists discuss health care issues.

The IowaPolitics.com forum covered several angles of the health care debate, ranging from retirement struggles to cost of coverage to partisan politics.

Johnson said students shouldn’t be too worried now, but should be mindful and prepare to plan for retirement when they begin

working.

“As soon as you get out into the work force in that first job, you need to start thinking about retirement savings, even if it’s just a little bit,” she said.

Johnson said the best retirement scenario is one that you have control of and are not dependent on the government.

That gives retirees more freedom with their health care policies.

She represents large employers on Iowa’s Health Care Coverage Commission.

Bryan Kosusnik (B1) agrees.

He was one of fewer than a dozen students in attendance. The 18-year-old is already thinking about his quality of living after retirement.

“You have to think down the road,” Kosusnik said.

The cost of health care was a major topic for the forum. Panelist Chris Atchison said people should

stop focusing on the price tag.

The former director of the Iowa Department of Public Health encouraged Iowans to focus more on the product and quality of health care.

The panelists were also asked about bipartisan support for the health care bill in the Iowa legislator and how it may affect upcoming elections.

Johnson said the Congress was getting little accomplished and that it was unlikely they would be able to agree on a proposal for Iowans.

“They couldn’t decide what they want to have for lunch,” Johnson said of legislators’ indecisiveness.

Panelist Charlie Bruner, director of the Iowa Child and

SEE FORUM, PAGE 2

NEWS

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

“

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 QUOTE OF THE DAY

PAGETWO Drake Literacy Center volunteers learn to tutor

“If you like Harry Potter, why wouldn’t you join?”

– Shivali Shah (PP1) said about Quidditch for Muggles. SEE PAGE 4

PAGE 2

”

Senate discusses campuswide e-mail FROM SENATE, PAGE 1

separate situations, including last week’s notification of the parking changes on 27th Street and the request for extras for the Janie Jones film.

“We are not against the existence of these e-mail groups, we’re more interested in determining how they are being used,” Lewandowski said.

A resolution will be written after university departments gather more information.

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Senator Ben Urick (P3) updated senators on the use of single-stream recycling in academic buildings. This technique is already in place in the residence halls and will be expanded to the academic buildings this week.

New recycling will streamline sorting FROM RECYCLING, PAGE 1

FILE PHOTO

VOLUNTEERS tutor students at the Drake University Adult Literacy Center, located in the School of Education building.

by ERIN HOGAN News Editor tdnews@drake.edu

“The Little Engine that could.” “I’m a Pig.” “Drat that Fat Cat.” Compared to a title like “Principles of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations,” these may sound like simple reads. But, for the students at the Drake University Adult Literacy Center, mastering the text of these books is a significant accomplishment.

Last Friday and Saturday, the center trained 15 new volunteer tutors. The volunteers reviewed the curriculum, learned the basics of lesson planning and discussed strategies for interacting with the learning disabled students. Tutors will be assigned to their students in the next few weeks based on scheduling availability.

The center uses a phonics book as the basis of its strict curriculum. Anne Murr, coordinator of the center, said the students practice with nonsense words to build the skills of associating letter combinations with specific sounds.

For example, the books are filled with words like: zag, zal and zam to teach the “za” sound. Beginning students start with only the phonics books. For more advanced readers, tutors also incorporate fiction stories with fewer patterns that are more unpredictable for the reader.

Murr characterizes it as “learning of a different kind” that can take five to 10 years.

The curriculum is extremely strict because the center aims to take the guesswork out of reading and focus on the 80 percent of English that follows grammar rules, Murr said.

Murr compared the learning procedure to teaching Jazz. “(The tutors) have to teach the chords, but they can also improvise,” she said.

Tutors are expected to follow the curriculum but can tailor the sessions to their student’s needs.

The center has about 70 active volunteers at a time, each assigned to a single student. If a volunteer leaves the center, the student is reassigned to another tutor. For the most part, though, students stick with their assigned volunteers for the duration of the program.

“They teach me as much as I teach them,” said Adele Mikesell, a substitute teacher in the Johnston school district, who volunteers at the center.

The center recruits volunteers through announcements on BlueView and the United Way. There are three training sessions of 15 people each year. The center, established in 1976, attracts young professionals, retirees, stay-at-home moms and students as volunteers.

Four Drake students attended this training session as new volunteers. Two students who volunteered last year will also continue with the program.

Nicholas Janning (AS4) said he didn’t know the program existed until he saw the BlueView announcement calling for volunteers.

“It seemed like a good opportunity to give back to Drake and the community,” Janning said.

The political science major said he hopes to gain a larger world view and to fulfill Drake’s mission statement by “becoming a responsible global citizen” through his tutoring experience.

“I’m just amazed that there are so many Americans that lack the skills that a lot of us take for granted, like literacy,” Janning said.

The center engages in extensive fundraising to teach those skills. Drake provides the location, but all other funds (for books and materials) are provided by grants and donations from the community.

“Fundraising is definitely our greatest challenge,” Murr said.

Murr, a Drake graduate, has worked at the center for 11 years.

When asked which personal stories resonated with her the most, Murr said she couldn’t choose.

“But, it is definitely touching to see grandmothers working so hard to read,” Murr said. “They don’t give up for their grandkids; they want to set a model for them about staying in school. It is an amazing level of determination.”

Murr said that she loves her job at the center. Her dedication seems clear in her voice.

