Times Delphic

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER FOR DRAKE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

THE TIMES-DELPHIC WHAT’S

INSIDE

DES MOINES, IOWA • Thursday, October 8, 2009 • VOL. 128, NO. 9 • www.timesdelphic.com

ERIC HUTCHINSON

OUTSPOKEN

WICKED

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Q & A with the singer/ songwriter who will perform tomorrow at Parents Hall.

Should Drake ban “sexiling” in residence halls?

Students respond.

A review of the Broadway musical “Wicked,” playing at the Civic Center.

Drake beat North Dakota in a doubleovertime 1-0 win on Sunday.

PAGE 4 FEATURES

PAGE 3 OPINIONS

PAGE 5 FEATURES

PAGE 6 SPORTS

WILL DRAKE

BAN

SEXILING? photo by SARAH ANDREWS |Photo Editor

THE DRAKE LANGUAGE PROGRAM changed its name and registration process.

DULAP translates registration process

by MARIAH MARCONI

Staff Writer mariah.marconi@drake.edu

The Drake University Language Acquisition Program (DULAP) has embraced a new name, among other changes, this semester. Under the title World Languages and Cultures (WLC), the language directors and professors are moving more of the coursework online, as they adjust the overall structure of the program.

In May 2008, a task force met to discuss potential improvements to Drake’s language program. The task force outlined the main objectives for the program, including boosting enrollment, allowing students more opportunities to meet with professors and adding the Virtual Language Studies (VLS) program to the curriculum.

In previous years, the program required that students meet with a designated native speaker on a tri-weekly basis and have a weekly quiz session with their professor. An application was required for first-year students to enter the program, and students could not register for classes through MyDUSIS. This year, foreign language professors are employed as faculty members rather than staff members. The change in title redefines how professors approach their responsibilities outside of the classroom.

“Language professors will now be advising students with undecided majors and having to focus on scholarship publication,” professor Marc Cadd said.

The program has been modified under the direction of Cadd, the interim director of WLC, and professor Jan Martson, director of WLC development.

In addition to the tri-weekly meeting with native speakers, students now have a weekly meeting with their professors to discuss difficulties they may be experiencing in their language, an improvement requested by many Drake language students. The professor sessions allow students to study grammar and culture more closely.

Alexandra Huber (AS2) is a French 051 student who has experienced the changes in her course.

“It’s really nice to be able to see my professor, even if she is on a computer screen, and talk about what is coming up in the week,” Huber said. “She also talks about what she expects of us and helps us with pronunciation and occasionally grammar, if we need help.”

A computer program has also been added to Chinese and Russian courses.

“The Department of Defense is currently searching for new and more effective ways of teaching foreign languages,” Cadd said.

“Drake received a grant of $780,000 to begin the VLS program and attempt to incorporate new ways of teaching foreign languages into the curriculum.”

The Virtual Language Studies program is an online communicative learning process. Students meet with their professors, native speakers and other peers via online classes through Adobe Acrobat Connect.

The VLS program allows students to connect with speakers and professors across the country.

It also allows schools to consolidate classes, saving them money.

Many students are unhappy with the shift to the VLS program.

SEE DULAP, PAGE 2

photo illustrations by SARAH ANDREWS |Photo Editor

Tufts’ new ban on “sexiling” unlikely to influence Drake policies

by MATT VASILOGAMBROS Editor-in-Chief times.delphic@drake.edu

Thursday nights for Greg Lorence (AS, B3) are like most others. After coming home from work, he sits down on his worn, black futon, turns on the PlayStation 3 console and picks up the controler to start playing “Call of Duty.”

Tonight, his roommate was out at a campus bar, but Lorence paid no attention, as it was a frequent occurrence. Suddenly, he hears the doorknob fiddling – a drunken roommate, he suspects. Lorence’s roommate burst through the door, intoxicated with not only alcohol, but the idea of what was in store for him – time alone with a woman.

Having spent the day in business and politics courses, followed by work at the Merle Hay Target, the idea of abandoning his video games for the dull-witted whims of his roommate was not Lorence’s preference. Still, the roommate insisted with desperate pleas

that Lorence should leave the room.

“Dude, can you leave for like two hours, because I have a girl and it looks like I’m about to score?” his roommate said. “Dude, come on, please. I’ll give you anything.”

Lorence wanted something in return for his efforts. So, his roommate, in his inebriated state, offered him $100. Lorence gladly accepted the money and went two doors down to hang out with friends.

What happened to Lorence is commonly known as “sexiling,” or kicking a roommate out for sexual purposes – an act that is not all that uncommon at universities. However, colleges have yet to ban this act until just recently when Tufts University in Massachusetts banned this behavior.

“The Tufts Daily” reported on Sept. 24, “The Office of Residential Life and Learning (ResLife) has added a new stipulation to its guest

SEE SEXILING, PAGE 2

Tufts University Policy “You may not engage in sexual activity while your roommate is present in the room. Any sexual activity within your assigned room should not ever deprive your roommate(s) of privacy, study, or sleep time.”

– Tufts University Residential Policies and Procedures, 2009

WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND CAMPUS?

photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo Editor

SEASONAL INFLUENZA SHOTS were administered to students Wednesday in the Olmsted Center Breezeway.

AP PHOTO

MAYA ANGELOU will deliver the Bucksbaum Lecture today at 7 p.m. in the Knapp Center.

NEWS

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

PAGETWO

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PAGE 2

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2009 QUOTE OF THE DAY

”

“If you’re not going to sexile, where’s it going to happen?

People have got to do their thing.”

–Matthew Winkler (P1). SEE PAGE 3

SECURITY REPORTS 2:52 p.m. October 3 It was reported that a Sodexo employee struck the emergency light pole at 28th Street and Carpenter Avenue. The phone and light were still functioning, and minor repairs will be made.

2:39 a.m. Sept. 27 A security officer observed a male hiding beer behind his back as the officer drove past. A short time later, the security officer observed him do the same thing in a Drake parking lot located in the 1300 block of 32nd Street. The underage-fordrinking male student was stopped, and he poured out four cans of beer he was attempting to hide on his

person. He stated he had been drinking at several fraternity houses and took the beer when he left. The student complied with dumping out the beer, and he and his friend were seen back to their residence hall.

The dean of students has been advised.

10:29 a.m. Sept. 27 Security and the fire department responded

to Carpenter Residence Hall based on a fire alarm.

There was no smoke or fire, and it was determined the fire alarm was activated because of low pressure in the sprinkler system.

12:49 a.m. Oct. 1 A female student reported she was running to class and fell on the steps outside of Howard Hall, injuring her finger. She was sent to the American Republic Health Center.

3:56 a.m. Oct. 2 A female was awakened by what she thought was running water in her room in Stalnaker Residence Hall. She observed a female squatting in the middle of her room and asked the person if she was OK. The female responded,

“Yeah,” and walked out of the room. The student then remembered the running water and got out of bed and found a liquid where the intruder had her knees bent and thighs resting on her calves. The matter is being investigated by residence hall staff.

