THE TIMES-DELPHIC THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER FOR DRAKE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
DES MOINES, IOWA • Monday, April 19, 2010 • VOL. 128, NO. 42 • www.timesdelphic.com
STREET PAINTING Pharmacy admission standards to be altered next year by MARY BESS BOLLING Sports Editor tdsports@drake.edu
Hundreds of students turn out to color Carpenter Avenue by NICOLE MITTELBRUN
Staff Writer nicole.mittelbrun@drake.edu
It’s noon on the Friday of street painting, and sophomores Dan Litzenberg and Ryan Swanson have their shirts off and are laughing as they rush to cover their Ultimate Frisbee Club square in blue paint. First-year and co-chair of the event Emily Schmid said the committee has been preparing for this since September and had 56 organizations sign up for squares. “We put entry forms in all of the organization mailboxes and someone from each organization had to turn in a slip and had to attend a meeting,” Schmid said. There are many elements the street painting committee has to prepare for. “Mostly we were worried about the weather. We also make sure organizations have enough paint and we have extra chalk for everyone,” Schmid said. “We tell them to use a gallon for the background, but at least a few more quarts of actual color per square, it’s a lot of paint, plus we tell everyone to buy extra since people come around and throw and steal your paint.” First-year Adrian Mendez pur-
chased five gallons and five quarts for the Sigma Phi Epsilon square he helped to paint. “Our design is basically Spike in the front of a race track shaped like a heart to represent the Sig Ep heart and stadium seating with Sig Ep signs on it,” Mendez said. “It was very hectic trying to paint through everyone running around and throwing paint, but it was really fun. People stole a lot of paint, but we made it work.” Sophomore Zach Johnson said that he always looks forward to the paint fight. “The painting is so fun,” Johnson said. “The most memorable part from last year, however, was trying to get clean afterwards. I was washing my hair for about two hours and was picking out paint for a few weeks. Somebody in our house just shaved his head. The cleaning is worth the fun of street painting, though.” First-year Hannah Pink designed the square for Alpha Phi. “I just made our square really colorful,” Pink said. “I was very excited to show off our awesome block and I had a blast with my friends.” From first-years to seniors, the experience was one to remember. “It was chaotic and crazy, and it was messier than I expected,” first-
photos by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS came together last Friday for the Drake Relays Street Painting on Carpenter Avenue. year Kristina Wasem said. Judging of the squares occurred Saturday morning and was conducted by various faculty members. The
categories include president’s choice, best use of theme, most creative and best overall. To see the results, visit The Times-Delphic Web site. n
Leaders and Luminaries recognizes top students by RYAN AUSTIN
Staff Writer ryan.austin@drake.edu
photo by AFSANEH ZAERI | Staff Photographer
KYLE LEWANDOWSKI shakes hands with President Maxwell after being named the outstanding senior of the year.
Last Friday, Sheslow Auditorium filled with hundreds of students who were invited because they made the most of their year at Drake University. The 10th Annual Leaders and Luminaries ceremony was held at 12:15 p.m. Awards were given to recognize programs, organizations and individuals who have shown scholastic aptitude, commitment to the Drake community and leadership potential. “The opportunity to celebrate your accomplishments, what you’ve done for others, what you’ve done in the community, is really a special thing for us,” President David Maxwell said, addressing the crowd from the stage of Sheslow Auditorium. Over 100 seniors were nominated for the top senior students award. One senior award recipient had a piece of advice for those striving to be recognized for excellence. “All you need is a little ambition,” junior Rachel Haase said. “A desire to not only do well but to also do good.” A number of awards were given to
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student-run programs. African Renaissance Night, which was put on by the African Student Association, won for outstanding diversity program. The Iowa Earth Summit, developed by the Drake Environmental Action League was recognized as the outstanding educational program of the year. Herriott and Morehouse Halls received outstanding social program awards for their “Classy Night in Black and White” formal event. The Coalition of Black Students was presented with the weekend alcohol alternative program award for their “Catwalks for a Cause” fashion show. The outstanding new student organization was given to The Outdoor Leadership Club. Stalnaker Hall’s Executive Council was recognized as the Outstanding Organization of the Year. The most prestigious award was saved until the end of the ceremony. The Oreon E. Scott Outstanding Senior of the Year award is given to the most accomplished senior student at Drake. This year, the award was given to Kyle Lewandowski, who has made the president’s or dean’s list for his seven semesters at Drake, is the Cadet Commander for Drake ROTC and is a graduate of the Emerging Leaders Model and the Adams Academy. n
The Doctor of Pharmacy program’s move to new admissions criteria, originally scheduled for this year, will not take effect until next year’s pre-pharmacy class applies for the program. The delay came after controversy surrounded the initial admissions notifications. Sophomore pre-pharmacy applicants sought clarity on the new admissions process while the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (CPHS) administrators searched for the communication disconnection about program changes. In 2007, an accrediting body suggested Drake’s PharmD program change admission criteria for this year’s applicant class. New requirements included a written assessment, a standardized national application, an interview and a cap to the program. The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) mandated the interview and the 120-student cap. “There was a cap this year because the ACPE told us that we are set up to take around 110 to 115 students,” said Raylene Rospond, dean of the CPHS. These changes transformed the college’s admissions process from guaranteed progression, in which students who meet the minimum requirements automatically have a spot, to guaranteed consideration, in which a student automatically has an opportunity to interview for a spot. “When you have had a program in place for 26 years, it’s problematic in making this big of a shift,” Rospond said. After reviewing written communications, the PharmD admissions committee decided to make an exception for this year’s sophomore prepharmacy class, reverting back to admissions criteria outlined in the first acceptance letter students received in 2008. The change back to the old admissions requirements will allow admission to any student who meets the GPA requirements and completes the required coursework and interview portion. Sophomore pre-pharmacy student Taylor Wypyszinski, who was initially waitlisted, said that the change is the right decision for the school. “I appreciate what they’re doing,” Wypyszinski said. “My faith is restored in the pharmacy program and the university.” The change back to the original criteria came after a review of all written communications with this year’s sophomore pre-pharmacy class, conducted by Rospond. She then took that information to the admissions committee. The committee decided to revert back to the criteria they thought was clearly stated in the communications to the class. This decision disregarded the written assessment as well as the cap.
SEE PHARM, PAGE 2
FEATURES
OPINION
SPORTS
SPEED
Bulldogs are stepping out and coming together for Drake’s cause.
Art, poetry, essays and columns come together to discuss campus thoughts.
A rundown of athletic achievements, futures and teams.
Watch Drake’s history transform from its inception, right up to the 2010 Relays.
A PREVIEW TO THE 2010 RELAYS EDITION
PAGE 2A
NEWS
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
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THE TIMES-DELPHIC
The students elect senators-at-large because they want to see results. The revised bylaws allow for senate to better serve the student body because the new positions make more sense.
PAGETWO
—CARLA OLSZEWSKI , SEE PAGE 5A
Vice Provost Burney to leave Drake after seven years Burney will head to Doane College in June hired as the vice president of academic affairs years now and the best part of the day is always the interaction with the students. From the beginning, the kids are engaged in class, bonding with one another and eager to come to class.” Vice Provost John Burney has held himself Students in Burney’s first-year seminar to exceptional standards his entire life and when class participated in a role-playing simulation the opportunity to better any community arises, attempting to write a constitution for India in why not take it? 1946. In June, Burney will begin his new position Ankita Dhussa, a first-year student, dedicatas vice president of academic affairs at Doane ed herself wholly to the role-playing simulation. College in Crete, Neb. “I loved Dr. Burney’s teaching style,” Dhussa “Doane is an interesting, smaller liberal arts said. “He provided us with the resources we college,” Burney said. “They are really interest- needed and encouraged discussions and debates ed in taking the next step up in terms of helping in the classroom. He has contributed to the to develop more scholarship while looking at the school by teaching a course different from most curriculum, making sure they’re doing innova- first-year seminars and encouraging his students tive teaching.” to look at issues we had not examined in much The school, located just outside of Lincoln, detail before.” needs the current vice provost’s guidance to Students in his first-year seminar class also work with students and to improve curriculum, praised Burney for his innovative teaching style as well as help programs to receive recognition in comparison to all of their other first-year for the work they do. classes. Nebraska holds another secret appeal for Burney says he has developed his captivating Burney. teaching style through experience in a variety of “All of our family, my wife and I, is from Ne- academics. braska. My mom and sister live in Lincoln, and “I started out as a professor of history,” BurI have a brother in Omaha,” Burney said. “This ney said. “I received my Ph.D. in European hisopportunity not only offers the influential posi- tory, particularly French history, so for almost 20 tion of chief academic officer, but also brings us years I taught European history of the French closer to family.” Revolution, Second World War, the Holocaust Burney acknowledges that the Drake fam- and European society.” ily’s development and talent has become a part Burney taught for 17 years at Loras College of his day-to-day life. in Dubuque, Iowa. He advanced from professor “I’ve only of history, to being been in two placchair of the faculty es for 24 years,” senate and then to Burney said. vice president of “There are lots academic affairs. of good people Entering Drake here. There are in 2003 as dean of lots of interestarts and sciences, ing things goBurney had many ing on at Drake goals in mind inthat I’ve been cluding projects, involved with. such as updating I am curious to en– WANDA EVERAGE, vice provost for classroom see how they vironment and student affairs and academic excellence will develop and technology as well hope they’ll conas developing the tinue to develop after I’m gone.” school’s mission statement. In addition to his work as vice provost, Bur“On the university’s side, we took key terms ney has also found his way into the classroom. such as ‘responsible global citizenship’ and “One thing about Drake is the quality of stu- defined what we meant by them, what kind dents. I have taught first-year seminars for a few of learning outcomes we wanted students to by JESSICA MATTES
Staff Writer jessica.mattes@drake.edu
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He is insightful, funny and has a constant synergy about him. I learned so much while working with him.
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photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
JOHN BURNEY began his career at Drake in 2003 as the dean of arts and sciences. This June Burney will leave Drake and head to Doane College in Crete, Neb. achieve to show they could be successful professionals and responsible global citizens,” Burney said. Improving technology and other classroom amenities also topped Burney’s list of to-dos. The ultimate goal is to have many buildings resemble Olin Hall. “It is important for students to be comfortable at tables, where it is easy to participate in group conversation and interaction,” Burney said. Faculty also agreed that informal, emphasized spaces in academic buildings where students could sit and relax between classes or discuss class work must be included. “The director of the library and I made a video of all the lousy classrooms on campus,” Burney said. “We showed the deans, administration and Board of Trustees our film in one of the lousiest rooms on campus. The consensus
First-years to have discussion
photo by SARAH ANDREWS| Photo/Design Editor
DRAKE LIVE DRIVE is an initiative to raise awareness about homeless youth domestic violence and shelter services. By encouraging the community to make charitable donations, Live Drive collected everything from canned and non perishable food items to household items. The project ran from March 25 to last Thursday, April 15. Staff and participants were recognized for their efforts at the Official Awards Reception Thursday night.