“I get the satisfaction of seeing people learning, giving them hope, hearing their stories, seeing their tears,” Murr said. “What other job can you get hugs at?”

emptying both containers and delivering materials to the appropriate dumpsters,” Chambers said. “Drake garbage trucks make special separate trips to pick up the singlestream waste and deliver it to Greenstar.”

Efforts to make the initiative a reality materialized several months ago, and DEAL has been working ever since to continually improve the system.

Last year, each residence hall elected an environmental chair to its executive council that had direct responsibility for collecting recycling, establishing a permanent position.

In addition, new recycling sorting units were put into each hall to help combat overflow issues.

However, DEAL felt that the Drake campus was ready to take the next step toward a more efficient system, which grew into the idea of single-streaming. “(Last year) we proved that the students of Drake were more than willing and capable of recycling,” Jurysta said.

With the new system in effect, the number of materials that can be recycled has grown to over 17 items.

“The most obvious positive has to be, hands down, our expansion of recyclable materials,” Jurysta said. “Glass, tin, almost every plastic type of bottle and everything we recycled last year can now be thrown into any blue bin across campus. This will reduce waste, save money, benefit the environment and, overall, be a great way for students to make an impact and difference on their own, simply by recycling.”

DEAL was pleased with the proactive action by administration and facilities.

“We applaud the efforts of our individual members, facilities and the administration for taking bold steps to bring about this crucial change to our waste management policy,” Krehbiel said.

FUN FACT

In 2007, Drake recycled an average of 2.7 tons of paper, plastics and cans each month.

Experts weigh in on health care confusion at forum FROM FORUM, PAGE 1 Family Policy Center, disagreed, saying that many features within the health care bill had bipartisan support.

Atchison added that lawmakers must accomplish something during the term to please constituents, especially as they begin planning their re-election bids. Senators and representatives have spent months debating the health care issue. Atchison said the legislators would not go home with nothing to show for those months of deliberation.

Mary Earnhardt, policy director of Iowans for Tax Relief, was the fourth panelist at the forum.

While the panelists covered a range of health care topics, there is one issue Kosusnik said was not addressed.

“Nobody ever talks about the job situation when you talk about the entire health care system,” he said.

Kosusnik said he believes more people could afford health insurance if they had jobs. The relationship between the two issues is often largely ignored in the political realm.

photo by TIFFANY KRAUSE | Staff Photographer

Panelists CHRIS ATCHISON, CHARLES BRUMER and DIANE CROOKHAM-JOHNSON discussed the cost of health care and retirement at last Thursday’s forum, sponsored by Drake and IowaPolitics.com.

SEND YOUR STORY IDEAS TO TDNEWS@DRAKE.EDU

MEDIACOM will broadcast the forum on CHANNEL 22 throughout October. It will air: 11 a.m.- Oct. 4 2 p.m.- Oct. 5 3 p.m.- Oct. 7 11 a.m.- Oct. 11

FOR BREAKING DRAKE NEWS, CHECK OUT WWW.TWITTER.COM/TDBREAKINGNEWS

PAGE 3

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

OPINIONS&EDITORIALS

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

the

BUZZ

Bomb the first test? It’s OK. There’s always community college.

LET’S TALK GREEK

Feeling at home on Greek Street Greek life isn’t just about dues, dudes and booze

M

any people I talked with seemed put off, agitated and downright insulted by the non-Greek article “Feeling Foreign?” in last week’s issue of The TimesDelphic. I wasn’t one of those people.

And, oh, I’m Greek.

It was an opinion column, it didn’t need to be balanced and it wasn’t supposed to appeal to everyone. Parts of it were admittedly clever and, as a whole, it wasn’t badly written. There were passages that struck me as rather flippant and not thoroughly researched. For example, while it is expensive to be in a sorority, there are a lot, I repeat, a lot of girls who pay for it through scholarships and their own hard work, not just the “First Bank of Mom and Dad.” But again, it was an opinion.

And I’ll be honest, I agree: “It’s A-OK not be Greek.”

Maybe Greeks are just a little bit “clique-y.” But then, so are the athletes, the Campus Fellowship members, the DEAL activists and the international student groups. Face it, people hang out with their friends, whether they’re in a sorority or fraternity, or in a team or club.

So, why pay for your friends then, right? Isn’t that what everyone wonders?

As Tiffany Krause (J2) said, “Meeting new people, making connections, networking and building relationships are things one can acquire in any organization, not just through Greek life.” Again, no arguments here.

I’m working a campus job, sucking up to

my parents and applying In reality, though, I’m for every cent of financial not paying a dime for any aid I can get because, of that stuff. My money unlike Krause, I am goes toward a house to live willing to pay the price. in, food to eat, supplies for The girls in my house social events and national don’t all look, dress dues – the friendships you ANN SCHNOEBELEN or think exactly like form yourself. me. We have different “Without getting COLUMNIST majors, different family too Freudian and backgrounds, different psychoanalytical,” I’ve political ideologies and come to realize that different religions. However, we share connections formed and developed within common ambitions and core standards. my Greek chapter will be some of the most But couldn’t those things could be found lasting and significant relationships I’ll ever in a professional fraternity too, or heck, have. I’ve met friends, some of my best maybe even in a book club? friends, in a variety of ways since arriving

…The knowledge that there are thousands more women out there who have promised to uphold the same values as I have is something of which I want to be a part.

The traditions and history based on unique principles, the chances to interact and live with women who have taken an oath to support and encourage me, the volunteering, social, academic and professional opportunities and the knowledge that there are thousands more women out there who have promised to uphold the same values as I have is something of which I want to be a part.

at Drake, not just through my involvement in Greek life.