8:45 p.m. Oct. 2 A security officer observed (CCTV) a fight in progress near the American Republic Health Center. Security officers and police officers arrived. The thinner of the two males took off running, and the larger male stopped on command. The male juvenile said he was “just play-fighting,” although he was quite muddy, had contusions on his face and was scuffed up. Several high school students who were

attending the high school football game were also in the area. They were sent back to the football game, and the male juvenile was advised on trespass for the campus.

1:20 a.m. Oct. 4 A security officer was driving eastbound on Forest Avenue when a male darted in front of him at 27th Street. The male adult student was stopped and was extremely intoxicated and admitted he had been drinking the entire day.

He was cooperative. He was then asked if he had anyone he could call, and he stated his friend was out of town. A cab was then called, and the driver was given the student’s offcampus address. Thirtyfive minutes later, the same

individual was seen hiding behind some bushes in the 3200 block of University Avenue. He was carrying something in a sack, and the items kept falling out as he was trying to leave.

Officers asked him to stop, but he continued picking up his dropped food items and running at the same time. He eventually left the items and finally stopped, as requested, a short distance away. He then grabbed a security officer’s arm and had to be restrained.

The student became very aggressive, argumentative and used profane language.

He was then arrested for intoxication and the dean of students was advised.

Language assignments shift to web FROM DULAP, PAGE 1 “The idea of the program is great, and if everything worked the way it was supposed to, this program would be wonderful,” Chinese 001 student Zach Smith (E1) said. “However, when you rely on technology as much as we do for this course, there are bound to be problems.”

Cadd also recognizes the technological difficulties that have emerged in the majority of the online classes. He said he hopes students and faculty members will work through the recent changes in online classes and it will improve over time.

Huber said that the changes have exacerbated past problems with DULAP. “I also hate how everything is online,” the French student said. “Last year, all my weekly tests were online, and I didn’t have a book with the words I should know. This made it difficult for me to actually get motivated and do the work. The Internet and technology is not the best way to learn a language. It is helpful, but overall unnecessary.”

The most recent changes to the language program include a simplified registration process. First-year students will no longer have to submit an application and students may register themselves through MyDUSIS. Previously, students had to go through a variety of different sources to enroll in the language program.

Students can now receive a Certificate of Competence in Language and Culture. Students in Spanish can also look forward to the addition of specialty classes, such as “Spanish for Health Care Providers” and “Spanish for Business” in the coming years.

COURSES OFFERED BY WORLD LANGUAGES AND CULTURES Arabic Chinese French German

Japanese Russian Spanish

Sexiling policy would present enforcement challenges FROM SEXILING, PAGE 1 policy that prohibits any sex act in a dorm room while one’s roommate is present. The stipulation further states that any sexual activity in the room should not interfere with a roommate’s privacy, study habits or sleep.”

This policy, in effect, bans “sexiling.”

According to the university’s new policy, “If residents fail to comply with the above stated policy and expectations, their actions will be properly documented and subject to residential judicial consequences. Any flagrant violation of the above policies will result in immediate loss of guest privileges for a specified time period at the discretion of the Assistant Director for Community and Judicial Affairs in the Office of Residential Life and Learning.”

This policy has not swept the nation’s schools just yet, and Drake officials said they would not be changing their residence hall policy any time

AP PHOTO

photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo Editor

Library loans out little laptops

by ERIKA SEVIGNY

Staff Writer erika.sevigny@drake.edu

In a world of wireless Internet, Blackboard, online-only syllabi and ruthless Facebook addictions, having access to a portable computer or laptop is a necessity for many college students. However, most laptops cost upward of $1,000 to own – a price that is far from fitting into the budget of many students.

The Cowles Library administration acknowledged this obstacle for Drake students in its implementation of a new netbook rental service.

“I was at a university book fair last spring and parents were voicing concerns to admissions officers at a number of schools about not being able to afford to send computers to school with their students,” Susan Breakenridge, coordinator of administrative services at Cowles Library, said. “I brought the concern back to Drake, and we looked into getting some netbooks that students would be able to check out and use in class or studying.”

This summer, the library purchased eight netbooks, which are smaller versions of a soon.

In fact, nowhere in Drake’s Residence Hall policies does it outline concerns about sexual activity that disrupts another roommate, only that residents should show a general respect toward one another. Lorissa Lieurance, interim director of the Office of Residence Life, said that a solution to the issue of “sexiling” should be solved between roommates and not through university policies.

“Residents are encouraged to communicate with one another about their expectations,” she said. “In my experience, individuals who talk with their roommate about their own pet peeves and ask their roommates about what their pet peeves are can usually identify areas of concern and develop a roommate agreement prior to any offensive events occurring.”

When roommates cannot solve their own issues, residence hall staff members are there to help, Lieurance said.

“In the event that activity in the room interferes with a roommate’s privacy, study habits or ability to sleep and the concern cannot be resolved with their roommate, individuals can contact their residence hall coordinator or the Office of Residence Life for assistance in resolving the concern,” she said.

Lieurance also said that resident assistants are extremely helpful when it comes to these issues.

Mediating communication between residents is a key skill taught to all resident assistants.

“We currently train our RA staff in the areas of conflict and roommate mediation,” she said.

SEND YOUR STORY IDEAS TO TDNEWS@DRAKE.EDU

laptop with a 10-inch screen and no CD/ DVD drives. The netbooks feature the basic Microsoft Office package, including Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as Internet Explorer.

Students can check out netbooks for up to five hours, or as long as the battery stays charged, as no power cords will be checked out with the computers.

“Over the summer we had a group of people working on the policies to go with the netbooks,” Breakenridge said. “It is a little different than lending out a book, being that each netbook is significantly more expensive than most books in the library. We make sure that each student knows the damage policy before checking out the netbook.”

A damaged netbook will result in a charge of $400 to the renter’s Drake account, and students must sign a contract detailing these conditions prior to checking out the device.

The checkout form also specifies that the netbook must be handed to a staff member at the service desk when the loan period has expired.

“We want to emphasize that the netbook must be returned to a library staff member,” Karen Jurasek, the service quality and training “This training equips the resident assistants to assess, discuss and mediate a breadth of roommate issues, including such difficult topics of sexual behavior.”

What comes with a Tufts-like policy, Lieurance said, are a lot of issues that Residence Life would have to look into – ultimately becoming a policy too difficult to enforce.

“If Drake were to adopt the language of Tufts’ guest policy into our own residence hall handbook, Drake University would need to examine the criteria for determining if the alleged offense either did or did not occur, as well as establish what the consequences would be if someone were found responsible for violating the policy,” she said.

However, there are aspects to Tufts’ policy that Lieurance does like.

“I agree with Tufts’ policy, in that I would be concerned about any activity in the room that would interfere with a roommate’s privacy, study habits or ability to sleep,” she said.

Many students have said that Drake should not adopt a Tufts-like policy, explaining that it would be too difficult to enforce. Katie Richardson (P1) agrees with these sentiments.

“If they were to have RAs enforce it, I don’t think it’s their responsibility,” she said. “I don’t think people would follow it anyway.”

Rachel Kauffold (B, J3) said this policy should not go into place simply because students have the right to figure these situations out for themselves.