FROM PHARM, PAGE 1 Operating under the U.S. Department of Education, the ACPE has the power to strip accreditation from any school that doesn’t comply with its standards, which would render pharmacy students unable to practice. To ensure that this didn’t happen to any of Drake’s pharmacy students, Rospond contacted the ACPE and explained the situation. The accrediting body decided that this year’s possible breach of the cap would not jeopardize the status of the Drake PharmD program’s accreditation, Rospond said in an e-mail to all sophomore pre-pharmacy majors.
Senate discusses collaboration budgets for student groups by RACHEL KAUFFOLD
Staff Writer rachel.kauffold@drake.edu
Any concerns that were brought up at the previous meeting about budgeting to annually funded organizations were addressed, and the annual budget was approved at last Thursday’s meeting. “The comments were much more positive than last year,” said Sen. Emily Krstulic when asked about the student feedback from the budget poster in the Olmsted Breezeway. The most prominent issue that arose from discussions over the budget from the past two weeks was role of Senate in monitoring collaboration between annually funded organizations. Coalition of Black Students received $500 for a “collaboration” line item, while SAB did not receive any of the $6,000 that they requested for the same line item in their own budget. La Fuerza Latina received $500 for a “cosponsoring” line item. However, Student Body Treasurer Kyle Lewandowski reminded Senate that once organizations are given their budget, they are free to spend it however they want, which could include collaborations. “What is Senate’s role in defining collaboration?” Lewandowski asked. “There’s organizations that are spending money not exactly how their budget is written. Organizations see opportunities to work together and they don’t see that back in March or April when they submit a budget.” “What may happen is that organizations have funding for events that fall through, and then they dump that money into a pool to spend on something later,” Byron Spears, the
was to redo classrooms modeled around Olin 206.” Olin, a multimillion-dollar project, received grant funding. A design committee worked with faculty members to create flexible classrooms. After such diligence poured into a university, how does Burney feel about leaving? “I will always miss the people I work with and the outstanding quality of students,” Burney said. “You’re always sad to leave someplace.” Wanda Everage, vice provost for student affairs and academic excellence, tags Burney as an outstanding colleague. “How John challenged the faculty to think beyond the classroom work, and how it benefits the students in their outside work was remarkable,” Everage said. “He is insightful, funny and has a constant synergy about him. I learned so much while working with him.” n
vice president-elect of student life, explained. “What kind of protection is there against that to make sure that student activity fees are spent in the best way for the student body?” Sen. Carla Olszewski stated that if one organization wants to hold an event, and another organization wants to participate, it’s unclear “what the point is making them jump through another loophole in order to collaborate.” “One of the reasons that Senate gets a bad reputation on campus is because we try to control everything,” she said. Senate resolved to look further into proposing a change to the Student Fees Handbook that would create a reasonable way to monitor the financial collaboration of annually funded organizations. Tisleen Singh, vice president of student activities, reported that Student Activities Board will be discussing the possibility of programming for the same day every week for the next school year at their next meeting. Spears reported that six candidates are running to fill two organizational council senator positions for the next school year. Those candidates will be elected April 28 by the Organizational Council to serve on Student Senate. In his bimonthly report, Student Body Auditor Cory Vancura quickly presented the current standing of organization budgets to Senate. The presentation showed what percentage of each annual budget has been spent by this point in the year. Vancura encouraged any organization that has not yet turned in receipts for purchases out of their budgets to file them as soon as possible to the Student Life Office. n
Future class communications Pharmacy administrators said that communications with this year’s first-year pre-pharmacy class were clearer. “The admissions letter and the information from the dean were different from what the sophomores received,” said Renea Chesnut, CPHS associate dean for academic and student affairs. “Because a year had passed, so the faculty had given us more definitive information that we could share with the students.” Though the written communications improved, the first-year class is not yet fully clear on next year’s admissions process. “Right now, my class is kind of in the dark,”
freshman pre-pharmacy student Alex Hendzel said. “Dean Rospond said at the sophomore meeting that there would be a first-year meeting later this month or next month, so I’m am definitely looking forward to that and getting some answers.” Chesnut said an informational session for the first-year class was already planned, as it was for last year’s first-year. “Darcy (Doty, admissions liaison for CPHS) went in and talked to the current sophomores last year, but that was outside the CAPS class; this year, we’re doing it in a class session,” Chesnut said. “That way, we know that students won’t have a conflict.” The session will outline a basic timeline for the admissions process next year. It will also provide information on the PharmCAS, which is the national application every student applying to pharmacy school in the United States must complete. More information regarding the written assessment and interview will also be available. As for prospective students, Chesnut said that college administrators met with admissions counselors the week before spring break to make sure the program criteria were clear. The college is working with the marketing and communications departments to develop a communications plan in order to reach out to alumni about the changes in the program. n
AROUNDthe
TABLE
Did you know .. . defined as a is ift g r jo a m a ke At Dra more. gift of $25,000 or The Drake Fund
PAGE 3A
NEWS
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
Leading the way Ambassadors make first impression by MATT NELSON
Assistant Relays Editor matthew.nelson@drake.edu
photo by SARAH ANDREWS |Photo/Design Editor
ANNE MURR, originally from California, has directed the Adult Literacy Program for the last 12 years.
A literacy superwoman Anne Murr works every day to help adults gain literacy at Head Start, Murr found her true passion. “I found that I most loved working with families and parents, helping them reach their goals,” she said. Murr volunteered as a tutor for a year and a half Two middle-aged men sit at a round table among in the Adult Literacy Program when the director anrows of low bookshelves. One man, with graying hair nounced her retirement. Murr made the decision to and a faded John Deere hat, slowly reads a list of sen- step into the position and never looked back. tences from a spiral notebook, stuttering over the word Her role is an important one. The Adult Literacy “splattered.” His tutor, a younger man in a blue polo, Program was initially started with a federal grant. But wears a constant, comforting smile as he listens to his after that money was used up, the program was taken on adult student read. and continued on a completely volunteer basis. The pair meets once a week for an hour in the Drake As the director, Murr is in charge of taking applicaUniversity School of Education, and through the Adult tions and assessing candidates for the program. Literacy Program, the weathered student is learning to “That’s when I get to hear how not being able to read at 42 years of age. read hurts them,” she said. “Everyone has a story.” This would not be possible without Anne Murr, who She also coordinates volunteer tutors and pairs has been the director of the Adult Literacy Program for them with adult learners. There are 70 students en12 years. In 2009, the program taught 114 adults in the rolled in the two-year program, with 86 volunteers that Des Moines area how to read and write. Murr trains and individually matches with students. “We help them understand themselves,” Murr said. While Murr downplays the amount of work that can “It gets rid of those emotional issues that came with not go into making the program run smoothly, it doesn’t go being able to read; reading is something negative for unnoticed. them.” “She is the Adult Literacy Program,” said Kris Born in California, Murr moved to Colo, Iowa, Crabtree-Groff, who works across the hall from Murr in when she was in fifth grade. Her family moved again, the School of Education. “She is the face, the director this time to Des Moines when she was in middle school. and the advocate of all the clients. It’s not just a job, you She graduated from East High School. know, it’s in her heart. It’s her passion.” Murr took classes at Simpson, Morningside College Murr’s background in elementary education allows and the University of Northern Iowa, traveling with her her to understand literacy formation and what it takes husband as he taught at those colto regain the sense of language leges. She ended her undergraduate that is necessary to become litschooling at Drake University with erate at an older age. a degree in elementary education “What a good reader and an endorsement in early childknows is a natural progreshood education. sion,” she explained. “You “Really, where didn’t I go to coldon’t know why you know lege?” she said with a laugh. “I went things, you just know them. to a few different schools because I But for these students, the got married young and started havwhole process of learning to ing kids, so I came back to college as read has to be practiced and a nontraditional student.” – KRIS CRABTREE-GROFF, internalized.” Murr’s early childhood endorseThe program begins with assistant professor of education ment helped her get into the field. phonics and pronunciation, “Through that program, I moving from one-syllable to learned about how literacy is formed and how children two-syllable words and beyond. learn to read,” Murr said. “It takes years,” Murr said. “This isn’t about getting But she didn’t begin at the Adult Literacy Center them to a high level. It’s allowing them to be functional right after getting her undergraduate degree. Murr be- in a world of words; they can be independent.” gan at Head Start right after graduation. Head Start is More than anything, Murr has stayed with the proa child development center at Drake for children from gram for 12 years because of her immense passion for birth to five years of age in families that fall below the the program and what it does for its students. federal poverty line. “If you ever volunteer with adult learners, you get “I worked and took my six hours a semester that hooked,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “I can see the I got for free as an employee towards my master’s de- students becoming more confident, gaining their selfgree,” she said. worth again. There is so much gratitude and need; you Through the knowledge and experience she gained just can’t walk away.” n by EMILY KRSTULIC
Staff Writer emily.krstulic@drake.edu
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Many Drake University undergraduates were once wide-eyed prospective students clutching blue folders to their chests while they walked around campus, trying to mask their anxiety. Coming to a college for the first time can be terrifying; the Student Ambassador program soothes this visitation experience. “The Student Ambassador program, which has a very long history here at Drake, is designed to offer the opportunity for prospective students to have conversations with current students,” said Deneen Dygert, associate director of undergraduate admissions. “It’s a very profound conversation for a prospective student to have.” Student Ambassadors represent more than the interests of admissions; they are a slice of life at Drake. The 30 ambassadors come from a wide range of majors and backgrounds and are intensively trained to fill information gaps. “I think what separates the Drake student from the Student Ambassador is the training they go through,” Dygert said. “Each student has to represent not only their experience, they have to represent the experience of others at Drake. So if we have an ambassador who’s a journalism major, he or she has to know a little bit about the pharmacy program, a little bit about the business school.” The primary job of a Student Ambassador is to lead around those wide-eyed and enthusiastic collegiate first-timers on campus tours. Tours are offered every day of the week, including some special weekends. Ambassadors have to be able to analyze and engage students in a variety of ways, whether the student has an overbearing family or is shy. “As a student, I try to relate things back to student life,” said Ben Cooper, a junior student ambassador. “Especially student organizations, programming, that’s something I definitely try to hit.” Cooper went through the application process in the spring of his sophomore year and landed one of the coveted 30 spots. Student Ambassador positions only open up when a graduating senior leaves the program.
