THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER FOR DRAKE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
THE TIMES-DELPHIC WHAT’S
INSIDE
DES MOINES, IOWA • Monday, November 23, 2009 • VOL. 128, NO. 19 • www.timesdelphic.com
Firstyears still waiting for Senate Three-hour debate results in failed motion by ERIN HOGAN News Editor tdnews@drake.edu
Senator Eric Gudmundson’s motion to create a first-year senator position was voted down last Thursday with plans for revision by his committee and reconsideration in the coming weeks. Gudmundson, elected last spring as a senator-at-large, is the chair of the first-year interest committee. The group of 11 first-year students meets weekly to voice concerns of first-year students and plan programming specifically directed toward first-years. Gudmundson and his committee agreed that first-years were not being properly represented “around the table” in the Senate, prompting them to draft this motion. “This was something we came up with at the first meeting that we’re really passionate about,” Gudmundson said. “We wrote this as a group. It’s the first time first-year interests has tried to make a bylaw change, and I’ve never been so proud of a group before.” The entire committee came to the meeting Thursday to present their motion and answer questions from the senators. Motion SS [091112]-F would change the Senate bylaws. Instead of electing 10 senators-at-large in the spring, the student body would elect nine. The following fall, the student body president and the vice president of student life would select a first-year senator from the first-year committee member applicants. As the committee hoped the mo-
FOOTBALL
STAFF EDITORIAL
DRINK RESPONSIBLY
NEW MOON
Although Drake lost to Butler Saturday, the team got its swagger back.
Now is the time to open a campuswide dialogue on the issues at hand.
How college students should stay safe on their nights out.
Reviewing the movie that has all the teenage girls swooning.
PAGE 8 SPORTS
PAGE 3 OPINIONS
PAGE 4 FEATURES
PAGE 4 FEATURES
NEXT STOP: NEXT BOSTON STOP:
BOSTON
Whitmer resigns from Senate by ERIN HOGAN News Editor tdnews@drake.edu
SEE WHITMER, PAGE 2
photos by SARAH ANDREWS |Photo Editor
LUKE GORCZYCA and the men’s soccer team beat W. Illinois and Ohio State in the NCAA tourney.
Drake beat No. 4 Ohio State in the second round of the NCAA tournament, faces Boston College next team surpassed its goal and brought the Drake men’s soccer program into uncharted territory, as the Bulldogs shocked No. 13 Ohio State on its own field to proby JENNA DELONG Staff Writer pel Drake into the Sweet Sixteen. jenna.delong@drake.edu The Bulldogs and the Buckeyes played n August, the Drake men’s soccer to a 0-0 draw after 90 minutes of regulateam began its journey with one tion ended before a golden-goal header thing in mind — making it past the from senior midfielder Luke Gorczyca first round of the NCAA tourna- gave Drake an overtime win in Columment. Some of those days started early in bus, Ohio. the morning with workouts and went late “That was our first overtime win of the into the night with practice, and each day season and it came at the perfect time,” put them one step closer to their target. junior midfielder Matt Kuhn said. “I’m On Thursday night, the Bulldogs accomplished this feat and, on Sunday, the SEE SOCCER, PAGE 6 by PETER ZEMANSKY
Staff Writer peter.zemansky@drake.edu
I photo courtesy of STUDENT SENATE
BEN WHITMER resigned from his post as senator-at-large Thursday.
THE DUBLIN owner Annie Baldwin met with Dean of Students Sentwali Bakari Friday to discuss recent criminal activity.
Bar owner agrees to changes by TYLER O’NEIL
Relays Editor tyler.oneil@drake.edu
University officials met with the owner of The Dublin Friday afternoon to try to collaborate efforts to deter underage drinking at the popular student bar. Annie Baldwin, owner of The Dublin and several other area bars, met with Dean of Students Sentwali Bakari for over an hour to hear what changes the university would like to see at the establishment. The meeting was a reaction to two reported sexual assaults of Drake students tied to the bar Nov. 14. The Des Moines Register reported last week there have been four sexual assaults related to the establishment in the last six months. Bakari said he thought the conference went well. “It was a productive meeting in which we were clear about our expectations and what needs to be done to better ensure the safety of our students,” Bakari said. “For example, we want to see better checking of IDs to determine whether students are of legal age to drink.” Bakari said Baldwin agreed to specific changes, including having some of her employees receive training from Des Moines police on how to detect fake IDs. Overall, Bakari added, “It was a positive meeting that indicates the owner wants to work with us to resolve the issues surrounding underage drinking. We have agreed to continue to meet regularly with the owner and the Des Moines police. We expect our next meeting will take place in December.” Baldwin said the meeting went well, but did not comment on the reported sexual assault or underage drinking at The Dublin. n
SEE SENATE, PAGE 2
Organizational Council co-chair Senator Ben Whitmer resigned from his position at last Thursday’s Senate meeting. The sophomore’s resignation will take effect next semester. “I have been struggling to understand what my role is here at Drake,” Whitmer said. “I have been conflicted in what direction to take and where I should concentrate my efforts.” Whitmer said he had carefully considered his role in Senate. “I don’t have the same passion for
photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo Editor
Maxwell clarifies his response by RIANE MENARDI
Staff Writer riane.menardi@drake.edu
Last Thursday, President Maxwell sent a campuswide memorandum to clarify his statement from Nov. 16, which left many students and faculty confused and irritated. On Monday, Maxwell issued a statement in response to a question he had received regarding the alcohol culture on college campuses. It detailed the abuse of alcohol and excessive binge drinking in the community. The statement appeared to be his response to the two indents of sexual assault from the weekend of Nov. 14. However, last week’s faculty senate meeting revealed that that was not the intention. Faculty said the statement could have been misinterpreted, given the way it was presented in “The Des Moines Register” and other media outlets. However, several students and faculty members said they were frustrated that the statement did not mention sexual assault.
SEE MAXWELL, PAGE 2