“A person’s room is their home, and either

coordinator at the library, said. “Though it would probably fit into the book drop, it must be handed to a university employee.”

The netbooks can be checked out at the library and taken anywhere on or off campus during the rental period, making these netbooks a convenient service for students and faculty. Since the netbooks became available for checkout Sept. 28, students have checked them out on 14 separate occasions, with some people already becoming regular renters.

“I know I’ll check it out for a cross-campus meeting,” Breakenridge said. “It’s very handy when I need to look things up or take notes in a meeting.”

“My back gets sore from carrying my laptop around in my bag all day, so I try to leave it at home as often as possible,” Amber Wollschlager (B2) said. “The library’s new service is definitely one I would take advantage of.”

The rental service will reach out to both students and faculty who are in good standing with the library, with no outstanding fines or holds on their account.

“The ultimate goal of this service would be to fulfill a need for anyone who doesn’t have a computer at any given time,” Jurasek said. person should be allowed to do what they want in there,” she said. “But they should also respect their roommate. So, either way – if you banned it or accepted it – somebody would lose because someone wouldn’t get to do what they wanted in their room.”

Kauffold also said that she doesn’t see this policy sweeping the nation.

Sam Friedman (AS1), who was “sexiled” earlier this year, agreed that Drake should not adopt a Tufts-like policy.

“We’re young kids; it’s going to happen,” he said. “Where would we go? I feel like people would do drastic things because of that policy.

No, I definitely wouldn’t want that.”

In fact, Friedman doesn’t even think “sexiling” is an issue on campus.

“If you have a cool roommate, you could say, ‘Listen, I’m doing this, could you leave?’” he said. “Most people would be like, ‘Yea, sure.’ I don’t have a problem with it. Yea, it’s a minor inconvenience, but I’m friends with my roommate, and I’m OK with it.”

As for Lorence, he gladly took that $100 he was offered to leave the room. To him, that was a good solution to the issue of “sexiling.”

“In the roommate situation, it’s ultimately up to the second roommate – the one who is potentially being ‘sexiled’ – to sort that out and say, ‘I’m not leaving,’” he said. “If that’s the case, it leaves the person without an option.”

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

PAGE 3

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2009

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

OUTSPOKEN

OPINIONS&EDITORIALS

“

the

BUZZ

Eric Hutchinson, Justin Kredible and Dueling Pianos. Seriously, big ups to SAB.

TABULA RASA

What do you think … … about Tufts’ “sexiling” policy and should it be instituted at Drake?

”

“

MATTHEW WINKLER (P1) If you’re not going to ‘sexile,’ where’s it going to happen? People have got to do their thing.

”

“

CAITLIN FEVER (AS2)

I don’t know how they would enforce it if they banned it. And honestly, it’s, in a way, a part of college life. So, what are people going to do otherwise?

”

“

College is a sitcom The Real World: embracing the awkwardness I had to get home this past weekend for a dentist appointment. Simple right? Not in college.

I do not have 125 bucks to throw at Greyhound nor do I own a vehicle at Drake University. What ensued constitutes nothing less than me scrapping at random strangers’ feet and an adventure that summarizes college pretty well.

Last Tuesday, I decided that I could procrastinate no longer, I was going home Thursday. So after realizing that Greyhound has been hit hard by the economy and finding out my parents didn’t love me enough to pick me up, I gave up.

That afternoon, my phone rang and my friend Mitch from ISU was calling. The first thing he says is, “Ryan, can you get me home this weekend?” I chuckle and tell him I can’t and that I am in the same boat. We give up.

My phone rings again, it is my friend Alicia from the University of Iowa who says, “Ryan, can you get me home this weekend?” We chuckle and acknowledge just how college-like we have become in a month.

Then Mitch calls again – “Hey, I found us a ride!” Mitch’s random roommate, who I didn’t really know, had agreed to drive down to Drake to pick us up. I asked Mitch if his random friend could pick up my random friend and give her a ride. He agreed but said we don’t have a ride back.

So then, I call Alicia and she calls a friend, Bryan, at the University of Minnesota. She convinced random friend

”

“

ASHTON WEIS (AS1) I don’t think you can ban something like that especially if the other roommate is going to have sex anyway. Then one roommate’s just going to be stuck in the room, which is more awkward than going somewhere else.

”

“

HEIDI RITT (J3) People don’t really have anywhere else to go, and they’re going to do that whether they tie a tie on the door or they just wait until you’re not there.

CORRECTIONS

”

Last issue, we wrote that Tom Hatton was the owner of Metro Waste Authority in “Catching the Conservation Bug.” It is, in fact, Tom Hadden, and he is the executive director.

A little over three months ago, I got off a plane from Verona, Italy, where I had been studying since February. Before I studied abroad, I had never spent more than a month and a half in Italy. I went every three or four years during the summer to see my family, and would vacation with them around the country.

But about three weeks in, I usually became sick of being in a different place and doing different things, and I would default back to English and become annoyed with local customs, attitudes and ways of life. Not until this year did I realize what it was to fully immerse myself in a different culture.

Now, I may have had an unfair advantage when I chose to study abroad.

I already spoke some Italian, and the city where I studied was less than an hour from the city in which a large portion of my living relatives resides. In fact, I decided to study abroad in order to see them more often (and to improve my Italian).

So I was prepped to have an amazing time and spend all of it living, eating and breathing Italian culture. But most of all, I came back with an even deeper understanding of what it means to be Italian. Now I’d like to say I have a more dichotomous perspective of the world.

One difference I’d like to stress is the observation that American culture is unlike any culture in the world for one large reason. The American culture is one of the only cultures in the world that was built on diversity. It was created based upon the mantra that, no matter who someone was, they could be included in this culture, nation and society. This is what makes it different from so many other cultures.

The Italian culture may not be the best example to compare to the American culture to prove any sort of point. Italy is a conglomeration of 20 regions, each with its own distinct cultural differences which residents adhere to strongly. But the country was unified under the principle of its residents’ commonalities in language,

MATT VASILOGAMBROS, Editor-in-Chief times.delphic@drake.edu

ERIN HOGAN, News Editor tdnews@drake.edu MATT NELSON, Features Editor tdfeatures@drake.edu

Price is a first-year journalism major and can be contacted at ryan.price@drake.edu.

Study abroad opens eyes to society

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER FOR DRAKE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

JILL VAN WYKE, Faculty Advisor jill.vanwyke@drake.edu

Bryan to drive us back on Sunday, in place of his usual nap time.

Thursday rolled around bright and early. Alicia had found a cheap Greyhound bus ticket to Des Moines at 3 a.m. Sure enough, Mitch’s random roommate Chad shows up at noon and who does he have with him? A random friend from ISU named Susie.

So, random roommate Chad and random friend Susie drove Mitch’s random friend from Drake (me) and my random friend from Iowa, Alicia. All of them were pretty personable and we immediately started up an awkward discussion about college radio shows and somehow, the Stalnaker basement.

After a stop for Burger King, random acquaintance’s acquaintance’s acquaintance’s were singing “Be a Man” from Mulan together.