Student Ambassadors also have the difficult job of answering challenging questions from prospective students and parents, some involving underage drinking. Dygert said that ambassadors try to differentiate between broad and specific issues. “Whether a student goes to Drake, the University of Iowa, GustavusAdolphus, there are certain aspects of the collegiate experience that always and forever will be,” Dygert said. “Making choices is part of that. I think the issue confronts itself on tours in a variety of ways in things like cohabitation, drugs, drinking—not that we try to back up from these topics, but we do try to make sure families realize these are issues and topics you have to talk about at every school, and find out how the university responds.” Cooper echoed Dygert’s statement. “It’s definitely a touchy subject,” he said. “Obviously, drinking is a national issue. At any college, there’s going to be drinking underage; it’s a national problem, and Drake doesn’t condone it.” Along with the negative, however, come the positive aspects of Drake life. “I’m a Drake grad; I bleed Drake blue,” Dygert said, laughing. “I bleed it for a number of reasons. At the core of that are some of the key features of this university that make us so extremely special.” Some highlights of Drake’s opportunities include its location, student demographics, the school’s emphasis on the student, campus facilities, quality programs and 150 clubs and organizations, Dygert said. “It attracts students who are committed to being successful,” she said. Cooper has embraced the Student Ambassador program. “I love being an ambassador,” Cooper said. “It’s an honor to not only represent Drake, but to represent the student population as a whole because you are the first Drake student that prospective family actually meets.” Dygert said that Drake’s greatest asset lies in its pharmacists, its journalists, its chemistry majors—all of its academic programs. “At the heart of it all is our student body,” Dygert said. “They’re just multifaceted and pretty amazing individuals.” n
It’s not just a job, you know, it’s in her heart. It’s her passion.
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photo by CARTER OSWOOD | Staff Photographer
STUDENT AMBASSADORS lead tours throughout campus for prospective students interested in coming to Drake.
Spike’s renovations temporarily displace students for a semester by KAILA SWAIN
Staff Writer kaila.swain@drake.edu
photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
SPIKE’S, the popular late-night campus dining spot, closed during winter break for renovations. They will be completed by August.
Spike’s, Drake’s on-campus dining facility closest to the first-year residence halls, stayed open until 1 a.m. last semester. The sounds of socializing, eating and laughing could frequently be heard in the middle of the night. Now, the glass doors are dimly lit, the building, silent. Renovations have forced the dining facility to its new home, a temporary spot in lower Olmsted for this 2010 spring semester because of the beginning stages of the Hubbell North renovation. The renovation project was finalized at the beginning of October 2009 by the Drake University Board of Trustees with intentions of completion by midsummer 2010, as reported in The Times-Delphic in the fall. With this goal in mind, the construction work began over the winter recess and will continue throughout the rest of this spring semester and summer. In order to keep meal options open for the students on campus, Spike’s was relocated to Olmsted, along with a couple of other adjustments. “We are opening up Hubbell at 9:30 on weekends to accommodate the stu-
dents,” said Dannie Crozier, Sodexo general manager. “In the evenings, the grill is also now open in Terrace Court, which allows more offerings for students.” The traffic from Spike’s adds to the usual Terrace Court traffic, so changes were made to better utilize the seating area in lower Olmsted. The booths from the old Spike’s location were placed along the back wall, and the tables were lined along the windows. The tables that were already located in lower Olmsted last semester were rearranged to make room for the additional furniture. The new tables and booths seat about 50 additional students, which is the same amount of students that could be seated at Spike’s. With these changes, Crozier has not seen any issues with students finding a place to sit. “It has been full, but not ‘you can’t find a seat’ full,” he said. Crozier also said he saw no apparent change in the traffic at Hubbell Dining Hall since the arrangement has occurred. “We’ve been watching our counts. They are just about the same as they were this time last year, just what we thought they’d be,” Crozier said. However, first-year Michael Sage
has seen a decrease in how often he visits Hubbell. “I am now more willing to go to Olmsted and find myself eating at Hubbell less often,” he said. Sage said this is because there are now more options in one location, with Spike’s and Terrace Court sharing the space in lower Olmsted. Crozier said he has gotten little feedback from the students on the temporary rearrangement in the on-campus dining facilities. Nevertheless, he said he is optimistic about the students’ opinions toward the new Hubbell North food options available to all students next fall. The items on the menu are still being finalized, but are based heavily on the results from a campus-wide survey sent to students by e-mail in December concerning late-night food options. The survey asked students what kind of food they would like available after Hubbell and Terrace Court close in the evening. “It sounds like it will be a laid-back and nice setting when it gets here,” Sage said. Until the Hubbell North facility is complete for the fall semester, students will have to continue go to lower level Olmsted for their late-night pizza fix from Spike’s. n
NEWS
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 4A
Triple Threat
photos by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
The new executive senatorial staff brings focus and ideas to the table
Haas voted into top spot by JESSICA MATTES
Staff Writer jessica.mattes@drake.edu
Junior Samantha Haas began her Senate career as the firstyear intern to the student body president. She has since developed in to the role herself as the elected student body president for the 2010-2011 school year. “I wasn’t planning on running,” Haas said. “When I saw no one had self-nominated, I decided I could do the job. I care about the organization a lot and want it to be successful and address student concerns.” Going into the fall, Haas’ main goal is to be seen as a more accessible organization. – She said she believes individual senators are doing a good job, but the student body is not receptive to the organization as a whole. “I want to work to break this barrier down,” Haas said. “We’re going to start with office hours. It has been done in the past, but was set aside.”
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Working to advocate student needs, office hours has become one of the biggest senate goals. All 13 senators will have mandatory hours each week in order for students to address their problems or concerns. “Office hours not only need to happen, but they need to happen on a (regular) basis,” Haas said. “We are going to hold people accountable to hours. They will be posted and mandatory. We are going to work to get rid of this ‘unavailable’ reputation.” Haas also participates in as many campus activities as possible. She said that she attends campus events for enjoyment and for the representation of her school. “It’s just who I am, but being accessible at events is key,” Haas said. “Senate needs to be someSAMANTHA HAAS, thing that works for the students.” If there is one thing Haas president-elect would like the student body to know, it is that she doesn’t believe in stupid questions. “Discussion is always available, no matter the concern,” Haas said. “I am easy to get a hold of and I plan on being in the senate office a lot.” n
We are going to work to get rid of this ‘unavailable’ reputation. Senate needs to be something that works for the students.
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Fresh perspective to VP role by JESSICA MATTES
Staff Writer jessica.mattes@drake.edu
Byron Spears, the newly elected vice president of student life, is a junior working toward a degree in history and politics, with a side degree in Senate. Freshman and sophomore year, however, Spears was uninvolved in Student Senate. He ran for senator-at-large at the end of his sophomore year and came just short of being elected. “I finished third from last,” Spears said. “It was a proud moment.” First semester of 2009-10, Spears was still uninvolved as an official member of Senate. After a few unfortunate events, Spears won the position of senator-at-large. “The current at-large resigned and I was the next name on the ballot,” Spears said. After accepting the position, he was selected to hold a committee position.
to manage personalities effectively and communicate with other senators. Communication, a mission for Senate, is also a mission for Spears. He hopes, above all, students feel comfortable enough to approach senators to discuss issues facing students and organizations alike on campus. “I would also like to expand the role VP of student life,” Spears said. “A lot of people don’t know what it is or who it is.” Spears also wishes to help students understand the new bylaws and bring interest back to Senate. Although he said some people consider Senate to be a passive position of power, Senate does a great deal for the community. “We actually do things; it’s a difficult job,” he said. “It’s not –BYRON SPEARS, vice just discussing things no one president-elect of student life else cares about and not just big ticket items. We talk about new things every week, and whether just one individual thinks it’s important good job.” As an executive member of Sen- is irrelevant, because someone does.” n ate, Spears believes he has the ability
Now, as the vice president of student life, Spears acknowledges that he did not originally plan to run for the position. The persuasion of peers pushed him to apply for the job. “I grew into the position and roles,” Spears said. “I think I do offer a different perspective because I have not been on Senate, and I think I can do a really
“
I think I do offer a different perspective because I have not been on Senate, and I think I can do a really good job.
Larson leads with experience With one of the largest budgets on campus—just shy of $150,000—Student Activities Board has many ways to allocate its funds for the upcoming school year. Larson said that he hopes to show students what their fees are going toward. “They’re paying for this,” Larson said. “A large portion of Greg Larson, newly elected vice president of student activities, is not a new face around the Senate table. Since the student fees go to SAB and I think it’s important for students beginning of his first year on campus, Larson has had a hand to see where their money goes. We bring in a lot of quality programming and I don’t think students see what is available in Senate goings on. “My first year at Drake I was on the first-year interest to them.” In the fall, Larson plans on working with more efficient committee,” Larson said. forms of media to get more student “Then, as a sophomore, events exposure on campus. Whether I won a senator-at-large through the campus newspaper or eposition and was campus mailing presidents of organizations, advancement chair for Senpublicizing events is a specifically ate.” daunting task. Larson, a sophomore “It is the simple things that go finance and advertising acoverlooked,” Larson said. “Maybe count management doublebuying a camera and posting weekly major, chose to run for vice or biweekly videos for efficient publicpresident of student activiity would be effective.” ties for multiple reasons— Overall, Larson said that he is one being his enthusiasm looking forward to the upcoming chalto keep Drake students inlenge and that he wishes to challenge volved. – GREG LARSON, vice others to step up to the plate and ad“I really enjoy the bepresident-elect of student activities dress Senate with their concerns. hind-the-scenes work of “One thing students do is see Student Activities Board something they’re unhappy with and and Student Senate,” Larson said. “I believe this is the best way to fuse both passions in complain,” Larson said. “If people have an interest in enhancing campus or want to see a change, join.” n one role.” by JESSICA MATTES
Staff Writer jessica.mattes@drake.edu
“
I really enjoy the behindthe-scenes work of Student Activities Board and Student Senate. I believe this is the best way to fuse both passions in one role.