But 50 years from now, being the president of the Literary Society or a Triathlon Club buff won’t hold the same meaning it does now. When I’m sitting in a nursing home, playing bingo and cleaning my hearing aids, I’ll still be a member of my sorority.

I’ll still be invited to events, contacted by other alums and current members and

kept up to date on happenings at the local chapter. I hate it when people say stuff like this, but it really is a concept you can’t quite understand until you’re in it.

I would strongly encourage people to go through Recruitment (not “Rush,” just like “residence halls” are not “dorms” and “first-years” are not “freshmen” … raise your hand if you’re sick of having to be politically correct). It’s a great way to meet people and get some free snacks. It’s also one of the best ways to see Greek life at Drake firsthand, and maybe dispel a few stereotypes about those like, totally uberrich and snobby drunks. As long as I’m respecting your choice not to join me in sporting that trendy ancient alphabet, you may as well recognize my right to enjoy the fact that I do.

So cut Tiffany some slack; she wrote how she felt. And you know what? Not being Greek is “A-OK” with me, too. I just know that I wouldn’t give it up for anything.

Schnoebelen is a sophomore news/internet journalism major with a politics minor and can be contacted at ann.schnoebelen@drake.edu.

WRITER OF THE MONTH The Times-Delphic would like to acknowledge Matt Moran (B2) for his excellence in sports reporting.

SENIOR YEAR

An uncertain departure from Drake As graduation looms in the future, a senior reflects on his times here

H

ave you ever said goodbye to someone and, as they are walking away, you start to miss them? You do not really miss them; they are still there. You could easily run after them, hug them, kiss them and say goodbye all over again. You are not separated, but you already feel like they are gone forever. This feeling is slowly taking over my life.

Do not get me wrong; I’m not an emotional person, and the purpose of this column is not a personal catharsis session for me. I am a senior, and in approximately eight months, I have to leave Drake. This is what I am going to be writing about this year – leaving Drake.

I could sabotage myself, fail my capstone, ignore my degree audit and take

was when I would be a jambalaya. My concern is senior. Now that I am a having to decide my own senior, all I want is to live goals and find a purpose in the dorms again and for myself. When you are eat a taco salad wrap. a student, your goals are Forgive the cliché, but pretty obvious. You want time does fly when you’re to get a degree. You might ALEX RAJEWSKI having fun. want to get an internship The other strange or a job along the way, too, COLUMNIST thing about this feeling is but your goals do not vary that I never expected to that much from the person have it. At several points sitting next to you in class. in my time at Drake, I have been less than And if you are like me, it was a foregone enthusiastic about being here. Like all of conclusion that you were going to college. you, I have cursed Drake for everything Your parents probably did not give you an from turning into a lake during rainstorms, option other than where to go. Before high to being too small, to making me live with school, we had even less control; we could a roommate for two years. This list goes on, not even say when we got to leave the house. but the point is that I have been looking For as far back as I can remember, my path has been set, but in eight short months I will have a degree in one hand and a lot of bewildering opportunities in the other.

Now that I am faced with the realization and responisbilities of I have spent my formative years at being an adult, I do not like it. My worries are not responsibilities Drake, and it is hard to walk away from that. Every time I walk by Medbury, a rush like doing my laundry or cooking for myself … My concern is of memories comes at me. I think of being having to decide my own goals and find a purpose for myself. fake-sacrificed by my PMAC-lings during Welcome Weekend two years ago and the time Wanda Everage told two semesters of basket weaving instead of forward to not being a student or a kid for my FYS that society is not statistics, but at some point I have to go get a long time. something we react to; it a life outside of Drake. This actually makes Now that I am faced with the realization is something we create. I me sad. and responsibilities of being an adult, I do have memories like this for I remember getting here four years ago, not like it. My worries are not responsibilities almost every building on and all I could think about was when I like doing my laundry or cooking for campus. I have done more would not have to live in the dorms. Once myself; I have been doing my own laundry than just get four years I lived off campus, all I could think about since I was nine and I make an excellent older while I was at Drake.

I have matured. Saying that leaves a bad taste in my mouth because I would like to think that I am the same person that came here in the fall 2006, but I am not, and that is one thing for which I am glad.

I should be excited to have this many opportunities and possibilities, and I am.

Corny quotes about the world being my oyster and to whom much is given, much is expected roll through my head, but as they roll through, they only dully resonate.

In truth, I could not be happier to be able to do what I want, when I want. I am really going to enjoy whatever it is that I do next.

The inevitability of graduating helps, too. I know that this can not last forever, and even if it could, I really would not want it to. I am excited to delve into a new part of my life and see what happens.

But remembering what Wanda said, I am afraid to create society. I am not ashamed to admit that. What if I mess it up?

Rajewski is a senior biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major and can be contacted at alex.rajewki@drake.edu.

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FEATURES

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FEATURES

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009

PAGE 4

Career development program, “Majorly Undecided” in Monday, September 28, in Olmsted 310 from 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

DON’T. MISS. THIS.

STUDENT ORGANIZATION HIGHLIGHT| DRAKE UNIVERSITY QUIDDITCH ASSOCIATION

Helmick Commons or Hogwarts Castle?­ Ivy League activity is sweeping across Drake’s campus

by KENSIE SMITH

Staff Writer mackensie.smith@drake.edu

A hundred points for Drake! Gather your broomsticks and get ready for the newest organization flying into campus, Quidditch for Muggles. The sport of Quidditch is no longer bound to the magical world of Harry Potter books, video games and movies. Muggles can now participate, but due to limitation in flight, with their own adaptation of the rules.