On the way back Sunday, University of Minnesota random friend, Bryan, met random friend Mitch’s random friend

American culture, rethought

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

LIZZIE PINE, Managing Editor tdeditorials@drake.edu

COLUMNIST

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES

JONELLE HENNING (AS2)

It should just be a mutual agreement between both roommates. If your roommate has a really big problem with that, then you should know to respect that. Gotta love, I guess.

RYAN PRICE

Chad’s random friend Susie.

Within one car of six people, we had four colleges represented.

Within one car of six people existed five degrees of separation.

Now that’s college. And that is just about as good of preparation for our lives as any major we could study.

My twin sister has practically begun dating her chemistry lab partner.

Last Friday, my dad realized that $5000 in savings bonds had disappeared, the only money I had to pay for four plus years of college.

When I had my wisdom teeth pulled a week ago, I apparently woke up in the middle of my anesthesia. I also, unbeknownst to me until a week later, told my 30-something-year-old nurse and mother of two, Carla, “I love older women. I think you’re really pretty.” She told the whole office and my parents, but at least I made her week.

College is a sitcom with forces beyond our control, and what can we do but revel in it.

I remember Welcome Weekend when we had a session called “Embracing the Awkwardness.” It was all about embracing the awkwardness of life, embracing the awkwardness of random friends and embracing the awkwardness of cheap toilet paper. We thought it was corny.

Well, welcome to college.

SARAH ANDREWS, Photo Editor tdphotos@drake.edu MARY BESS BOLLING, Copy Editor mary.bolling@drake.edu KENSIE SMITH, Copy Editor mackensie.smith@drake.edu KYLE GLASER, Web Editor tdweb@drake.edu

PETER ZEMANSKY, Sports Editor tdsports@drake.edu

TYLER O’NEIL, Relays Editor tyler.oneil@drake.edu

PHIL KREZNOR, Business Manager tdbusiness@drake.edu

CALEB BAILEY, Ads Manager tdads@drake.edu

MATTEO IZZI COLUMNIST ideals and geographic location.

These principles differ greatly from the founding principles of the American culture. The United States was constructed based on the notion that people have different ideals and accept people from all over the world. Because of these traits and more, American culture is different than most others.

Not until this year did I realize what it was to fully immerse myself in a different culture.

The notion of a free country in the United States is highly visible in the diversity that the population exhibits. This doesn’t mean that people are constantly striving to be different, although some do.

Instead, they don’t often converge on a set of customs or traditions, or a way of life. The multitude of people who enjoy watching cars go around an oval for hours on end do so because our culture thrives on them choosing to do so. It also thrives on those who choose to drive hybrid cars to compensate for wasteful carbon and noxious emissions. But because these two aspects of life exist within our borders,

circulate through the media and maintain stakes in people’s daily lives and activities, they are accepted as part of our cultural realm.

So why does any of this matter?

The innate difference in the type of culture present in the United States can help explain how many Americans perceive other cultures, and vice versa. Americans often find it difficult to understand another culture because it is so drastically different from their own.

This is because Americans are so used to being different within their own culture, that a legitimate culture difference is beyond their threshold of comprehension.

For people from other countries or cultures, simply recognizing that someone is different from them comes naturally to them, because their own culture’s identity is so prevalent and visible within their country that they don’t have to validate it constantly, as we do in the United States.

It’s not that Americans are intolerant to differences, but rather that we deal with so much of them every day in our own culture, and it proves difficult to expand that understanding when going abroad.

While I was in Europe, I encountered quite a few Americans attempting to embrace a new culture, and watched as they struggled with being comfortable in their new environment, just like myself.

But going through the process of adapting to a new culture is incredibly important for us as Americans. It shows both people from other cultures and ourselves that we are capable of overcoming our pretenses and stereotypes, and that we are part of the global community. Those who actively decide to live in another country should gain a higher respect, as it says a lot about who they are and who they want to become.

Izzi is a junior biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major and can be contacted at matteo.izzi@drake.edu.

Letters & Submissions Policy The Times-Delphic strives to represent student views as accurately and honestly as possible. We rely on readers to provide us with criticism, comments and new ideas so that we can continue to serve the interests of the students in the fairest possible way. We encourage interest 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 Tuesday for the Thursday edition and noon Friday for the Monday 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.

Legal 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.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2009

DON’T. MISS. THIS.

PAGE 4

Owl City will play at the House of Bricks tonight, Oct. 8. Doors open at 6 p.m.

HUTCHINSON AT DRAKE

9 P.M. FRIDAY, OCT. 9 PARENTS HALL AP PHOTO

Eric Hutchinson talks about the upcoming performance at Drake University interview by MATT NELSON Features Editor tdfeatures@drake.edu

The Times-Delphic (TD): I hear you’ve got five shows in six days going on. Sounds like you’ve been pretty busy.

Eric Hutchinson (EH): Yeah, we stay pretty busy on the road. We’re on pace for over 200 shows this year.

TD: Geez, how do you stay energized?

EH: Really, I get the energy for the shows from the crowd. A good crowd makes the show so much better for themselves. Every show is fun for us on stage, but that extra energy the crowd brings to the show is always fun for me.

TD: How do you find the college audience differs from a broader audience with a lot more people?

EH: You know, I don’t really see a huge difference except maybe that I can joke around more with the college kids. And I got started out doing college shows, so, from the very beginning, I always played at colleges and stuff. I think that maybe college kids are more excited about new music.

TD: You’re touring with Kelly Clarkson now, correct?

EH: Yeah, we toured this summer with her and it just extended through the end of the year, so the concert at Drake is in the middle of that tour.

TD: What’s it like touring with artists who are established?

What are you learning from them? What are you getting out of the experience?

EH: I’ve been lucky to tour with a lot of interesting people like Jason Mraz, O.A.R. and Kelly Clarkson. I try to learn something from each person. Hanging out with Kelly has been cool. She’s really down to earth, friendly. Every artist does their show a little differently so it’ll be interesting to see what works for them, and what part of that could apply to my show.

TD: You really hit the big time a couple years ago, right?

EH: Yeah, I’ve been doing it full time for about seven years, but the last two years seemed to really pick up momentum and have been going well.

TD: Have you noticed changes in yourself, in how you’re addressing your music or your shows? Are you the same person you were when you started out?

EH: I think I’ve gotten a lot better at what I do and hopefully every show I’m getting a little better still. I always keep learning.

I’d like to think I’m the same person. I paid a lot of dues early on, even at this point it’s definitely a lot of work involved. I think that not skipping the steps along the way has given me a good base to be able to handle everything. At this point, really, I’ve come across every kind of show possible, from really great to really horrible. I think I’ve developed some really thick skin.

TD: A lot of artists haven’t gotten to where you are yet.

What do you tell an artist who is working for that goal of being mainstream or getting into the national spotlight? What kind of advice would you give to them?

EH: Yeah, I’m always happy to help people out. I spent a lot of years opening for anyone I could. The acts that were friendly to me and supportive – I always remember that so I try to give that back. The thing I mainly tell people is, “The thicker your skin, the better.” It’s a constant reminder that there are a lot of people who don’t like your music, no matter how popular you are, many people who like to tell you they don’t like it. I think it’s thick skin combined with persistence and never saying “No,” and I think the other side is making sure you really love it. I tell people that, if they want money or fame or something, that stuff ’s not going to get you through the hard times.