”
”
PAGE 5A
NEWS
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
NATE BLEADORN | First-Year
BEN COOPER | Junior
JENNIFER FIELD | Sophomore
ALEX HENDZEL | First-Year
Senator-at-Large
Senator-at-Large
Education Senator
Senator-at-Large
MEGAN HUTCHESON | Junior
RACHEL KAUFFOLD | Junior
KAYLEIGH KOESTER | First-Year
AMANDA LAURENT | First-Year
Senator-at-Large
Journalism Senator
Fine Arts Senator
Senator-at-Large
EARL LEE | Junior
MICHAEL RIEBEL | First-Year
KENSIE SMITH | First-Year
SEEJO VALACHERIL | Sophomore
Arts and Sciences Senator
Senator-at-Large
Senator-at-Large
Senator-at-Large
SAY HELLO TO MATT VAN HOECK | First-Year
UMESH VEERASINGAM | Sophomore
Senator-at-Large
Diversity Senator
SENATE
*Pharmacy and Health Sciences Senator Karen Kolbert is not pictured *College of Business and Public Administration Senator Reed Allen is not pictured
Senate to undergo restructure next semester Approved bylaws change numerous positions and organizations of committees by RACHEL KAUFFOLD
Staff Writer rachel.kauffold@drake.edu
Senators have just been elected for next year, but that is only the beginning of the changes to come to Student Senate. Among some of the big issues that have gone through Senate in the past few weeks, new bylaws were approved that will change its structure as it pertains to the senators-at-large. Three of the current roles will remain the same: organizational council chair, student body treasurer and community outreach liaison. Also, the former Student Life Committee chair underwent a name change to Student Affairs Committee to reduce confusion with the acronym from Drake’s Student Life Center in Olmsted. The Academic Affairs Committee will still run the committee that includes all six of the academic senators, but will also take on the responsibilities of the former faculty and senate liaison position. The Organizational Council is chaired by two senators-at-large, but soon only one person,
assisted by two OC senators, will run this segment of Senate that consists of a representative from each campus organization. The Campus Advancement Committee (CAC) works on both physical improvements, such as the new walkway in the center of campus between Cowles Library and Morehouse Residence Hall, and conceptual improvements, such as a text-alert system to the student body for emergency notifications. Next year, the CAC will be split into three segments: CAC, Building and Grounds and Student Services Committee (SSC). CAC will work on researching and planning programs and initiatives at Drake. The Building and Grounds Liaison will work more directly on physical improvements such as facilities, dining services and security. The SSC will work on the
“implementation and maintenance” of programs that are pursued by CAC. “It spreads the workload and responsibilities more evenly, allowing for all three branches of CAC to function smoothly,” Sen. Carla Olszewski said. Olszewski chaired the ad hoc committee responsible for the bylaw evaluation and changes. The Technology Liaison will take on some of the responsibilities of the former Public Affairs Committee chair, sitting as a voting member on the Board of Student Communications. However, this senator will also meet with the Chief Information Technology officer and oversee all matters related to campus technology. Finally, the Student Affairs Committee chair will be taking on the basic responsibilities of the current Student Life Committee chair, which
are overseeing programs that relate to student life and the approval of new student organizations, and coordinating the Diversity Convention. It’s also important to remember that Senate reduced the number of senators-at-large from 10 to nine to make room for a first-year senator, who will be elected in the fall. In addition to the changes of the senator-atlarge roles, another ex-officio member of senate will be added to weekly meetings alongside the secretary and parliamentarian. The public affairs officer will oversee the publicity of Student Senate along with managing its Web site and social media. “The senator-at-large positions have been adjusted to better fit the needs the student body has for Senate,” Olszewski said. “The students elect senators-at-large because they want to see results. The revised bylaws allow for Senate to better serve the student body because the new positions make more sense.” n
Changed bylaws create a new first-year senator position by RACHEL KAUFFOLD
Staff Writer rachel.kauffold@drake.edu
This semester, many big issues have come and gone through Student Senate, but one major change will not be seen until next fall. The impact of this change, for now, is pure speculation. Next year, Student Senate has made room for a first-year senator to sit at the table, taking away one at-large senator position from the spring election. This new senator will be elected in mid-October of next fall by the earliest. So, what is in store for the first-year senator? They will be chairing the First-Year Interest (FYI) Committee, which will already be in place. In fact, it is very possible that a strong candidate for the position will be a member of the FYI Committee. Vice President-elect of Student Life Byron Spears will be responsible for chairing the FYI committee until the first-year senator is elected. Although he is not concerned about the new position, he is concerned about potential animosity between the senator and the committee. “Multiple members of the committee may try to play the role of the senator when it’s not their position,” Spears said.
First-year journalism student Jason Miller said that he likes this new change. “I think that it’s good because you get fresh eyes of what’s going on,” Miller said. “You need a voice for the students who are going to best represent the first-year (students) besides one of their own.” Another point shared by those in favor is that next year’s first-year class did not get a chance to vote for any of the newly elected senators who will be sitting around the table in the fall. But will a first-year be able to hold his or her own as the youngest voting member of Senate? Matt Haupert, a firstyear student who was elected as the Fine Arts Senator back in February, reflected on his abilities to have a say at the table. “Voicing my opinion was difficult at first because I wasn’t completely comfortable yet with how meetings ran and I didn’t have full knowledge on a lot of the issues,” Haupert said. “Being on a committee is different from being a voting member of Senate, with parli-pro rules,” Spears said. “But it shouldn’t be difficult for an ambitious student.” Upperclass members of Senate may be expected to help in the transition process in order to prevent a situation like Haupert’s from happening again. “I think it’s extremely important that everyone on Senate really works hard to get the first-year senator comfortable so
they can function as well as the upper-classmen,” Haupert said. “Adding a first-year senator was a huge step for Senate, and I think it’s really exciting that the first-year class will finally be represented.” n
Senate weekly meetings are held on Thursday nights starting at 9 p.m. in the Drake Room, located in Upper Olmsted. All are welcome to attend and voice their opinions, concerns or suggestions. For more information about Student Senate, visit their Web site: http:// drakesenate.com.
NEWS
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 6A
Program named a Center of Actuarial Excellence actuaries are the “analytical backbone of our society’s financial security program.” During their time on campus, students must begin a series of exams supplied by the two accrediting bodies that accredit actuaries. The Society of Actuaries and the Casualty Actuarial Society give similar sequences of exams. Students are encouraged to study more than 100 hours in preparation for the society’s exams in addition to their work and exams given by individual professors. To help with the stress of an actuary’s life, the Drake Actuarial Student Society (DASS) supports all actuarial students. Its president, sophomore actuarial science major Fred Larson, works with professors and business leaders organizing events and educational activities for actuary students. “DASS is a huge campus organization,” Larson said. “We have around 180 members, which helps assist students in their actuarial process. We help build soft business skills for actuarial interviews and possible internships. The society helps prepare all students for their exams and become familiar with the system.” In the past month, the group has been listening to presentations on opportunities after college and the difference between a business resume and actuarial resumes. Drake actuarial majors are set for success due to prime location and reputation. “Our program is one of the oldest and biggest programs in the country,” Parsa said. “We are fortunate to be located in the business school, which is a huge plus for the program. Also, Des Moines is home to many insurance companies and that is also a big plus for the program.” n
by JESSICA MATTES
Staff Writer jessica.mattes@drake.edu
photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
RAHUL PARSA has been teaching actuarial science at Drake since 1990. The actuarial program was one of 10 named as a Center of Actuarial Excellence.
Drake University’s actuarial science program is stepping up and out—out of the country, that is—in order to compose a powerful, competitive program. This world-renowned program consists of curriculum taught by well-recognized professors and students from around the world. First-year actuarial science major Aishah Badiuzzaman transferred from her Malaysian college to receive unsurpassable actuarial training. “In Malaysia, several colleges have collaborations with Drake,” Badiuzzaman said. “They prepare us at home in order to adapt to the actuarial program here.” Professor of actuarial science Rahul Parsa said approximately 150 international students have transformed their lifestyles to attend Drake’s business school and study actuarial science. Among the University of Connecticut, Illinois State University and Georgia State University’s actuarial programs, Drake was selected as a Center of Actuarial Excellence. “Only 10 schools in the country received such a designation,” Parsa said. Parsa has been teaching at Drake since 1990 as an associate professor and is now a professor of actuarial science. After graduating, students most commonly work for insurance companies with an average annual salary of $60,000 right out of school. Destinations such as Chicago, Boston, New York and Hartford are common for potential actuaries. Actuaries examine risk and evaluate the likelihood of future events. According to beanactuary.org,
Career Center offers helpful professional prep
Tyler T. O!Neil 1681 Garfield Ave. West Branch, IA 52358 Mobile phone: 319.936.3840, Email: tyler.oneil@drake.edu
Objective An internship where I can use my reporting abilities to enhance The Des Moines Register!s news coverage and continue to improve my journalism skills.
Qualifications
by ERYN SWAIN
Staff Writer eryn.swain@drake.edu
With deadlines for summer internships and jobs steadily approaching, many Drake University students are getting help from the Professional and Career Development Services (PCDS) offered on campus. In early March, several of the colleges on campus held mock interviews hosted by the PCDS to help prepare students for summer jobs. The PCDS has many services to offer students. Online, students can visit www.drake.edu/career for help with everything from the cover letter to interviewing skills to discovering a major. Students can also visit one of the three people in charge in their offices: Annette Watson, Kelli Pitts or Chrystal Stanley. Annette Watson, who helps students in the College of Business and Public Administration, as well as the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said that between e-mails and visits, she helps about 20 students a week with career-related issues. London James, a first-year student in the College of Business and Public Administration, visited Watson for advice within her accounting major. “She told me about what the career center offers, like mock interviews, and the career fair, and help with your job,” James said. “And I gave her my resume to look at.” Watson and the two other women who head the PCDS— Chrystal Stanley for the College of Arts and Sciences and Kelli Pitts for every other student at Drake—work together to make
HOW TO SUCCEED
1 DO
Include contact information. This is the most important part.
2 DO
sure their services are tailored to the field the student wants to pursue. According to Watson, the separation for the different schools allows a student to have that one-on-one time with personal help from a professional who is willing to assist them. The three are also available for help in interviewing skills, cover letters and classes to take for preparation in the professional world. However, preparation for a job is not the only service offered by the PCDS. This office is also in charge of running the career fair that is held every spring at Drake. Watson says the goal of the career fair is for employers to come onto campus so the students can become more aware of the opportunities available for them. Watson usually finds herself helping students who want their resume or cover letter critiqued. She believes the best way for students to begin seeking work is by creating a strong resume. “It is never too early to begin forming a resume,” Watson said.
3 DO
Have someone else proofread after you read it yourself, of course.
Sodexo: Food. Hunger. Service. Work. Company shows dedication to community through various philanthropic efforts Staff Writer lauren.ehrler@drake.edu
Students are familiar with the food Sodexo serves in Drake’s dining halls. However, they might not be familiar with Sodexo’s service initiatives at Drake, within the community and around the nation. “It is important to our company to continue service initiatives not only internally, but externally of Drake,” said Rebecca Stamp, district marketing coordinator for Sodexo. As a company, one of Sodexo’s main initiatives is STOP HUNGER. In the 2009 fall semester, Sodexo teamed up with “Helping Hands Across America” to host a Pumpkin Palooza in Hubbell Dining Hall. Pumpkin-flavored entrees and desserts were served, prizes were given away and canned food items were collected. There were 2,375 pounds of food raised and donated to the Food Band of Iowa.