Quidditch co-founder Michaela Stephan (PP2) explained how the magical sport had been initiated.

“My friend, Robert Garon (J2) saw a news clip about other colleges that play Quidditch,” Stephan said. “We thought it sounded like fun and that Quidditch should come to Drake.”

New organizations are encouraged by the Drake administration as a reflection of campus diversity. According to the

Drake University Campus Life Web site, there are over 160 clubs and social student organizations with more than 20 intramural and club sports.

To start up a new club, a proposal is submitted to the Student Life Committee (SLC) of Student Senate. The committee

“If you like Harry Potter, why wouldn’t you join?”

– SHIVALI SHAH, Quidditch player

then analyzes the request at a weekly meeting and, if passed, is moved to the full Senate meetings to be voted on.

“I anticipate completing this process

photos courtesy of DRAKE UNIVERSITY QUIDDITCH ASSOCIATION

QUIDDITCH PLAYERS gather every Saturday at noon in Helmick Commons. The game is adapted from the popular Harry Potter series, and involves a lot of running and waving of brooms.

with many groups this year. I know we already have seven organizations in the process, so I’m excited for what the year will bring,” Samantha Haas (AS3), SLC Senator said.

Establishing a new organization of any kind is never easy. The Drake University Quidditch Association has only flown into a few roadblocks.

“Organizing games has been a bit of challenge in the past, but I am hopeful that the new organizational system will resolve that problem,” Stephan said.

Quidditch is the soccer and football of the popular Harry Potter world.

Unfortunately, flying would be a liability for the university and game rules are adapted to the physical limitations of Muggles. Instead of forwards, there are three chasers. It is their job to throw the quaffle – the scoring ball – into hula-hoops attached to chairs.

Protecting the hoops, the keeper serves as the goalie.

The more aggressive players don’t play typical defense, taking on the violent role of beaters. While there is no hitting or kicking allowed, the two defensive players try to throw smaller balls at the chasers. If a hit chaser is in possession of the quaffle, they must toss it vertically in the air.

Quidditch games are based on a point system and last until the snitch is caught.

Since there is no actual flying golden ball, the snitch is a yellow-dressed runner with a sock tucked into their pants. The one seeker, Harry Potter’s Quidditch position, has the job of capturing the snitch and end the game.

Organization of the sport, with team matchups and games, is like the intramural Ultimate Frisbee League. There isn’t much of a market for traditional Quidditch robes in the Des Moines area so players are asked to bring both a light and dark colored T-shirt. The seven-player teams are also asked to provide their own broomsticks.

Games are played on Saturdays at noon in Helmick Commons. Co-founder Stephan hopes to have a spring tournament with the championship game during the Drake Relays.

Quidditch has flown to campus toward a crowd of anticipation. A signup at the Activities Fair and word of mouth have spread interest around the student body.

“I joined because it’s played now in over 25 different schools and it’s played in all the Ivy Leagues,” said quidditch player Shivali Shah (PP1).

The sport’s organizers hope that the number of participants will grow with time as game publicity increases.

“If you like Harry Potter, why wouldn’t you join?” Shaw said.

Stephan explained why she is attracted to the non-traditional sport.

“It is a great way to forget the problems of the world and have some fun on a Saturday afternoon. It is also an excellent workout,” she said.

Next time you are the mood for a new sport, gather seven of your Muggle friends together and play some Quidditch.

ARTS. LIVING. MOVIES. MUSIC. WEEKEND.

REVIEW | PANDORUM

“Pandorum” fails to deliver scares or fun Quaid and Foster play amnesiac astronauts trapped and alone in space

by MATTHEW H. SMITH

Staff Writer matthew.h.smith@drake.edu

The 1979 film “Alien” brilliantly captured the horror of outer space. A creature lurks in the dark, slithering about, taking its victims one at a time. Viewers do not see the creature clearly, but they know it’s out there, somewhere, hidden in the shadows of a spaceship’s hull.

However, none of the eeriness or suspense that made “Alien” a science fiction classic can be found in the new film “Pandorum.” Although it boasts leading actors Dennis Quaid (“G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra”) and Ben Foster (“Alpha Dog”), nothing is original about novice director Christian Alvart’s contribution to the genre.

“Pandorum” is a recipe for disaster, a movie that steals and recycles some of the best and worst parts of science fiction cinema.

Everything about this movie is familiar, including the plot. Corporal Bower, played

by Foster, awakens from an eternity of hyper-sleep to discover he is stranded on a spacecraft. Along with Lieutenant Payton, Quaid’s character, the two astronauts find they have temporary amnesia from their extensive unconsciousness. They don’t remember who they are, how they ended up on the ship or even what their mission was to begin with. Eventually, they’re able to piece together the puzzle, but not before they realize they are not alone. Something is on board the ship with them.

While “Alien” kept audience members on the edge of their seats by delaying the reveal of the creature until the film’s final minutes, “Pandorum” never gives this satisfying luxury. Within the first half hour, the formidable creatures are revealed in whole. What’s worse, it’s nothing we haven’t seen before.

The monsters are a ridiculous combination of the vampire zombies of “I Am Legend” mixed with the ghoulish crawlers from “The Descent.” These beings are monotonous, boring and they do exactly what a person expects murderous aliens from outer space would do. They kill, feed and drop down from dark corners of the spacecraft at a moment’s notice to slaughter their victims.