TD: Are there any staples to your show that you do every single time you give a performance, such as appearance or clothing that people would want to know about?

EH: I think that the main staple of the show is just that we’re trying to capture the energy and environment where people can come see the show and feel like it’s the highlight of their week.

I’m all about trying to make it the celebration of music and trying to get people to clap and dance. I just want people leaving and feeling like they had a great time.

TD: Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t you have the highestcharted album by an unsigned artist on the iTunes music store?

EH: Yeah, that happened a little while back when I made the album independently and then got picked up by Warner Brothers Records.

TD: What did you do when things started picking up? Was a little weird. I like playing all the TV shows, it’s always fun, just high energy, very exciting to be a part of. Letterman is the one we there a single moment or was there a steady buildup?

EH: There was a single moment that kind of got things haven’t done yet, I’d like to do the Letterman show.

TD: Which one did you like the most? started. Perez Hilton, a celebrity blogger, he liked the tracks EH: They’re all kind of cool, but “The Tonight Show” with when the album first came out and put them on the Web site. It put a spotlight on the album at a time when it was very much a Jay Leno was the first one we did and, man, that was kind of do-it-yourself kind of thing. It just got people excited about it. special and fun. I’d grown up seeing Leno on “The Tonight Then the attention kind of died off after a while. It’s been a slow, Show.” That was definitely a cool moment, for sure.

TD: Have you ever been to Des Moines before this? steady grind, it’s been really good and I’ve been really proud of EH: Yeah, I’ve been to Des where I’ve come so far.

Moines many, many times.

TD: Do you think that We were just there with Kelly being a musical artist in this Clarkson at the Iowa State day and age of technology has Fair. When I was touring a helped? Do you think it would lot, I would go to Ames, Iowa have been a much different a lot. I’ve always had a good experience if you had put this reaction with Iowa; I’m glad to out 20 or 30 years ago? be coming back.

EH: Yeah, well I think TD: What’s the No. 1 people have a shorter attention –ERIC HUTCHINSON, singer/songwriter thing you hope an audience span now. Bruce Springsteen member feels in response to or Billy Joel didn’t break your music? through until their third or EH: I think just having fourth album they put out, and you don’t get that kind of lease these days with a major label. If the person just feeling it was worth their time, that they enjoyed your first album doesn’t do well, you’re lucky if you get a second it, that it makes them feel better than they did when they came. one. I think listeners are a lot more fickle than they used to be I’ve been to a concert or two where the presenter inspires you because there’s so much out there. I think my goal is to build a – not only in your music, but the rest of the week feels a little meaningful relationship with the fans and create a relationship better, you’re a little more interested in doing other things. Good music can make you excited to do lots of things that aren’t even that goes beyond when they’ve heard my song on the radio.

TD: You’ve played on a variety of other venues such as Jay music-related. I’m just trying to spread goodwill and have people Leno, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live – how do you keep enjoy themselves.

TD: Is there anything you’d like to tell Drake fans your cool at such a big venue?

EH: Well, you have to treat it like any other show. The only specifically?

EH: Come out to the show, learn the songs ahead of time, difficult part is, with those shows, you get one song, and then it starts playing, and then it’s over. In a real show, like at Drake, we get ready to come out and sing and dance and clap. I’m looking get going and the crowd has a chance to get into it and we get a forward to the show. It should be fun. rhythm together, so it’s a little easier to get a gauge. Playing TV shows, you’re playing for an audience you never actually see. It’s

“I tell people that if they want money or fame or something, that stuff’s not going to get you through the hard times.”

AP PHOTO

ERIC HUTCHINSON’S DEBUT ALBUM, “Sounds Like This” currently holds the record of being the highest-charted album by an unsigned artist in the iTunes Music Store.

PAGE 5

FEATURES

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2009

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

“Wicked” soars at the Civic Center

Broadway musical brims with special effects

by KENSIE SMITH

Staff Writer mackensie.smith@drake.edu

Before ruby slippers ever skipped down the yellow brick road, there was a story as twisted as a tornado, swirling through the infamous land of Oz. This intriguing tale, based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel is the base of the touring Broadway show “Wicked.”

The Tony Award-winning musical is the latest theatrical treasure to hit the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. Opening to a full theater Sept. 23, the hype of being one of the Civic Center’s main season attractions was not exaggerated.

“Wicked,” now in its sixth season, has transcended the original mixed reviews after an October 2003 premier at the George Gershwin Theater in New York. Last season, the musical was the highest-selling Broadway show.

Fortunately, the center’s Willis Broadway Series has brought the talented tour to Des Moines for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

A high-profile cast graces the stage with a presence that only comes from theatrical experience. Marcie Dodd comes to Iowa straight from the Broadway “Wicked” company to continue her evocative, green role as Elphaba.

IF YOU’RE GOING: Wicked runs until Oct. 18.

Showtimes: Tues – Sat: 7:30 p.m.

Sun: 6:30 p.m.

Matinees: Sat: 2 p.m.

Sun: 1 p.m.

She joins forces with Broadway’s “Grease” actress, Helene Yorke, as the enthusiastic Glinda.

Another actor in a lead role, Tom McGowan of Broadway’s “Chicago” and the sitcom “Frasier,” “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “ER.” Sporting an extensive resume, McGowan brings depth to the deceitful role of the Wizard.

Ostentatious costumes, special effects and magical music cast a spell on the audience. The plot draws the viewer in from the beginning, with the introduction from the dreaded flying monkeys. With the exquisite animal wings and munchkin dresses, “Wicked” throws viewers into the heart of Oz. The audience learns the history of two young girls, loathing and then learning friendship with one another. The girls are typecast under differing lights. Glinda, the Good Witch, is set under a glittering white and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, under sinister green. From her mother’s sin, Elphaba is born inhibited in life by her jade skin and sickly sister, Nessarose.

Filled with talent and promise, she rises to starstudent status under the head professor at the University of Shiz, where popular, manipulative Glinda holds court. The unlikely “frenemies” sing lyric-intensive songs expressing feelings in “What Is This Feeling,” and futures in “One Short Day.” The first act is light-hearted, yet essential to the pivotal action that follows. It includes a true show-stopper, the elevating song “Defying Gravity.” A combination of dazzling lights, brilliant special effects and Dodd as Elphaba shocks and awes. The evil-colored witch soars to the top of the theater while laser lights shatter the traditional set, ending the first act on a literal high note.

As the lights dim for a second time, the act opens into a much darker realm of the conspiracy behind the “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” (originally written by L. Frank Baum).

The long-awaited wizard turns out to be a

photo courtesy of the CIVIC CENTER OF GREATER DES MOINES

ELPHABA (MARCIE DODD) AND FIYERO (COLIN DONNELL) are ill-fated lovers in the Broadway musical “Wicked” currently playing at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. conspirator who tries to use Elphaba’s talents, against her knowing in order to capture all the civilized animals and convert them into wild ones.