Sodexo, Inc. is the leading provider of integrated food and facilities management services in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. They serve 10 million customers in 6,000 locations every day. Visit their site for more information: www.sodexousa.com/usen
Reporting Experience - Des Moines Register Spring 2010 Newsroom Internship • Covered the weekend general assignment shift, self-filing content to the Web site and reporting on a wide array of events. - Business Publications 2009 Web/Editorial Internship • Worked in several mediums – text, images and audio – on stories related to business happenings in the Greater Des Moines Area for Business Record and its electronic counterparts - Iowa City Press-Citizen 2008 Summer Internship • Reported on a variety of topics and events for the print and Web editions, including special sessions of the City Council, a visit from President George W. Bush and human interest pieces. - Drake University The Times-Delphic - 2009-2010 Relays Editor • Managed all aspects of the 2010 Relays Edition of The Times-Delphic and accompanying Web-based media - 2008-2009 News Editor • Assigned stories for two pages of The Times-Delphic twice a week and supervised approximately 15 reporters - 2007-2008 Reporter/Photographer • Reported or photographed two to six assignments per week, ranging from features to hard news items - Sigma Phi Epsilon The Dirk - 2008 Newsletter Chairman and Editor - West Branch Times - 2005-2008 Reporter/Photographer Intern
Education 2007-Present: Journalism/International Relations dual degree at Drake University, Des Moines, IA. GPA 3.66 2007 Graduate of West Branch High School, West Branch, IA. GPA 3.9
Honors Received - 2009 Member of Sigma Delta Chi, Society of Professional Journalists - 2008 Top First-Year Student at Drake University - 2007, 2008 Drake University Katharine Farber Futch Journalism Scholarship Winner - 2007 Journalism Education Association Journalist of the Year Runner-Up
She says that first-year students can begin writing a resume even if they are not planning to seek a job until next school year. While she noted that more people are coming to her this semester, she says any time is a good time to work on a resume. For more information, visit their Web site: www.drake.edu/ career. n
Kelli Pitts provides simple steps to create a professional resume
Use action words for description. Passive voice creates little interest.
by LAUREN EHRLER
- Experience inside and outside the classroom in interviewing, photography, videography, copy writing and Web site building - Reliable, self-starter who is able to meet established goals and timelines
Sodexo has also recently partnered with the Drake Environmental Action League (DEAL) to create the “Caught Green-Handed” program to become environmentally friendly and support sustainability. Students received coupons for the Olmsted coffee shop if they were found promoting environmental consciousness. “Eco totes” were handed out to all incoming first-year students courtesy of Sodexo. Also, reusable coffee mugs are sold at campus coffee shops, XpressNap napkins and dispensers have been launched in the dining halls to reduce paper waste and in Hubbell and tray-less dining is practiced every day. Another program initiated in the fall allowed students to collect lids from Yoplait yogurt and purchase Fuze Empower beverages to support breast cancer. For every lid collected and beverage sold, 10 cents was donated on behalf of Sodexo. Other Sodexo projects included sponsoring the “9 Homes in 9 Days” project on 21st Street and Forest Avenue by donating snacks and drinks for the volunteers, and introducing the new Aspretto ethical tea and coffee experience in Hubbell in the spring semester. To fight hunger during the spring semester, Sodexo raised money for the Iowa Homeless Youth Centers by holding a “Feed Your Community” chili event in February. “Feed Your Community” events were chosen as a district project for seven colleges in Iowa and Minnesota. Each chose a different organization to donate the proceeds. Students are also given the chance to be a
4 DON’T
Include references. If you must, ask the references for permission before.
5 DON’T
Include any salary or wages from prior or current positons.
part of Sodexo’s philanthropy by the products they buy in the C-store and campus coffee shops. All year round, proceeds from sales of Astor chocolate goes toward fighting hunger. Dannie Crozier, general manager of Sodexo, urges students to fill out the donation request form on Sodexo’s portion of the Drake Web site to aid events being held by campus organizations. “We like to fund organizations that help charities that will affect the local community,” Crozier said. “Working through campus groups
6 DON’T
Use fancy type, fancy paper or bind, fold or staple the resume paper.
is sometimes the best way to do that.” Crozier says that when receiving requests, he tries to spread support around as much and as equally as possible. Organizations can request refreshments, auction items and the like. Some organizations that have received support for charity purposes have been the Student Life Center for a Haiti fundraiser, Relay for Life, Phi Delta Chi’s “Up ‘Til Dawn” event for St. Jude’s Children’s Hosptial, United Way and the honors charity poker tournament, “Poker for Parksinson’s.” n
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PAGE 7A
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
NEWS
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
Drake Security’s role extends beyond campus Officers protect and defend in the surrounding neighborhood by TYLER O’NEIL
Relays Editor tyler.oneil@drake.edu
It was well below freezing on Feb. 16 at 4:44 a.m. when Drake Security Officer Tristan Johnson’s headlights shone onto a dark four-door sedan parked conspicuously behind the Drake ROTC building. A man immediately got out and started walking toward Johnson, his eyes glazed over and hands in his pockets. “I asked him to take his hands out of his pockets and put them on the trunk,” Johnson said. The man complied, but when Johnson approached the vehicle, he saw the car was running but no keys were in the ignition. The radio and speakers appeared to be gone as well. “Your spidey senses start going off,” Johnson said. Due to the omnipresent nature of Drake Security in the campus community, officers often run into criminal acts independent from activities at Drake. They play an important role in securing the area around campus, as was the case with Johnson when he suspected he had encountered something more sinister than a mischievous Drake student. Johnson’s gut was right; the man suddenly lunged for the officer’s open car door. There was a short scuffle and the suspect grabbed at Johnson’s utility belt for a gun or other weapon. “It was clear to me that his intent was to cause whatever harm he could to me so he could get away,” Johnson said. Security officers do not carry firearms, but
when the suspect pulled away with Johnson’s mace. “Chills went down my spine,” he said. “That’s when I realized I was dealing with someone that’s not in their right mind.” The suspect missed spraying Johnson and the officer dispensed his telescoping baton. “There was a little Mexican standoff ” before the man took off down an adjoining alleyway. Johnson chased him through several backyards covered in two feet of snow before the suspect was able to get in a spray. “At that point, a mobile perimeter had been set up by Des Moines Police and I tracked him through one more yard,” Johnson said. For a moment Johnson thought he had lost the suspect, but then an officer spotted the man hiding in the back of a blue SUV. Police records indicate several officers drew their weapons and when the man refused to get out an officer pulled him out and to the ground. The 24-year-old Duaine Field was charged with second-degree robbery and third-degree burglary. Although Johnson said the night was atypical, it does illustrate that Drake Security “does more than just deal with drunks. We make this community safer.” Drake Security Director Hans Hanson said his officers play an important role in improving safety around campus. “The nature of our job is such that we go out in the community to look at Drake’s assets,” Hanson said. Drake owns properties throughout the community, from a warehouse on Martin Luther King Parkway to the Drake Observatory far
photo by TYLER O’NEIL | Relays Editor
TRISTAN JOHNSON, a Drake security officer, stands by the scene of the crime. In February, Duaine Field attempted to attack Johnson with mace. Field was later charged with seconddegree robbery and third-degree burglary. west of campus. During those rounds Hanson said the officers act as good Samaritans. “If there is an injury we won’t worry about liability; we’ll help an injured person,” Hanson said. “If it’s a criminal act we will put ourselves in a position so that we can be an excellent witness, someone the police can count on.” Hanson said the relationship between DMPD and Drake Security stems out of multiple factors. Four of the last five Des Moines Police chiefs have been Drake graduates, and a large percentage of DMPD commanders have degrees from Drake.
Police also train security officers in defensive techniques and they are able to be in sync when responding to an incident. “The way that flows is that day after day interaction, like the officers stopping in for a cup of coffee,” Hanson said. Although these inherent extra responsibilities put officers like Johnson in slightly more danger, Hanson said it is something his officers readily take on. “We’re going to help our Drake neighborhood businesses and citizens,” Hanson said. “It’s just something we do.” n
BEST OF SECURITY REPORTS 1:36 a.m. July 14 A male adult entered the security office and stated he was jumped and assaulted outside of a bar on Ingersoll Avenue. He stated he knew the assailant but didn’t want to tell anyone. Police were called and a report was filed. The male also thought a security officer was his twin brother. After taking the report, the police officer told him to walk and not to drive due to his intoxicated condition. 11:32 a.m. Aug. 1 It was determined that an AAU 11-year-old female athlete injured her buttocks by backing into a golf cart. A trainer gave her ice and stretching exercises to control her pain.
thought was running water in her cated and was hitting windows on the male student had left the basketball room at Stalnaker Residence Hall. building. The male was identified as game at the Knapp Center early She observed a female squatting in an underage-for-drinking student and because he was intoxicated. He was the middle of her room and asked the produced a fake driver’s license. He given a key to the victim’s room by another roommate person if she was OK so he could retrieve and her response was, his hat. When the ‘yeah,’ and she walked YOU’VE GOT FRAUD complainant reout of the room. The turned he found a student then remem4:15 p.m. Nov. 4 previously unopened bered the running bag of Cool Ranch water and got out of It was determined someone had used a frauduDoritos had been bed and found a liqlent Drake I.D. card of a female student to acdumped all over the uid where the intruder quire food products from Spikes. The matter is floor. The complainhad her knees bent and ant told the other thighs resting on her under investigation by residence life staff and student to clean it calves. The matter is a photo of the perpetrator has been obtained. up and the fight was being investigated by on. A bookcase and residence hall staff. a curtain rod were 8:44 p.m. Oct. 11 was identified as a student security destroyed in the altercation. The susComponents of a methamphet- had encountered about a year ago pect student left but was contacted by amine lab were found near Drake in an intoxicated state at 5 a.m. in a cell phone. He stated he didn’t want property located at 1151 24th St. locked room of Howard Hall. He was to talk to officers because he was inPolice were called and advised there fairly cooperative, but refused to say toxicated. The victim stated he didn’t was no sludge, lithium or other sub- where he lived. Police were called and want to press charges. The matter stance that would warrant a hazmat he would not tell them where he lived was coordinated with the dean of sturesponse. The remains were removed. either. He was then arrested. dents.
5:18 p.m. Aug. 16 A male adult riding a red scooter was seen going through a trash container and throwing trash on the ground at a Drake Real Estate property located in the 1400 block of 29th St. The subject stated he had permission from the owner, but the two tenants were present and said it wasn’t so. UP IN SMOKE The subject had previously trespassed on 1:33 a.m. Sept. 13 Drake property. Police A male and three females were seen on CCTV were called, and he was again advised on passing a pipe just north of Opperman Hall. trespassing for all of The four students were confronted and all said Drake property.
Residence Hall. According to the roommate of the male, both students entered the room and enjoyed each other’s company for a while. They then left so the underage male could go to the bathroom to relieve his stomach of the alcohol. According to witnesses, the female went to another male’s room with her pants down and sat on his desk. She then pulled up her pants and left the room. She went to another male’s room and walked up to his bed and began touching him in an exciting manner. She was intoxicated as was her male companion who had brought her to Jewett from a bar located in the 3000 block of Forest Avenue. The female was given a ride back to her residence in the 1300 block of 34th St. Jan. 31 3:50 a.m. A female student reported someone had been pounding loudly on her door for about 15 minutes and that she and her roommates were hiding in their room at Ross Residence Hall. Security arrived but observed no one near the room but indentations were found in the door. They did observe a female stumbling on a nearby street. The underage-for-drinking female student stated she had been pounding on the door to her room in Ross Residence Hall but no one would let her in so she left. The student stated she had been drinking whiskey, which sometimes causes her to lose her memory. It was determined she had been pounding on the wrong door and she was taken back to her room where she was admitted by a roommate. A resident assistant was advised.