One of the many flaws of “Pandorum” is that it tries to throw too much into one film. As the film sluggishly moves along, it quickly gets bogged down in the complex elements of its own plot. Our heroes start to gradually lose their minds. There is an awkward love interest between Bower and a female survivor. Oh, yeah, and the world is apparently coming to an end.

None of this is especially effective, not when it’s all from the same bag of tricks other movies have commonly used. In the long run, you’ll wish you’d stayed in hypersleep, because this is two hours of your life you can never get back.

photo courtesy of FILMOFILIA | filmofilia.com

BEN FOSTER AND DENNIS QUAID play Corporal Bower and Lieutenant Payton, who awaken from extended hyper-sleep only to discover hungry predators around every corner.

PAGE 5

FEATURES

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

photo illustration by SARAH ANDREWS | Photos Editor

New masseuse hired at the Bell Center

Kevin Peterson works with students to acheive wellness, balance in their lives

by KRISTA N. PETERSON Staff Writer krista.peterson@drake.edu

When Kevin Peterson (AS2) left high school, he dreamed of a major in broadcast and a future in radio.

Now, he’s the new massage therapist at the Bell Center and a student of alternative medicine – a far cry from his original plans.

“Massage really gave me a comprehensive outlet for knowledge of philosophy, medicine and the body I had gained to communicate with people on how to live up to their potential,” Peterson said.

Peterson earned a major in communications from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, and later attended Iowa Lakes Community College for a degree in massage therapy. He worked as a massage therapist in Milford before deciding this summer to return to school.

“I wanted to further my education and further my knowledge of more intricate body workings, (and gain) more knowledge on the cellular and molecular level,” Peterson said.

A sophomore transfer student, Peterson

is currently majoring in biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology at Drake.

Peterson also plans to continue his schooling, attending Des Moines University and to graduate with a degree in osteopathy.

During the application and transfer process to Drake this past summer, he discovered that the Bell Center was looking for a masseur. Jana Peterson, Assistant Director of the Wellness Center said that a masseur has always been on staff. Peterson applied and was given the job.

There is no denying that Kevin Peterson is committed to his craft. He said his goal with every client he sees is to alleviate any discomfort that the person may be feeling.

More importantly, he aims to increase the clients’ understanding about their pain and how it affects them. He cited a book that helps him understand this connectedness of the body: “Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists.”

The volume details a practice based on the concept that muscle and connective tissue make the body a single and codependent system, whereas much of modern medicine addresses issues as though the body “is assembled from pieces,” according the Web

site anatomytrains.com.

When taking on a new client, Kevin Peterson first conducts an intake assessment with his client.

“I like to sit down with people and really get to know the people that I work with,” Peterson said.

The intake process can take anywhere from five minutes to half an hour, depending on the specific issues or relevant medical history of the new client.

The massage portion of the session is tailored specifically for that client. His massage technique varies, he explains, “to each person’s personal need, whether it be stress-related or related to a physical injury.”

During this time, he also advises clients on what they can do to better their wellbeing.

“I try to give as much advice as I can on how to balance your imbalances,” Kevin Peterson said.

In other words, a physical problem in one part of the body can negatively affect another part of the body (for example, back problems can be caused by neck problems).

Because of this, Peterson addresses not only the physical pain, but also treats what may

be the origin of the pain.

Kevin Peterson said that he sees an overwhelming amount of stress-related injuries and issues in students. He said that a common problem for students is the tendency to hunch the shoulders. or what He calls this a “turtling action,” because of the resemblance of a turtle retreating into its shell. This can be due to stress, heavy backpacks or working on a computer for long periods of time. It not only creates obvious problems with posture and back pain but also restricts blood flow.

His advice to students?

“Take a breath and your shoulders come down. Open up your shoulders and neck.

It allows for better blood flow which really allows for more energy,” Kevin Peterson said.

Kevin Peterson’s services are available to all Bell Center members on Monday through Saturday. His pricing varies for the amount of time of the session. He also works events and gives discount pricing for Drake affiliates. People interested in a massage can contact Kevin Peterson at (515) 309-9873 or at kevin.peterson@ drake.edu.

Assistant professor and three alumnae perform Sing, dance in “Forbidden Broadway”

by HEATHER HALL

Staff Writer heather.hall@drake.edu

A Drake professor and three alumnae will take the stage by storm in the Stage West Theater Company’s presentation of “Forbidden Broadway.”

Assistant professor of theater Karla Kash is the director and choreographer of the production, which collects some of Broadway’s best moments from a variety of shows. The show has been described as the “Saturday Night Live” of Broadway.

Kash said Stage West’s production is comprised of “Greatest Hits,” including musical numbers from “Annie,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Wicked” and “Rent.”

“It uses the more well-known musicals, and makes fun of them,” Kash said.

The play has run off-broadway since 1982. It consists of four lead actors who take on the roles of many different characters ranging from the red-haired Annie to Elle Woods from “Legally Blonde.”

While the content of the production changes, the writer of each show does not.

Gerard Alessandrini, the show’s writer, creates new scripts every two years to include satires of contemporary shows.

Over the years, there have been over 9,000 performances of the show, 2,000 actors and approximately 11 different versions of “Forbidden Broadway.” The scripts string the pieces of shows together in unexpected and humorous ways.

