THE TIMES-DELPHIC THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER FOR DRAKE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
WHAT’S
INSIDE
DES MOINES, IOWA • Thursday, January 28, 2010 • VOL. 128, NO. 24 • www.timesdelphic.com
Iowa considers Everclear ban
MEDBURY CHAPEL
OUTSPOKEN
MEN’S BASKETBALL
MEN’S TENNIS
The story behind the creepy cylindrical chapel that graces the side of Medbury.
What do you think about the possible banning of Everclear?
Previewing the MVC matchup against Creighton at 7:05 Saturday.
Despite injuries, the Bulldogs take home two titles in the MVC individuals tourney.
PAGE 5 FEATURES
PAGE 3 OPINIONS
PAGE 6 SPORTS
PAGE 7 SPORTS
HANGING ON TO
HOPE
State commission holds town hall meeting, no decision on a state-wide ban by HEIDI RITT
Staff Writer heidi.ritt@drake.edu
The Iowa Alcoholic Beverage Commission (IABC) met Tuesday night to hear comments and concerns about the future sale of Everclear in the state. The panel of five held a public forum entitled “I Think” at Drake University to hear opinions on highly concentrated alcoholic beverages, such as Everclear, that may be flammable or very intoxicating to those consuming it. The panel’s goal was to let the community weigh in on possible restrictions and regulations of this beverage. Some ideas aimed at preventing the overconsumption of highly concentrated alcohols (HCAs) were education for young adults and tax increases. Also discussed was the possible decrease in size availability, the requirement of lower alcohol content levels and a complete ban of HCAs. Another common opinion was, if the commission bans Everclear, individuals would still abuse other liquors. Several citizens voiced concerns against tax increases. “Taxing regular citizens who use it responsibly will eventually make them unable to afford it,” community member James Snapp said. Snapp uses the pint-sized bottle of Everclear in a recipe for apple pie. The IABC found it appropriate to hold the forum at Drake in light of the students, faculty, staff and administration whom were all affected in November by a student’s consumption of Everclear as part of a fraternity hazing. “We hope that through education and awareness we can prevent this type of incident from occurring again,” said Jeremy Thompson, the representative of Luxco, the company that is responsible for Everclear sales in Iowa. “The incident was a result of extreme irresponsibility. The same outcome would occur with any
SEE EVERCLEAR, PAGE 2
Former student campaign workers reflect on President Obama’s first year in office photos by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA delivered the State of the Union address last night. by MATT VASILOGAMBROS Editor-in-Chief times.delphic@drake.edu
On Jan. 20, 2009, President Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States after the American people, inspired by hope and ready for change, elected him by an overwhelming majority. However, in a year where polarizing debates over health care and the economy flooded the American political discourse, public support decreased and the momentum seen on Election Day now seems unfamiliar. Pollster, a organization that finds trend estimates from many of the major polling companies in the country, lists Obama’s job approval rating at 48.8 percent, with 46.7 percent in disapproval. Nevertheless, for the Drake students who played a pivotal
role in both the caucus and general elections by interning or volunteering, the hope still remains after the first year of Obama’s presidency. Julia Conte, who graduated in last May and now is a graduate student at the University of Chicago, had a field internship during the Iowa caucuses. She said that by studying in the university that Obama once taught at and working in the neighborhood he had worked in as a community organizer, she has gained a tremendous respect for what he has done professionally. “I think he’s made a positive push toward social policy in terms of education and heath care to a place where there’s more equal access,” she said. “I’m still a fan, obviously.” Among some of the issues President Obama spoke of in the State of the Union address last night, health care stood
out. Junior English major Josie Berg-Hammond, who interned as a volunteer coordinator and precinct captain for the Obama campaign, looks to 2010 as the year a health care bill might finally be signed into law. “I do hope that we keep moving on health care,” she said. “I think it’s scary watching all the debates on health care and watching everybody flip back and forth. I look forward to some sort of settling coming. I hope that people on both sides of the issue can be helped in some way, but I don’t think it’s a completely one-sided thing. I just hope that whatever we finally figure out is something that isn’t going to divide us more.” Steven Bieret, a junior secondary education major, assisted a field worker with voter registration drives during the general
SEE OBAMA, PAGE 2
Drake Facilities might go overbudget on snow, ice removal by TYLER O’NEIL
Relays Editor tyler.oneil@drake.edu
Unrelenting winter weather has eaten away a large chunk of the Drake University Facility Services’ budget. As of Jan. 25, the university had spent $50,168.53 on snow and ice control. Facilities spent $75,426.29 for all of last winter and with six weeks left of ice and snow, Drake Facilities General Manager Mark Chambers says he is concerned he will overshoot his budget. “What can you do?” Chambers said. “You have to keep campus safe and the sidewalks clear.” The 41 inches of snow in Des Moines since November has not been the main problem, Chamber says. A large chunk of expenses have come from the snow sticking around. “Usually the cycle of snow and melting prevents piles from getting too large,” Chambers said. “But it just was not going away.” Low temperatures kept snow from melting, causing it to pile up. Chambers said Facilities then had to pay $4,668.75 for a dump truck service to move the snow from parking lots to “melt away” locations on campus. This is something Facility Ser-
vices has had to do in the past, but Chambers said it is an atypical expense. When the temperature reaches above freezing, another problem arises. The melted snow makes sidewalks wet during the day, but at night the water freezes. Workers then have to constantly add more salt and ice to the paved areas. “Unless you are standing there watching it, you cannot keep up with the ice,” Chambers said. Facility Services have been making efforts to make the budget last. Over break, the plowing contractor did not clear unused lots and snow was left in piles while students were gone, but Chambers said Facilities continued to use the same amount of salt. “We have tried to be conservative, but not stingy,” Chambers said. Chambers says if the winter weather does not let up for the remaining weeks of winter, he will likely be forced to go over budget. If that happens he will work with Vicky Payseur, vice president of business and finance for Drake, to find a solution. “Generally speaking, we can manage a small overage by under-spending in another budget area,” Payseur said in an email. “I am not overly concerned at this point.” n
DRAKE’S ROLE IN OBAMA’S VICTORY Sept. 5, 2008 Former Democratic Chairman Howard Dean visits campus. Sept. 18, 2008 Iowa Gov. Chet Culver campaigns for Obama in Aliber Hall. Sept. 26, 2008 “Superman Returns” actor Brandon Routh visits Drake. Oct. 15, 2008 Early Voting held in the Olmsted Center.
Drake Act. Sci. program gains national recognition by MATT NELSON
Staff Writer matthew.nelson@drake.edu
photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
SNOW REMOVAL has been costly for the university.
The Society of Actuaries, the world’s largest actuarial professional organization, recently honored the Drake Actuarial Science program for being a Center of Actuarial Excellence (CAE). The distinction, given to only 12 universities in the country, will last for five years and make Drake eligible to compete for CAE education and research grants. “First and foremost, this designation as a Center of Actuarial Excellence is a recognition of the accomplishments of our alumni and current students,” said Rahul Parsa in a Drake University press release. Parsa is a professor of actuarial science, as well as coordinator of the program and adviser for the Drake Actuarial Society. Drake’s program has produced
SEE ACT SCI, PAGE 2