7:37 p.m. Oct. 30 4:15 p.m. Nov. 20 A security officer Someone set fire to a poster which observed a vehicle had been placed north of Hubbell parked in the intra- Dining Hall (directly north of the mural parking lot and main doors to Spike’s) indicating that observed a Mason jar rape is never OK. The poster was set half full of what ap- on fire between 11:45 p.m. on Nopeared to be marijua- vember 19 and around noon on Nona buds on the floor- vember 20. they were smoking a cigarette. They were then board. Des Moines Police was called. The 4:23 p.m. Nov. 21 4:59 a.m. Sept. 5 told that they were seen on camera. The male male adult car owner Three male juveniles were observed A security officer then produced the pipe bearing the picture of showed up shortly af- walking in the 2800 block of Univerwas walking through the president of the United States of America ter and became quite sity Ave. One of the three was throwCowles Library at closnervous. An electron- ing landscaping blocks. They were ing time and noticed a with “Hope” engraved on the pipe. The bowl ic scale and hatchet encountered and the culprit put one male adult in one of was full of burnt and fresh marijuana. The were also found in of the blocks back at the request of 11:13 p.m. Feb. 5 the study carrels with pipe was confiscated and the matter has been the vehicle. Police the security officer. Other males ar- A male adult was advised on trespass his trousers down to coordinated with the assistant dean of students. arrested the male for rived on scene to antagonize the state at Carpenter Residence Hall. The his knees. The male possession and intent of affairs and police were called. The male stated his wife had just left him got up and pulled up to deliver. His vehicle other males were advised to remove and he was looking for somewhere to his trousers. He had to was also impounded themselves from the area and they stay. Police were called and suggested be told to zip up his fly and he was advised on trespass for the departed in their sweet time. The re- a homeless shelter. He had no money. and was then advised on trespassing 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 A security officer observed two kittens Drake campus. on the Drake campus. maining juvenile was cited for crimi- A police vehicle was called to assist. playing at the southwest stairs of the nal mischief and advised on trespass Knapp Center. The officer rounded 8:51 p.m. Oct. 31 1:45 a.m. Sept. 16 for the Drake Campus. His parents 3:06 a.m. March 6 A security officer observed a male them up and took them to the secu- A security officer encountered a large were also called and they came to the The wife of a 31-year-old male student called the security office and attempting to climb the hill south of rity office. Animal control was called. group of people in a Drake parking scene and took him home. reported he had not shown up at his Medbury Hall three different times, In the meantime, a student came into lot located in the 1300 block of 31st residence and that was and he fell each time. He finally the office and took possession of one St. One male threw not like him. At 6:07 climbed to the top and began to stag- of the kittens. Animal control arrived a 40-ounce bottle of a.m. his mother-in-law alcohol at the security ger away. A strong odor of alcohol shortly after and took the second. TAINTED SWEETS called and stated they officer, striking his foot. was emanating from him. The un11:50 p.m. March 21 were looking for him. The entire group fled derage-for-drinking male student was 4:30 p.m. Oct. 23 The student’s vehicle quite confused. A fake Illinois driver’s A security officer observed a raccoon in different directions. Security responded to Herriott Residence Hall could not be found in license was confiscated from him. He thrashing its head and legs at the The male who threw based on report of a resident who had used any Drake parking lots was seen back to his residence hall southwest corner of Drake Stadium. the bottle was wearing or adjacent streets. A and a resident assistant was advised. Animal control was called and the a red striped hat and marijuana and became ill. An 18-year-old fesecurity officer then shirt. The items were The dean of students was advised. animal was contained and removed. male student reported she had gotten a marifound the vehicle in later found where the juana brownie from a friend back home during a Drake parking lot subject discarded them 4:22 p.m. Sept. 19 2:38 a.m. Oct. 24 at 9 a.m. CCTV was Security responded to the Drake Ob- Security responded to Herriott Resi- near Hubbell Dining spring break and ate some of it. She then expechecked and it was servatory based on an alarm. It was dence Hall based on a report of a Hall. rienced extreme blurred vision and lost feelings determined the vedetermined that a Top Flite Number male passed out in a restroom. An unin her limbs. She trusted the person who gave hicle drove into the lot 4 Straight golf ball had been struck derage-for-drinking male student was 4:29 p.m. Nov. 8 at 8:21 a.m. and the and went straight into a window on found snoring in a locked restroom A complaint was made her the brownie and doesn’t believe there was male subject walked the north side of the building. The ev- stall. An officer went into an adjacent about a male adult in a any other type of drug in the brownie. Fire/ to the library. The idence was found inside the building. stall, reached over and unlocked the dumpster near Goodrescue was called and the student was transsubject was found in Power fade, my friend, power fade. stall. The student was found lying win–Kirk Residence ported to a local hospital. the library. His wife on his side with his trousers down Hall. The male was had just arrived and 2:50 a.m. Sept. 20 and breathing noisily. He staggered found and advised on observed his vehicle Security responded to Goodwin-Kirk to his feet and urinated all over the trespass for the Drake in the lot and then Residence Hall Complex based on wall. Fire/rescue was called and the campus. report of a cat in the house. A kitten student was placed on a stretcher and 3:11 a.m. Jan. 28 went to the library where they were 9:16 p.m. Nov. 17 was found in a room on the third floor transported to a local hospital. Security responded to Jewett Resi- united. However, they began to argue Security received a call from a male dence Hall based on a report of an on the way back to the vehicle. The and the student in charge of the critstudent that stated there was a drunk unconscious female. It was deter- wife threw a bottle at him and then a ter removed it from the hall. 11:12 p.m. Oct. 29 Security responded to Goodwin-Kirk male in his room trying to fight him mined that an underage-for-drink- textbook. The wife left in her vehicle 3:56 a.m. Oct. 2 Residence Hall based on report of and damage his room. It was deter- ing male student and a 21-year-old and kept the keys to his vehicle. He A female was awakened by what she a male who appeared to be intoxi- mined that an underage-for-drinking female student had entered Jewett then walked away.
NEWS
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 8A
A lasting legacy Opperman contributes money and pride to Drake by KAILA SWAIN
Staff Writer kaila.swain@drake.edu
photo by SARAH ANDREWS |Photo/Design Editor
SARA ABDELRAZEK was born and raised in Egypt. After being named a Fulbright Scholar, she relocated to Drake in the fall to teach Arabic classes in the DULAP program.
Cross cultural connections Fulbright scholar travels from Egypt to Des Moines to teach Arabic tion, her last resort became her job. “I found an opportunity to teach in a very good school—and I wanted to find out if I was good at it,” Abdelrazek said. Before Sara Abdelrazek left Egypt, she Abdelrazek applied for the teachingtold her friends and family she was going to assistantship program through the Fulbright Iowa. After she said it, people thought she Scholar Program. Essentially, it acts as an exdid not understand the question, because change program, designed to teach the parin Arabic, Iowa means ‘yes.’ They didn’t ticipants about new cultures and countries. understand that Abdelrazek was moving to While in the United States, the program althe United States to teach students Arabic at lows her to take classes at Drake and teach Drake University. Arabic to students. Abdelrazek has been teaching Arabic to After the lengthy application process students in the Drake University Language and an interview, she was chosen to come Acquisition Proto Drake University gram (DULAP), and teach in DUthrough the FulLAP. bright Scholar Pro“The program gram, which brings provides education, students from other and brings people countries to learn, who are promisstudy and, in Abdeling to the United razek’s case, teach. States,” said ProfesAlthough Abdelsor Mahmoud Harazek has only been mad, a professor in at Drake since the the politics and infall, she has made ternational relations an impact in the department, and a Arabic program family friend of Abthrough her kinddelrazek’s. ness and passion for In the fall, Ab– SARA ABDELRAZEK, Fulbright delrazek started the teaching the language. scholar and Arabic teacher yearlong process of “The first word being the only nathat came from the tive speaker in the Quran is Iqraa, which means ‘read’ in Eng- Arabic program. This responsibility entails lish,” Abdelrazek said. “That always signi- teaching four classes, while taking three fied the importance of reading and learning classes at the same time. to me.” “This semester is hard, because I have One of her brothers was a bookworm, all of my Arabic classes and my own classes Abdelrazek said. She said she has always during the week. But once you do something seen the differences of those people who for yourself, you can do anything else. Teachread and who don’t read. ing is something I do for myself,” said AbDuring her education at the English Girls delrazek. College, Abdelrazek didn’t know what she In the Arabic DULAP program, the lanwanted to do; all she knew was that teaching guage is taught without grammar and rules, was a last option for her. After her gradua- and the approach is effective, according to by EMILY LEE
Staff Writer emily.lee@drake.edu
“
The first word that came from the Quran is Iqraa, which means ‘read’ in English. That always signified the importance of reading and learning to me.
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Abdelrazek. “Exposure, exposure, exposure,” Abdelrazek said. “It’s important they feel and understand the language.” Abdelrazek is responsible for teaching the students about culture through speaking the language, and it’s a place where English is frowned upon. “It’s a lot more interactive compared to another class,” said Breanna Thompson, a first-year Arabic student. Teaching does not stop in the classroom but extends to cultural activities outside school. The Arabic classes have gone to a local Lebanese restaurant, watched movies in Arabic, visited a mosque and have gone to Abdelrazek’s house to eat traditional Egyptian dishes. “She really wants us to learn, and gets us excited to learn about the Arab culture,” Thompson said. Abdelrazek believes learning a new language is like learning the culture. Her caring personality is something both Hamad and Thompson have said about Abdelrazek. “She cares a lot about how we are doing. Before our final, she called each person individually from the airport to wish us good luck and give us encouragement,” Thompson said. “Arabic is my favorite class; the whole class enjoys it, and a lot of it is because of Sara.” The Fulbright Program has allowed Abdelrazek to gain a first-hand experience of America, which allowed her to understand the principles of American life. “I’m so happy to be here in Iowa,” Abdelrazek said. “It’s so different than other places in the U.S. It’s so peaceful and friendly, everyone is smiling at your face.” When the semester ends, Abdelrazek will return to Egypt and work in the teaching field. “It’s been a great opportunity to learn a lot and have a lot of fun, but I’m excited to see all my family again,” Abdelrazek said. n
Hundreds of students come and go from the Drake University Law Library every day, but Dwight D. Opperman never leaves. Opperman, represented as a life-size statue, was a 1951 Drake Law School graduate who donated $2 million toward the construction of a new law library in the early 1990s. The $8.5 million facility was completed in April 1993, when a dedication ceremony took place. The statue was unveiled at this ceremony, honoring Opperman’s lifetime connection with Drake. “It would not have been possible to initiate the building process without having the funds to do so,” said John Edwards, the associate dean for information resources and technology at the law library. “His donation of the lead gift made it possible to proceed with the project and engage with internationally known architects.” Weitz Company, the corporation that constructed Opperman Hall, received an award for its work on the building. In 1994, Weitz was recognized at the national level for its architectural work on the law library. If this name sounds familiar, that’s because Weitz is currently the construction company renovating Hubbell North. Opperman has donated over $50 million toward Drake, including his lead gift toward the Drake Law Library. He also donated money toward the construction of Wifvat Plaza where the sundial is located, which he named after his late wife. In addition, Opperman donated the “Joy of Music” sculpture in front of the Fine Arts Center. As the director of the American Judicature Society (AJS) for many years, Opperman also contributed to the relocation of the organization’s national headquarters. AJS moved its national headquarters from Chicago to the old university presidential home on Drake’s campus on June 1, 2003. The building, located at 2700 University Ave., was renamed the Opperman Center in dedication of Opperman’s continual support to the organization throughout the years. AJS also unveiled a portrait of Opperman by Everett Raymond Kinstler on Oct. 23, 2009, at the Opperman Center. Students may have come and gone, but Opperman has never failed to keep fueling the university’s endeavors. His legacy is quantified in the statue, a tribute to a man and his generosity and dedication. n
Opperman ranked No. 374 on Forbes 2006 list of the top 400 richest Americans.