Crazy songs, fabulous dance routines and incredibly fast costume changes are just a few of the effects that make “Forbidden Broadway” such an exciting experience.

Recent graduates from Drake also have essential roles in the production. Kylie Fattor (G‘09), a 2009 theater graduate, is the stage manager for the show. Graduate Dana Gustafson (G’09) acts as the Stage West assistant director and production manager. Liz Ward (G’09), a 2009 musical theater graduate of Drake, portrays a variety of roles as a cast member.

The production runs every Wednesday through Sunday at the Civic Center until Oct. 4.

CC

CAMPUSCALENDAR

TODAY

TUESDAY

CAREER DEVELOPMENT – Majorly Undecided

LECTURE – Globalization and religion

WHAT: Find out what major is right for you. Explore the idea of shadowing a job professional.

WHAT: World religion and globalization expert Peter Beyer speaks.

WHERE: Olmsted 310

WHERE: Bulldog Theater

WHEN: 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

WHEN: 7p.m.

photo courtesy of KARLA KASH

CRAIG PETERSEN, AMY BRUGMAIER, ERIC SHEPARD star in the hit show, “Forbidden Broadway,” currently playing at the Civics Center in Des Moines.

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SPORTS

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SPORTS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009

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5

PAGE 6

STELLAR STATS The team-high number of goals scored on the season by forward Garrett Webb (B4).

MEN’S SOCCER

Encouragement comes from Friday’s draw Short-sided Drake comes up with clutch goal to tie No. 17-ranked Northwestern as time winds down

by MARY BESS BOLLING Copy Editor mary.bolling@drake.edu

The Bulldogs returned to action Friday, adding their first tie to this season’s record with a 2-2 double-overtime draw against No. 17 Northwestern. The tie brought the team’s season record to 4-3-1.

Playing a man down for more than a half an hour due to a red card, Drake managed to come back from a 2-1 deficit to send the game into overtime.

Drake forward Garrett Webb’s (B4) goal in the 86th minute was the highlight for the Bulldogs. “We worked together and stayed focused to come out with a tie, even though the odds were against us,� defender Brian Wurst (B4) said.

Wurst said the momentum shifted back and forth throughout the match. “Both teams have a solid offensive talent,� Wurst said. “It was an exciting game to be a part of.�

Not only did the teams share possession of the ball, they shared physicality on the field as well. The game ended with 38 fouls combined from both teams.

Drake led the Wildcats coming into the second half after a goal scored by midfielder Matt Kuhn (B3) off of a Webb assist.

The lead did not last long as the Wildcats tied the score at one goal apiece within the first 15 seconds of the start of the second half. “They came out ready to play and we just let them slip by,� Wurst said.

Wurst said the team said that those mistakes can’t happen in the Missouri

Valley Conference Tournament in order to advance further than in past years. “We need to be more consistent throughout the entire game,� Wurst said. “We can’t keep letting down.�

After the equalizing goal, the physical game climaxed when Edwards was charged with his red card in the 78th minute. Less than 10 minutes later, Northwestern capitalized on Drake’s lack of manpower by taking the lead in the 85th minute.

Head Coach Sean Homes expects a dominant performance out of the Bulldogs when the team manages to find a cohesive balance. “There hasn’t been a game yet when all of the guys have brought their ‘A’ games,�

Holmes said. “When that happens, it’ll be brutal, just like the game against Oral Roberts.�

The team found a taste balance after Webb scored the equalizer goal a mere two minutes after the Wildcats scored.

Tactically, Holmes said the team will focus on reducing defensive lapses and capitalizing on scoring opportunities in the coming games to avoid losing the lead again in a match. “I came away from this game with mixed emotions,� Holmes said. “I was both happy and disappointed at the same time.�

Defender Calvin Clark (B4) nearly won the game for the Bulldogs with a tough shot in the second overtime. “We played well in the first half,�

Holmes said. “I was proud that we held on and battled because, being down a man, we could have let it go.�

The team’s senior leadership has had to

SPIKE’S ARMY

BARRACKS

photo by JEFF GLAZE | Photo Editor

DEFENDER NICK FOSTER (B3) takes control of the ball in the Bulldogs’ 2-0 win over DePaul on Sept. 1 at the Cownie Soccer Complex.

deal with the pressures and expectations of a preseason national ranking, two players on the Hermann Trophy Watch List and the surprising victory over No. 7 Indiana early in the season. “Last year, these guys led the team,�

Holmes said. “But there was never really pressure – we were almost invincible. This season, we’ve got targets on our backs.�

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Fall Invitational kicks season off

The Drake women’s soccer team will play host to instate rival University of Iowa this Wednesday in a huge matchup for the Bulldogs.

Drake has not lost in its last four games heading into the match and has winning three out of its last four games. It is important to go out there and show some support for your Bulldogs as they try to pull off a victory over the Hawkeyes. A win in this game would be a huge confidence booster heading into Missouri Valley Coneference play and support in the stands could give the team that extra edge it needs.

Spike would appreciate it if you head out to Cownie Soccer Complex, this Wednesday night at 7 p.m., to show some Bulldog pride before you head to The Library for some late-night nachos.

U O Y Y U B

!