Both the Wizard and Glinda assert that power over the people of Oz is easiest to obtain when there is a clear villain responsible for the Wizard’s wrongdoings. The characters, still ornately costumed, assume their roles in society with dissonance between right and wrong.

The song selection becomes slower and more brooding as the tall, dark and handsome love-interest Fiyero, played by Colin Donnell of Broadway’s “Jersey Boys,” chooses the tragically accused villainess Elphaba.

The rejected Glinda soulfully reprises “I’m Not That Girl,” in a sharp turn of events from the original version sung earlier by her green counterpart. Ignorance is prevalent as the storyline crosses over with Dorothy and company. The people assume truth in Elphaba’s death (“I’m melting!”) as love elopes, a wizard is ruined and character origins are revealed.

The musical score will leave the spectator wanting more of Stephan Schwartz’s Grammy

Award-winning “Best Musical Show Album.”

His other popular musicals including “Pippin” and film for Disney’s “Pocahontas” and “Enchanted” bear the same beats that will stick in your head for hours.

Many Drake students have already taken advantage of the renowned show’s proximity to campus.

“I really like the costumes and elaborate set.

And the music was just incredible,” Allison Millea (E,AS1) said of the Sept. 26 performance.

“You should see it once really close, and once from clear in the back,” said David Wright, assistant dean for the school journalism and mass communication. “In some ways the sound is better in the back than it is in the front.” As an usher for Wicked’s Civic Center run, he has observed that the acoustics and lights are best experienced from different points around the theater.

The Civic Center does not offer student-rush tickets, but two and a half hours prior to each performance, there is a limited number of $25 lottery seat tickets.

Audience says “Yes” to Drake play

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

“House of Yes” provides dark humor and edgy entertainment

by OLIVIA YOUNG

Staff Writer olivia.young@drake.edu

photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo Editor

POWDERPUFF FOOTBALL PLAYERS just miss a catch during the game Sunday. Women across campus tested their football skills as part of homecoming activities.

The Drake University Theatre Arts Department’s production of “The House of Yes,” written by Wendy MacLeod and directed by Deena Conley, jarringly addresses the inner workings of a dysfunctional family.

The play opened on Oct. 1 and consisted of a cast of five Drake students: Emily Draffen (AS3), Monica Lani (AS4), Liz Ondich-Batson (AS4), Dustin Thomas (AS3) and Abraham Swee (AS4).

Performed in Studio 55 in the Harmon Fine Arts Center, the small stage and bilevel set immediately lends a sense of intimacy to the show. This mood fits as the play describes the secret and personal events of one tumultuous day and night inside a wealthy Washington D.C. home.

The stage is designed to encompass an elegant living room, a small staircase and a bedroom with a backdrop of pale pink and blue stucco walls. The small cast also keeps the focus on the underlying tones of secrecy and insanity that penetrate the work.

The lights dim, and “The House of Yes” begins. The play depicts the life of the Pascal family, which includes an apathetic Mrs. Pascal and her three children, Jackie-O, Marty and Anthony.

We are introduced first to Jackie-O (Draffen), a vivacious 20-something, as she awaits the arrival of her twin brother, Marty (Thomas).

CC

CAMPUSCALENDAR

TODAY

FRIDAY

STAR PARTY – Drake Observatory WHAT: View the night skies and learn to use a telescope.

WHERE: 4898 Observatory Rd., Waveland Park WHEN: 6 p.m.

LECTURE – Video game enemies WHAT: The psychology of enemy identification in video games.

WHERE: Room 206, Olin Hall WHEN: Noon

WEEKEND CONCERT – Fall Choral Concert WHAT: Listen to the melodies of the Drake Choir.

FILM SERIES – “Center Stage” WHAT: Drake’s International Film series presents “Center Stage.”

WHERE: Sheslow Auditorium

WHERE: Room 101, Meredith Hall

WHEN: 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11

WHEN: 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11

Despite the hurricane raging outside, Marty arrives with his new fiance, Lesly (Ondich-Batson) to the surprise of the family. After receiving a chilly greeting from Mrs. Pascal, Lesly realizes all is not well in the Pascal household. As the play continues, the audience discovers that Mrs. Pascal is oddly disinterested toward the lives of her children while Anthony is awkward and socially inept.

However, these two members of the Pascal family are normal compared to Marty and Jackie-O. Jackie-O, named after an infamous charade as Jacqueline Onassis years before, is completely dependent on Marty. Their relationship, as a result, is unusually close and uncomfortably physical. As the evening progresses, Marty begins to feel guilty that bringing Lesly home has unsettled Jackie-O, while it slowly dawns on Lesly that her first encounter with the Pascal family may not be as successful as she had hoped.

Darkly comedic, “The House of Yes” keeps the audience laughing from the first scene to the final bow. Draffen shines as she portrays Jackie-O as a witty and fasttalking cynic (“Anthony got a jacket and I got sane, so you can’t just leave!”) who is occasionally affected by twinges of insanity. Each of the supporting characters also adds a facet of depth to the portrait of life in the Pascal home. Ondich-Batson as Lesly embraces the important role of the bewildered outsider who is able to

see through the ignorance of Mrs. Pascal and the naivete of Anthony, effectively unveiling the problems that exist within the family. Through Lesly’s eyes, we see that the disadvantages of being born poor, as Lesly was, are nothing compared to the oppressive life that the wealthy Pascals live.

The play especially addresses the dynamic of indifference that saturates throughout the interactions between the family and Jackie-O. Its title, “The House of Yes,” is an allusion to the fact that the Pascal house is a home in which anything is tolerated. No one is ever told “No.” As Lesly proclaims to Jackie-O, “I don’t think you’re insane,” Lesly proclaims to Jackie-O. “I just think you’re spoiled.”

From the bluntly honest manners of Jackie-O, to the apathy of Mrs. Pascal, to violence and incest, the Pascal family overlooks, underrates and ignores the issues that will eventually destroy them.

The play reflects upon the culture of upper-class society in the confusion after the death of John F. Kennedy, where the truth was overlooked in order to keep up appearances and remain socially acceptable.

Overall shocking and thoughtprovoking, with a surprising twist in the final scene, “The House of Yes” is a wellacted play, accented with twisted humor and a new view on past societies.

SPORTS

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

SPORTS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2009

FOR BREAKING SPORTS NEWS WWW.TWITTER.COM/TDSPORTSNEWS

PAGE 6

STELLAR STATS

4

Tries that it took the women’s soccer team to come up with a doubleovertime win.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Bulldogs win double-overtime thriller

by DOMINIC JOHNSON

Staff Writer dominic.johnson@drake.edu

photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo Editor

MIDFIELDER LAUREN BERNER (AS2) crosses the ball against a defender in the Bulldogs’ double-overtime tie with DePaul. Drake’s double-overtime experience finally payed off in the teams’ victory over North Dakota, the team’s first win out of four double-overtime games this season. trying to throw for a touchdown.”

Although Walsh’s overtime theatrics saved the day, Horner believes that her squad’s constant fighting attitude led to the win.