CONTRIBUTIONS Opperman made these additions to Drake possible:
1
JOY OF MUSIC SCULPTURE
2
WIVFAT PLAZA
3
THE LAW LIBRARY
Business savvy bulldog Recent graduate starts own children’s clothing line by NICOLE MITTELBRUN
Staff Writer nicole.mittelbrun@drake.edu
Former Drake student Meg Fischer graduated a semester early this past December with a triple major in entrepreneurial management, marketing and management. While her situation may seem unique, the experiences she has had separates her even further from the typical graduate. Fischer grew up in Omaha, Neb., and moved to Des Moines when she was 10. Although she had babysat and nannied since the age of 12 and then worked at a health club and a candy shop, Fischer discovered her true passion at 16. “I always knew I wanted to work with kids,” Fischer said. “I worked at the clothing boutique and it was there I realized I wanted to own a clothing boutique. Following graduation I wanted to be able to start my business so I worked on my business plan all through college.” On Feb. 20, Fischer’s dream came true; she launched her children’s clothing line, Lincoln and Lexi. “Lincoln and Lexi are what I’ve always wanted to name my first boy and girl,” Fischer said. “The name allows the business to be fun.” At work on summer and fall clothing lines, Fischer says she wants to launch maternity items and a diaper bag soon. The company is geared toward newborn to 18-month-old babies. Ultimately, she would like to build the line for children up to age seven or eight along with maternity clothes. Fischer didn’t spend her childhood set on coming to Drake. Iowa became her new home without realization. “I wanted to go to California, and I got accepted at Iowa State. Then I had to call them and decline, and I called Drake and said I wanted to go there,” Fischer said. “I only applied because they sent me an application in the mail. It was closer to home, though, and I knew it was a good school.” When she got to Des Moines, a major in entrepreneurial management felt right. After speaking to Associate Dean of Student Affairs Randall Blum of the College of Business and Public Administration, Fischer added her marketing major. In her final year, she finally completed her triple major by adding management to the mix. “I took 18 credits for five semesters in a row,” Fischer said. “It was difficult, but that is kind of my personality to have a lot on my plate at once. I’m glad I did it because it kept me more organized.” Lincoln and Lexi employs designers all over the United States and has seamstresses that work here in Des Moines. Before, the clothing was shipped to California first and then came to Des Moines. The
The sculpture was designed and created by artist George Lundeen.
Although many students may not know this official name, the plaza is the home of the sundial, located between the Fine Arts Center and Opperman Hall. The plaza was dedicated in memory of his wife, Jeanice Opperman, who died in 1993.
photo courtesy of MEG FISCHER
LINCOLN AND LEXI, a children’s clothing line, was launched in February. The company hopes to extend its line to include maternity items and diaper bags. recently hired help in Des Moines makes turn-around time faster. For the summer, Fischer has hired five full-time and two part-time interns. Now out in the real world, Fischer admits that she misses some things from being in school. “I miss being able to see my friends every day, now that I run the business by myself I’m alone a lot,” Fischer said. “Don’t take for granted the time you have with your friends. Once school is over, you don’t get to see them nearly as often, and that has been the hardest thing for me since graduation.” Fischer acknowledges what both current and former Drake students already know about the school’s faculty. “The professors still check in on me and if I ever need anything I can call them,” she said. “Your relationships with professors don’t just end when you graduate—they want to see you succeed.” A boutique is in her plans for the future, but for now Fischer is focusing on operating through Internet direct sales and home parties. “Things get very tough, but I have found that even when times are tough, I still love what I am doing,” Fischer said. “It’s not something I want to quit or give up on, because it holds onto a deep part of who I am.” n
To see more of Fischer’s designs visit: www.lincolnandlexi.com/us/
Completed in 1993, the library is composed of four levels. The second floor’s left wing is named the Iowa Wing, with a special room, the Tax Room, at the end. Opperman donated $2 million to the $8.5 million project.
photos by JACKIE WALLENTIN News Editor
101 THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
MR. DRAKE
Paul Morrison ha s dedicated a lifetime to Dra ke University, starting his wor k in athletics in 1945. PAGE 3
SECTION B
the ultimate
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MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
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QUOTE of the
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I’ll work as long as I can, and if I become a pain in the fanny, I hope they’ll tell me, and I’ll get out. But otherwise, as I say, I look forward to coming to work every day,
101 YEARS OF DRAKE STADIUM
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THE TIMES-DELPHIC
—PAUL MORRISON , SEE PAGE 3B
Drake Stadium hosts national competitions by HEATHER HALL
Staff Writer heather.hall@drake.edu
above photo by MEAGAN BANNISTER |Staff Photographer
above photos courtesy of COWLES LIBRARY
DRAKE STADIUM has been the home of the Relays since its completion. However, the stadium took shape in 1925 after renovations.
Drake Stadium has a rich history on campus, hosting every Relays by KRISTIN SMITH
Staff Writer kristin.smith@drake.edu
For the past 101 years, Drake Stadium has been home to the annual Drake Relays. The stadium has experienced many changes throughout its years. One of the biggest renovations happened in 2005, costing $15 million. Drake students and staff say the changes, which turned the stadium into a world-class facility, were worth it. “The renovation completely changed the dynamics of the stadium,” said David Wright, associate dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. “They changed the dimensions of the track and they added new lighting and a video scoreboard.” The lower three rows were removed all the way around the stadium so the lanes could be expanded. The lanes widened from 42 to 48 inches, and a safety lane was built around the track’s edge to prevent the outside-lane runners from being too close to the audience. This reduced the seating capacity from about 18,000 to 14,557. However, the extended width made the track eligible to host NCAA meets, such as the 2007 Midwest Regional Track and Field Championships and the 2008 Outdoor Championships. Although fewer seats are available, this does not stop the stadium from filling up with approximately 50,000 spectators over the three days of Relays. Before the Mondo-surfaced track was the true-blue color it is today, it donned a few other hues.
Paul Morrison has witnessed many developments in the track during his years at Drake. He began working at Drake in 1945, and retired in 1986. For the past 24 years he has been a fulltime volunteer for the athletics department. “I’ve seen the track go from black cinder, to red cinder, then to classic Tartan,” Morrison said. “I like that they decided to make it blue to tie it in to the university’s colors.” The earlier small stadium was originally named Haskins Field after Norman Haskins, who donated land and money for the stadium in 1904. “Haskins didn’t want his name on it, though,” Morrison said. “The name was officially changed to Drake Stadium, and that’s the way it’s been ever since.” The first large renovation happened in 1925 when Des Moines businessmen used float rate bonds to raise money to construct another stadium. “They hoped that big crowds for football would help pay off the bonds,” Morrison said. “They never expected the abundance of people that turned out, especially for the Relays, so the maintenance of the stadium was not kept up as well as it should have been.” Drake was also one of the pioneering schools to have football night games. Lights were put in when the stadium was remodeled in 1925. “The light poles were actually adjacent to the football field,” Morrison said. “People had to look around the poles to see what was going on.” Wright admires not only the new lighting that was installed during the 2005 renovation, but also the video scoreboard.
“We had lighting before, but never this level of lighting,” Wright said. “And the video scoreboard offers so much for the fans to see.” The redesign five years ago removed Clark Street, which was behind the old scoreboard. Now, north of the stadium, there are new areas for the discus, hammer and javelin throws. “There used to be a street that ran between where they do all the field events,” Wright said. “With that gone, and with so many other changes, the stadium’s really been opened up and it is truly one of the premier tracks in the country.” Along with a reconditioned press box, improved restrooms and concessions and weatherproof seating replacing wooden seats, the 2005 renovation elevated the field and included stateof-the-art FieldTurf. “It used to be so that you had to run down into the football and soccer field area,” Wright said. “If athletes stepped into the inside of the track, they had to run down the hill. It was really strange.” The infield was leveled by 19,000 cubic yards of dirt being filled into the center. The new football field was named Johnny Bright Field in honor of alumnus and football legend John D. Bright. The track was dedicated to Jim Duncan, an alumnus, former track star and Relays announcer. Morrison expressed that the Relays are special and the recent renovations will help create wonderful memories for everyone. “I’ve seen the stadium undergo a lot of changes,” Morrison said. “I think the committee did a great job of remodeling. It’s a good structure, it’s very functional and it’s a great thing for Drake.” n
From track to football and back again, the big, brick 85-year-old Drake Stadium has seen a wide variety of spectacles throughout the years. In 1970, it hosted one of the biggest collegiate events in the country—the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The stadium was selected again in 2008 to host the championships and has been chosen again for the upcoming 2011 championships. Despite heavy flooding in Des Moines during the 2008 championships, attendance at Drake’s events topped out at 41,187 people. The figure more than doubled the four-day attendance of 20,664 at the 2009 NCAA Track and Field Championships held in Fayetteville, Ark. There were 19 stadium records set that year as well. Approximately 1,100 athletes are expected to compete in the 2011 events, according to godrakebulldogs.com. It is estimated to bring $25 million to the greater Des Moines area. In 2007, Drake Stadium hosted the NCAA Midwest Regional Track and Field Championships. Last summer, the 14,467 seats of Drake Stadium hosted the AAU National Junior Olympics Track and Field Championship. Hundreds of Olympic gold medalists have run in Drake Stadium, including Jim Hines, Bruce Jenner, Carl Lewis, Jesse Owens, Calvin Smith, Frank Shorter, Gwen Torrence, Mac Wilkins and Dave Wottle. In the future, the stadium is believed to be a contender for more prestigious events like the U.S. Olympic Trials. Drake Stadium also hosts the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s boys and girls state track championships every spring. And of course, the spring also welcomes an event awaited for by most Drake University students: the Drake Relays. During this week of events, the best track and field runners from all over the country come to compete. Numerous records have been set in the stadium, mostly at the Drake Relays. Fans have seen 14 world records, 49 American records and 56 national collegiate records set. In the fall, the field takes a break from the runners, and lends itself to the football team. The Drake Bulldogs have won 10 conference championships in football and advanced 12 college bowl games. To the thousands of fans that have filled the stadium seats, the countless numbers of athletes and competitions seen in action have contributed to making Drake Stadium’s reputation one of the most popular track and field venues in the United States today. n
footloose
photo by SARAH ANDREWS |Photo/Design Editor
Tests show that barefoot running can help athletes; some Drake athletes harness studies by KRISTIN SMITH
Staff Writer kristin.smith@drake.edu
The phenomenon of barefoot running has caused some Bulldog athletes to ditch their shoes during training. Recent studies have found that running barefoot could have health benefits. According to a report on WebMD.com, Harvard biologist Dr. Daniel Lieberman compared the impact on the bodies of the Harvard track team who wear shoes to a group of Kenyans who have run barefoot their entire lives. By using high-speed motion video, Lieberman found that the barefoot runners struck the ground with their forefeet, and those that wore shoes struck the ground with their heels. When runners land on their heels, it creates more collision force, causing a shock two to three times their body weight to be transferred through their whole body. Sophomore Colin Hagan is one of Drake’s top distance runners. He said that he includes barefoot running in his training, but that the
advantages of running without shoes vary from person to person. “Running barefoot strengthens stabilizer muscles in the foot, which creates a more balanced running form,” Hagan said. “Disadvantages are arch injuries and possible stress fractures due to the strain placed on tissue and the impact on bone.” The best way to prevent sudden injuries is to ease into barefoot running. Unless a person has been conditioned to run without shoes, they cannot simply start running barefoot full-time, Hagan advised. “It can cause pain, particularly in the shins due to overflexion,” he said. “It could also cause injury to the ankles, which are weakly muscularly supported.” If a runner takes the time to correctly learn how to run barefoot, it can actually strengthen their feet and prevent future injuries. Natasha Brown, former two-time Olympian and current Drake men and women’s track and field head coach, said while Drake runners do not do full barefoot workouts, they do some exercises and cool-downs without shoes.