Y L IF ((

photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo Editor TM

((

DES MOINES ~ 2416 UNIVERSITY AVE. ~ 515.271.5566 DES MOINES ~ 3839 MERLE HAY RD. ~ 515.251.7827 WEST DES MOINES ~ 1551 VALLEY WEST DR. ~ 515.222.9119 WEST DES MOINES ~ 5465 MILLS CIVIC PKWY. ~ 515.440.6666 ANKENY ~ 1802 SE DELAWARE AVE. ~ 515.965.0987

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SEND YOUR STORY IDEAS TO TDSPORTS@DRAKE.EDU

JESSICA LABARTE (HS3) runs down a forehand baseline shot during the Drake Fall Invitational that took place this weekend at the Roger T. Knapp Tennis Center.

Young Bulldogs nearly unstoppable in dominating performance at home debut

by TAD UNRUH

Staff Writer tad.unruh@drake.edu

The Roger T. Knapp Tennis Center almost seems like an impregnable medieval fortress. Many have tried to overthrow the Drake womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tennis team that rules over it, but most return home in winless fashion. Last year in the Knapp, the team was almost unstoppable, compiling a 6-1 home record.

The Drake Fall Invitational Tournament kicked off this weekend for the bulldogsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; first chance to defend the Big Blue House.

The Bulldogs jumped into the first day and walked away unscathed with a 13-0 combined singles and doubles record. It was a solid start to a fulfilling weekend.

Despite the record, Head Coach Urska Juric felt the Bulldogs were anxious to get on the court and play. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just something about that first tennis match and first tournament; youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll always be a little nervous,â&#x20AC;? Juric said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But the key to getting where we want to be is playing more matches.â&#x20AC;?

Defending the home turf for the first tournament really gave the team a sense of pride and comfort regarding the rest of their season. The second day came with great expectation following a staggeringly

successful first day.

The team didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t disappoint the second day, adding two titles to their collective score. Earlynn Lauer (AS2) won the singles C-flight beating Ellie Nixon of Iowa State. The B-flight doubles was also kept in the Bulldog family with a strong showing from Ali Patterson (AS1) and Amanda Aragon (B2).

This was Pattersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first college tournament and she didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to disappoint. Patterson wanted to come out of the gates with guns blazing and did so throughout the first two days. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about confidence, just confidence in yourself and that your team is behind you,â&#x20AC;?

Patterson said.

The third day culminated with a second consecutive A-flight doubles win for Gabby Demos (B2). This is the second year in a row she has won it, last year with Aragon and this year with Slovenian exchange student Manca Krizman (AS1).

For the Bulldogs, there was no better way to kick off the season with a solid showing, defending the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home courts at the tennis center. Juric said she was satisfied with the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening tournament, and sees it as a solid foundation for the year ahead. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were solid for the first tournament, but we still have work to do,â&#x20AC;? Juric said.

FOR BREAKING DRAKE SPORTS NEWS, CHECK OUT WWW.TWITTER.COM/TDSPORTSNEWS

PAGE 7

SPORTS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

VOLLEYBALL

CROSS COUNTRY

Serving up a win

Solid showing at Griak Times keep improving for Drake CC

by DOMINIC JOHNSON

Staff Writer dominic.johnson@drake.edu

photo by CLARA BERGENE | Photographer

OUTSIDE HITTER EMILY MADDEN (J,AS4) hits a jump-serve during the Bulldogs’ home match against Bradley on Sept. 19.

Bulldogs break 26-game losing streak to Illinois State before dropping second MVC match against Indiana State in straight sets

by SONYA BRAUCHLE

Staff Writer sonya.brauchle@drake.edu

The Drake women’s volleyball team beat the Illinois State Redbirds Friday and brought home a huge conference victory.

The Redbirds came into the game with a 5-8 overall record and were winless in the Missouri Valley Conference (0-2). The Bulldogs came from behind to secure the 3-2 victory in five sets.

The Bulldogs, who hadn’t beaten the Redbirds in 13 years, were led by Chelsea Lauersdorf (J4) who had 35 assists and 10 digs.

Drake won the first set 25-23 after overcoming an early deficit. In the second set, Illinois State took an early lead and never looked back, winning the set 29-25 and following that by winning the third 25-23. In the fourth set, Drake came back strong, winning by a score of 25-20 and finishing the deciding set 15-12.

“It was a nice win against a team that has dominated us in the past,” Head Coach Phil McDaniel said in a Drake Athletics press release.

The Bulldogs played strong defense throughout the match to help the team capture the win. Libero Alana Wittenburg (HS3) recorded 26 digs while Lindsay Schryver (E4) and Emily Madden (AS4) had eight each. Madden said the win was a confidence-booster and said that she thought it made a statement placing the

team as a contender in the MVC. Blocking was a huge aspect of the game for the Bulldogs. Angela Bys (E3) had four blocks and 15 kills while Alisa DeBerg Roth (U3) had eight blocks and 11 kills. Michelle Reidy (B2) also racked up nine block assists and six kills.

“Our blockers were very well-disciplined at the net tonight,” McDaniel said in the press release. “When you are blocking well, you can really take momentum away from the other team and stop a run. The best part about the win was the way we lit up our blocks.”

However, the Bulldogs could not capitalize on their momentum from Friday night’s huge win, as they lost their game Saturday night in three straight sets to Indiana State (28-30, 21-25, 22-25).

“Overall, it was a disappointing night after such a great win last night,” McDaniel said in the press release. “They came out ready to play and we just didn’t match their intensity.”

On paper, the Bulldogs matched the Sycamores statistically, holding a slight advantage in kills, assists and blocks. Indiana State held the edge in hitting percentage and digs.

Roth, Bys and Emily Heffernan (AS2) led the team with seven kills apiece. Lauersdorf had another strong outing with 24 assists, six kills and seven digs to her credit.