“It is a matter of being prepared to score, making good decisions, being technically clean and being relentless,” Horner said. “On Sunday, we were relentless. We could have hung our heads, but we kept putting ourselves in a position to score and, ultimately, it paid off.”

In a perfect example of being relentless, the Drake forwards attacked the UND defense all day,

outshooting the Fighting Sioux 20-6.

UND goalkeeper Lauren Sera kept the Bulldogs at bay for 109 minutes, forcing Drake’s defense to step up in turn as the opposition attempted to mount a counter-attack.

Drake goalkeeper Kourtney Arnold (B2) anchored the backfield with three saves as the defenders slowed the UND forwards to a crawl.

Almost as important as the win itself, the Bulldogs got something they lacked in their previous two games.

“I think we gained confidence in that we were able to score,” Arnold said. “Had we walked away with a tie,

MEN’S GOLF

Blustery conditions

by JENNA DELONG

Staff Writer jenna.delong@drake.edu

Champions

Intramural

Strong winds plagued the men’s golf team at the inaugural Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate Invitational Monday and Tuesday. Luke Joy (B4) said the tournament proved to be a rough finish to their fall off-season.

“This week in California has not gone all too well,” Joy said. “The weather was windy in the mornings and that set the tone for the rest of the day.”

Ben Freeman (B3) led Drake’s fight against the wind by shooting 79-74=153 after 36 holes at the Classic Club in Palm Desert Calif.

After one day of play, Freeman was tied for 60th place. Not far behind was Jared Gustafson (B1), who shot 78-76=154 and was tied for 66th after day one. Joy ended the day shooting 8280=164 and tied for 76th.

As a team, the Bulldogs were in 16th place in the overall standings after two rounds with a 319-303=622.

Team standings through day one were No.

1 Santa Clara 289-283=572, No. 2 Cal-State Northridge 291-283=573, No. 3 Long Beach State 298-286=584 and, in 16th place, Drake.

The 54-hole tournament, hosted by the University of Wyoming, featured 19 NCAA Division I collegiate teams with approximately 95 individuals competing.

Three rounds of golf were played, with two Monday and the final round on Tuesday. Other local colleges competing included the University of Missouri-Kansas City and South Dakota State.

Athletes competed on the same course that has hosted the PGA’s Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in 2006, 2007 and 2008. For this collegiate tournament, the course is a par 72, spanning 7,305 yards.

Describing the trip as a whole, Joy said there is hope for the future.

“It hasn’t been the best weekend so far, but we still have one more chance to redeem ourselves in Texas,” Joy said.

The men’s golf team returns to action Oct. 26 at the Sienna Plantation Golf Club in Houston, Texas.

we would be questioning our goalscoring ability.”

Sunday’s victory over UND came just in time, as one of Drake’s strongest weapons going into the Thursday matchup will be confidence, something the Bulldogs hope to use against a struggling Northern Iowa team.

Northern Iowa has not won a single game since early September, but Drake’s focus will be on its own game and not the stats of previous games.

“At this point in the season, winning is about heart: Who wants it

PROPS

Thirty-five seconds remained on the clock in double-overtime. The scoreboard reminded fans in Drake Stadium that the game remained tied at 0-0 with North Dakota. This was Drake’s fourth double-overtime match of the season. Three doubleovertimes and three ties later, the Bulldogs felt the bitter breath of a fourth tie against their necks.

“I was extremely anxious and eager for a goal,” midfielder Blair Nelson (J4) said. “We needed someone to step up and be a hero.”

As time diminished, Head Coach Lindsey Horner was starting to feel like her squad had run out of time.

“I wasn’t nervous that UND would score on us,” Horner said. “It was just whether or not we would be able to put one away.”

Luckily for the Bulldogs, forward Ali Walsh (B2) took up the challenge.

From 30 yards out, the UND defenders swarmed Walsh as she viciously bolted down the field, following the keeper’s rebound. From 20 yards out, Walsh took her chance.

With six defenders blocking her dominant foot, she was forced to strike with her left. The ball slashed through the brisk October air directly at the goal.

The fans in Drake Stadium moved to the edges of their seats; not a single breath was heard. The ball passed the goalkeeper, zipping into the top corner of the net. As the soccer players say, upper 90: Perfect precision.

The fans erupted as cheers reverberated throughout Drake Stadium.

“Scoring a gut-wrenching goal with 35 seconds left with your nondominant foot is nothing short of impressive,” Nelson said. “It’s like a quarterback with no offensive line

more,” Nelson said.

Drake will also rely on its more seasoned players for experience, as well as passion.

“I think it’s easier to hit the refresh button with eight seniors who have gone through ups and downs in past seasons,” Nelson said. “As a whole, we make a decision to press on and focus on the next game.”

Thursday’s game against UNI will start at 7 p.m. at Cownie Soccer Complex.

MEN’S SOCCER TEAM The Drake men’s soccer team had a great week in terms of national and regional recognition.

The team opened up Missouri Valley Conference play with a convincing 3-1 win over Bradley on Oct. 3.

This win moved the Bulldogs up to No. 1 in a ranking of Midwest Regional teams by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.

The Bulldogs also re-entered the national polls with a ranking of No. 22.

The other recognition for the team this week went to Kevin Shrout (B4), who earned MVC defensive player of the week, marking the second-consecutive week that a Bulldog has taken home that award. Shrout earned the accolade when he moved back from his normal midfield position to fill in for Julien Edwards (B4), who was suspended with a red card.

The Bulldogs will play Wednesday at Western Illinois before they return to Des Moines for the first time in over a month.

Drake fans will get a chance to cheer on the Bulldogs when they host Missouri State at Cownie Soccer Complex Saturday at 7 p.m.

SPIKE’S ARMY

BARRACKS

There are some big games for Spike’s Army faithful to get out and support the Bulldogs this weekend.

• Tonight at 7 p.m.: Women’s soccer takes on Northern Iowa at Cownie Soccer Complex.

• Saturday at 1 p.m.: The football team takes on Missouri S&T for its homecoming game at Drake Stadium.

photo courtest of DRAKE INTRAMURALS

DELTA GAMMA, winners of the women’s soccer AllUniversity Championship.

SEND YOUR STORY IDEAS TO TDSPORTS@DRAKE.EDU

• Saturday at 7 p.m.: Volleyball takes on MVC rival Creighton in the Knapp Center.

• Saturday at 7 p.m.: Men’s soccer returns from a long road trip to take on Missouri State at Cownie Soccer Complex.

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

PAGE 7

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2009

SPORTS

Where is the pigskin love?

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

TRIATHLON CLUB

Pushing the limits

The football team is shining early in the PFL, yet student attendance is still sparse at home games

TRYGVE JENSEN COLUMNIST When I first stepped foot on the campus at Drake University I knew absolutely nothing about the football team. I began to see them around campus during welcome weekend. Cut-sleeve shirts, blue Drake Football shorts, walking around and looking like the kings of the campus. I just assumed, “Damn, these guys must be pretty good.”

Things began to change, however, as the first game approached. As a huge college football fan, I was excited to go see the hometown team in its first game of the 2009 campaign (even if it was a little short handed). I voiced my excitement to an upperclassman the day of the game and was a little shocked to hear the response, “Why? They suck.” He went on to explain that, in his years here, people would attend games until the team lost, and then no one would go to the games anymore.

I went to that first game with the few buddies I could scrap up who wanted to attend. As some of you might have noticed, as well, nobody was at the game.

The student section was barely half-full, with the band taking up a large portion of it. There were no cheers, no excitement and only two lonely soles who had fullbody paint. Basically, it was a bunch of people in blue t-shirts sitting (yes, sitting not standing) around watching the game. There was barely any excitement even for a touchdown.

My high school was about as bad as you could get at football, winning three games in three years, but that had no effect on the crowd at the game. Each Friday, there was a contingent of Warrior fans at the game, cheering and excited about watching the team play.

Some people might feel that the problem is a lack of a bond between the players

If there is one thing negative about my decision to come to Drake, it is that I feel like I am missing out on the true D-I experience. and the student population. The players are seen as the big, bad football guys who just talk to other players and keep to themselves. Anyone who has actually gotten to know any of the players knows that this is incorrect. Having had class, lived on the same floor and belonged to the same fraternity, all of the football players I have gotten to know are genuinely nice guys, not fitting the meathead stereotype whatsoever.

Some are under the impression that the team is not very good, and it is a waste of time to go watch a subpar team. This season, the Bulldogs’ lowest margin of victory has been 16, dominating all the opponents they have beaten. The only loss came against a tough South Dakota team that has also been dominating most of its opponents. By no means is this year’s team subpar.

If there is one thing negative about my decision to come to Drake, it is that I’m missing out on the true D-I college football experience (yes, we are a D-I championship subdivision team, not D-II or NAIA, as many believe). I listen in envy to my friends from Iowa, Purdue, Illinois and Northern Illinois talk about tailgating before the game or body surfing the crowd after a touchdown.

It is amazing how wild students at schools with teams that are not even very good, such as Purdue or Iowa go wild for games, even when they get beat by 35 points.

Watching bigtime college football games on Saturdays just makes me jealous of the awesome time that the students at others schools are having.

With a 3-1 team heading into homecoming, students should pack the stands this Saturday and cheer on their peers. The team members are in your classes, live in your residence halls and eat at the same dining halls as all of us. If we really are such a close-knit community at Drake, we can take some time out of our Saturday afternoons to go cheer on our friends, classmates and neighbors.

There just seems to be a lack of excitement surrounding the team here at Drake for football. We can try to change that a bit this weekend, otherwise, I guess I’ll just have to wait for basketball to get the full college sports atmosphere.

MEN’S TENNIS

Improvement shown

photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo Editor

MAURICIO BALLIVIAN (B3) lines up for a baseline forehand during the Drake Fall Invitational at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

by TAD UNRUH

Staff Writer tad.unruh@drake.edu

The Drake men’s tennis team competed in the Wildcat Fall Invitational last weekend at Northwestern in Evanston, Ill. The team got off to a slow start Friday, losing three matches in tiebreakers and finishing day one of the tournament with a 2-6 combined singles and doubles record.

“We really struggled through the first day of the tournament and we could have done better,” Guilherme Marsiglia (B4) said.

James McKie (B1) was responsible for one of Drake’s victories with a win over Alasdair Graetz of DePaul by the score of 6-4, 7-6 (1).

“James McKie has made an immediate impact,” Marsiglia said. “The kid is playing his

tail off and has integrated very easily into our team.”

The second day of the invitational saw the team improve its results, while McKie continued his high performance.

“James pretty much carried the team through this tournament and the last,” Marsiglia said. “It is great to see such a young player step up.”

The Bulldogs finished the tournament with a 3-3 record Sunday, with the Drake freshmen providing much of the firepower for the team.

Ryan Drake (AS1) won a 6-3, 6-1 decision over Bryant Dudzik of Toledo, while McKie teamed up with Mauricio Ballivian (B3) to defeat Matija Palinic and Douglas Perrin of DePaul by the score of 8-2.

The Bulldogs will finish up their fall season in the ITA Central Regional Oct. 22 through Oct. 26.

photo by Tyler O’Neil | Relays Editor

JIM DAVIS (B3) bikes on 28th Street as a part of his triathlon training. Davis shares his passion for triathlons with students at Drake as part of the Triathlon Club.

Dedication to triathlons teaches Drake student to see things from different perspective

by PETER ZEMANSKY Sports Editortdsports@drake.edu

For most people, a 1.5-kilometer swim, a 40-kilometer bike ride or a 10-kilometer run would be a nearly impossible task. For Jim Davis (B3), however, these three athletic feats merely represent his biggest hobby.

Davis is now in his second year as president of Drake’s triathlon club, a club that is designed to help its members train to take part in triathlons.

Davis got his start in triathlons before he came to Drake, courtesy of his father.

“I was in high school and my dad asked me if I wanted to run one in two weeks,” Davis said.

“At first, I didn’t think I could because you were supposed to train for them longer. As soon as I crossed the finish line, though, I was hooked.”

Davis said he did a couple more triathlons while he was in high school and has now completed eight triathlons. He says that the feeling of completing a triathlon exhilarates him, and is the reason he keeps on doing them.

“When you cross the finish line, it is just an incredible, indescribable feeling,” Davis said.

“You feel the exhaustion and the personal satisfaction all at once.”

Davis also feels like triathlons have become an important part of his life, even when he is not running, biking or swimming.

“Running triathlons has helped me focus on the long-term goals that I have, instead of just on short-term results,” Davis said. “It helps me keep things in perspective. I know that I might not be able to do something today, right away, but I know I am building toward the big picture – my life goals.”

Along with as keeping himself involved in triathlons, Davis has gotten other members of the Drake community involved in triathlons.

“I was a summer residence assistant in the

summer of 2008 and he was my resident,” Ben Cooper (AS3) said. “He got me to start running with him and we started talking about doing triathlons, so we started the tri-club that year.”

Through the triathlon club, Davis has been able to share his hobby with other members of Drake’s community and, under his leadership, the group’s membership has nearly tripled since it was created. Membership now stands at 41 members. The club is even sponsored by Zoom Performance, a local company that specializes in endurance training.

“Jim is a very passionate individual and he exudes confidence,” Cooper said. “That has given the club a lot of momentum to move forward, which is strongly evidenced by the large increase in membership.”

Although Davis could rest on the laurels of eight complete triathlons, and his status as president and a founding member of Drake’s triathlon club, Davis still has more goals for himself in the triathlon field.

There are four lengths of triathlon races – sprint, Olympic, Half-Ironman and Ironman.

Davis has only completed the first two distances.

“I have done sprint and Olympic triathlons,” Davis said. “I want to do a Half-Ironman next summer, and some day, I want to do a full Ironman.”

In the meantime, Davis will keep training for the next triathlon, always pushing himself to improve to reach his next goal.

After participating in his first triathlon in a spur-of-the-moment decision, Davis has found himself a hobby that he hopes to carry on throughout his life.

“I plan to do these triathlons for as long as I can,” Davis said. “Or, at least, until my body starts to break down.”

THE TIMES-DELPHIC

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2009

PAGE 8