Drake continues MVC play Oct. 2 against Missouri State at the Knapp Center.

Did you know .. .

mous for his role in fa n, ve Pi y m re Je Actor as ge” and films such a ur o nt “E s rie se O HB ed okin’ Aces, attend Old School and Sm s.

Drake in the 1980

The Drake Fund

For the second time in September, the Drake Cross Country teams trekked north to Minneapolis, Minn.

This Saturday, the Bulldogs competed in the Roy Griak Invitational at the Les Bolstad Golf Course on the University of Minnesota campus. For Drake runners, this isn’t the first time they have combated the Minnesotta course, as many posted solid times at the Oz Memorial Meet on Sept. 11.

Drake is ranked 15th in the Midwest Regional poll conducted by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The team entered the meet as one of the underdogs compared to strong teams like the Minnesotta and Michigan State.

Unfortunately for the rest of the field, the Bulldogs aren’t known as a team to shy away from strong competition, as proven by their dedication and endurance at the Drake Invitational and Oz Memorial Meet. Although two dominant Minnesota runners finished in first for men’s and women’s, both Drake squads fought hard as the Bulldogs had runners finish in the top 35.

Jeff Grassmeyer (E4) came in at 31st out of 167 runners with a time of 25:30 in the men’s eight-kilometer race.

Casey McDermott (AS3) finished 32nd out of 193 runners with a time of 22:50 in the women’s six-kilometer race. Both runners performed steadily in Drake’s previous meets and served as diligent anchors for the rest of the team at the meet. The men placed 15th as a team while the women finished the day in 14th place.

Although posting above-average times outrunning Northern Iowa, the only other Missouri Valley Conference squad at the meet, the teams believe that they underperformed at the Roy Griak Invite.

Sophomore runner Colin Hagan

(B2), who recorded the second fastest time on the Drake squad, said he is eager to use this meet as proof that Drake can compete with teams like Minnesota and Michigan State if they raise their physical and mental abilities to the next level.

“Griak showed us all where we are at, both physically and mentally,” Hagan said. “It’s up to us now to improve those positions.”

Head Coach Dan Hostager said he is looking at more than the times the runners are posting. His focus is on improvement as the season continues.

“We have definitely gotten a lot better,” Hostager said. “It may take a while for our times to show that, though.”

Hostager stressed that the increase in overall fitness on both the men’s and women’s teams has impressed him about the two teams.

He also noted that every runner needs to be mentally ready for every race as well. The key to this is experience in meets, something that Drake has pushed at the beginning of this season.

“Usually we don’t go to races this big at the beginning of the season,” Hostager said.

He said he is hoping that running more races now will give his squads confidence and experience as they enter the MVC Championships in a month from now. The only risk is that the runners may become worn out when the most important meets of the season come around, but Hostager said he believes that his runners will continue to run smart and keep taking care of their bodies so it will lead to positive results on meet day.

Drake’s next meet is in Peoria, Ill. at the Bradley Classic on Oct. 16. Immediately following that is the NCAA Pre-Nationals on Oct. 17.

CREW

Off to a historical start

photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo Editor

WOMEN’S CREW MEMBERS propel themselves down the river. The crew team broke several school records Saturday at the Head of the Des Moines Regata.

Crew team ‘crew’ses down the Des Moines River at record-setting pace

by MATT MORAN

Staff Writer matthew.moran@drake.edu

Coming off the most successful season in team history, the Drake women’s crew team set three school records en route to a masterful opening performance on Saturday at the Head of the Des Moines Regatta near Birdland Marina. Led by Chelsea Smith (AS4), the Bulldogs did not skip a beat after last year and started the season off with a bang.

Drake competed in three varsity club doubles events, and each team did very well. Smith and her partner Madi Perington (AS2) set the first of three Drake course records on the day with a third place finish and a 21:05 time for the three mile course. The previous best Drake time on in the Des Moines Regatta was 21:16, but that honor now belongs to Smith and Perington. Susan Goulette (B2) and Kat Moore (J2,AS2) came in with a solid fifth-place finish, while Kristin Cherney (B2) and Hilary Dietz (J2) finished in eight place.

“Overall it was a really good race, and I think that each team looked good,” Smith said.

In the quad races, the Bulldogs did not slow up one bit. Although the Bulldogs were competing against each other due to the lack of collegiate competition, the intensity was still there.

The boat of Moore, Smith, Perington, Goulette, and Sunrita Sen (AS2) set another school record with a three mile

time of 19:20.

Two records were not enough for Smith as she went for the hat trick on the day in the singles’ race. Smith shattered the previous Drake record of 22:01, cementing her own name in history with a 21:30. Smith said it was the hard workouts and practices that contributed to her team’s effort on the day.

“We had been performing better in practice, and the sophomores have really been stepping up to the challenge,” Smith said. “We lost three seniors and a lot of people have really stepped up.”

Head Coach Charlie DiSilvestro added to the assessment of his team.

“We lost several very good rowers last year’s team, but the seniors are doing a great job teaching the rest of the team what it’s going to take for us to be successful,” DiSilvestro said. “I know the freshman and sophomores are very capable and willing to step up to the challenge.”

It was important for Drake to have such a good effort on the day, with the challenge of joining a conference for the first time looming ahead.

“The biggest change for our team this year will be racing at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships next April,” DiSilvestro said. “It’s something we are very excited about and looking forward to.”

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