“We jog on the football turf, where the surface is fairly level and soft,” Brown said. “We have done some balancing work barefoot this year. I would like to do more, as I really think it would help reduce lower leg injuries.” While Hagan suggested that running on turf is the best surface to run barefoot on, those without a world-class facility, like Drake Stadium, can run on soft grass if they are mindful of their footing. “Turf delivers a softer-than-grass feel and is completely uniform and predictable for sure footing,” he said. “Soft grass is good, but runners should avoid obstacles or tufts of grass on which they could roll an ankle or dislocate a tarsal.” Hagan said runners who slowly build some shoeless running and barefoot drills into their training program can expect to feel stronger stabilizer muscles in their legs. For instance, Brown said she had the athletes stand barefoot on one leg for 30 seconds, and then progress to standing on one leg with arms crossed in front and finally combined the previous two steps while closing their eyes.
She said all of this was done to develop the athletes’ proprioceptors, which are sensors that provide information about joint angle, muscle length and tension. Because of the benefits of running without shoes, the popularity in barefoot running has sparked new research and barefoot running clubs all over the country. RUNBARE, a barefoot running school, is touring the nation holding clinics and free talks in order to teach people the safe and proper techniques of barefoot running. The tour, “Barefoot America,” will be coming to Des Moines on Aug. 24. “If a person is training correctly, running barefoot can help prevent injury and correct imbalances that cause poor running mechanics,” Hagan said. “These corrections can lead to faster times on the track, or more pain-free runs. I am not a practicing physician and before anyone makes any alterations to their exercise plan or their running they should consult a physician or sports medical professional.” n
PAGE 3B
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MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
Mr. Drake’s dedication for a lifetime
photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
Paul Morrison has been with the university for 65 years by MARY HONEYMAN
Staff Writer mary.honeyman@drake.edu
The man known as Mr. Drake sits in his small office in the Bell Center, surrounded by 65 years of Drake University athletics. His eyes twinkle as they move to each fading picture, each trophy and each memory scattered around the room. They crinkle in the corners as he smiles to himself and begins to relive his history with the university. Paul Flach Morrison, dubbed “Mr. Drake,” has called himself a Drake Bulldog since starting his first fall semester in 1935. It is his dedication to the Bulldogs, however, that earned him the nickname and kept him at Drake. “I’ve had a longtime love affair with Drake University,” he said. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree and then serving in the Army, Morrison returned to Drake in 1945 as the director of the news bureau and the director of sports information. Morrison handled all of the news releases for the sports teams and ran the press box at Drake football games, basketball games and the Drake Relays. Though he retired in 1986, Morrison never quit coming to work. Today, at 92 years old, he continues to volunteer 40 to 50 hours a week for the athletic department, assisting with many of his old director of sports information duties. “I’ve been retired longer than a lot of people worked,” said Morrison with a chuckle. “I just look forward to coming to work every day; there’s always something to do.” Mike Mahon, Drake’s current director of sports information, has known Morrison since taking the job in 1988 and considers him a close friend. “He bleeds blue and is one of the few guys you meet that never complains,” Mahon said. “He’s been retired since 1986 but you’d never know it; he works seven days a week.” Morrison has also been dubbed the athletic department’s historian and consultant. In the fall, he can still be found in the foot-
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ball press box, and on Feb. 27, at Drake’s final home basketball game against Evansville, he was courtside in a bright, Drake-blue blazer calling in scores to ESPN and other sports broadcasters throughout the game. Drake Athletic Director Sandy Hatfield Clubb and President David Maxwell presented the blue blazer to Morrison at his 90th birthday party in 2007, and it has quickly become his trademark garment. “He wears it pretty religiously any time Drake is involved; every road trip, every basketball game—home or away—every function,” Mahon said. “He’s tickled pink to wear it.” Among all of his honors, Morrison said having a scholarship established in his name to help students was one of his proudest moments. The Paul Morrison Scholarship is given annually to student athletes majoring in journalism who show excellence in the classroom. Three to four athletes each year are hand selected by Morrison to – PAUL MORRISON receive the scholarship. Mahon states that he has enjoyed Morrison’s company while traveling with the teams over the years. From walking over the Golden Gate Bridge to dog sledding in Alaska, Morrison has tried it all. “He’s slowing down a little bit, but he’s still active and still young at heart,” said Mahon. “A lot of people don’t know this, but he’ll sometimes walk up to the second floor of the Field House and ride a stationary bike that’s in an office up there for about 15 minutes in the morning.” Mahon and Morrison also write a quarterly newsletter sent to Drake varsity athletes. As a liaison to the letter-winners, Morrison admits he enjoys keeping track of the students, and Mahon said he uses his journalism roots. “I cherish his opinion on things; he was a former writer, and I just respect his opinion a lot,” Mahon said. “I think the entire Drake athletic administration respects his opinion.”
I’ll work as long as I can, and if I become a pain in the fanny, I hope they’ll tell me, and I’ll get out. But otherwise, as I say, I look forward to coming to work every day.
”
FILE PHOTO
PAUL MORRISON graduated from Drake in 1939. He then started working at Drake in 1945. Morrison says he isn’t sure what the future holds, but for now, he’s happy just to be involved. “I hope that my health holds and that I can continue to do what I’m doing,” said Morrison. “I’ll work as long as I can, and if I become a pain in the fanny, I hope they’ll tell me, and I’ll get out. But otherwise, as I say, I look forward to coming to work every day.” n
Road trippin’ with my two favorite allies Drake alumnus plans summer-long Europe trip with high school friends by ARIANA DUAX
Staff Writer ariana.duax@drake.edu
After graduating from Drake University on Dec. 18, Ted Schleisman had less than a month before his first day of work. On Jan. 11, he woke up in his spacious studio apartment and strolled
into his dream job at M Financial Group in Portland, Ore., an accomplishment many graduates lack in today’s economy. But on May 30, Schleisman will walk away from Oregon, his job and America for three months to embark on an epic adventure before establishing permanent residency in the real world.
photo courtesy of TED SCHLEISMAN
TED SCHLEISMAN (right) and his high school friends still keep in touch. This summer, they plan to backpack across Europe.
Over the 2008-2009 winter break, Schleisman headed home to Middleton, Wis., to catch up with family and friends. Being on the Drake men’s soccer team kept Schleisman in Des Moines for most of the year, meaning fewer visits home. After attending dozens of miniature high school reunions, Schleisman found himself wondering what would happen when everyone wasn’t coming home on coordinated school vacations. He and his friends would be graduating college, moving to new cities and starting their careers. “We became sad when we realized that the scheduled school breaks would no longer draw us all together automatically,” Schleisman said. “So we hatched a plan to embark on one last epic adventure together.” According to Schleisman and his friends, an epic adventure is nothing short of a three-month trip by three friends to two continents and the 2010 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup. Schleisman and his two best friends will start their adventure by jumping on a plane to Dublin, Ireland. Their first week will be spent backpacking from Dublin to Rome. The boys have planned nothing for their first leg of the trip except their second flight from Rome to Johannesburg, South Africa. After arriving in South Africa, the men will stay there
for an entire month. They plan on attending at least six of the World Cup soccer matches and visiting numerous cities that will be hosting the tournament. After the final match of the World Cup, they plan on returning to Europe and renting a car for easy transportation across multiple country borders. Aside from a wedding in Croatia, Schleisman and his friends have no set dates or plans for their European tour, which will include Slovenia, Greece, Austria, Switzerland, France and the Netherlands. After having worked two paid summer internships and collecting a few months’ pay from his new job in Portland, Schleisman will be looking to keep costs low throughout the trip. Transportation costs will be unavoidable, especially overseas flights, so he said they will be bargain hunting. “I plan on winning the Oregon lottery in the next couple months,” Schleisman said. Schleisman and his friends plan on staying in hostels, camping and “couch surfing” to avoid expensive hotels and food. This backpacking summer will not only prove to be exciting and enlightening, but also an extreme change in the way Schleisman is used to living. Schleisman plans to document his trip on a Web site he created that is entirely devoted to his epic adventure.
WHERE THEY’RE PLANNING TO GO >CHICAGO TO DUBLIN They will spend their first week backpacking from Dublin, Ireland, to Rome, Italy
>ROME TO SOUTH AFRICA In South Africa, they will attend at least six World Cup soccer matches
>EASTERN EUROPE They plan on visiting Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland, Serbia and Slovenia
>WESTERN EUROPE After that, they’ll travel to France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland The site, toSAandbeyond.com, includes a map of their intended routes, areas for visitors to leave comments or suggestions and quick links to send the boys e-mails while they’re away. “I intend to take full advantage of the experience while I can,” he said. When I get back in August, it will really be time to grow up.” n
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P
HUBBELL DINING HALL
P
11:30 a.m.- 2 p.m./5 p.m.- 7:30 p.m., Mon.-Fri. 9:30 a.m.- 1 p.m./4:30 p.m.- 7 p.m., Mon.-Fri. Hubbell promises an all you can eat menu “designed to fit everyone’s appetite.” Open for lunch and dinner, breakfast is also served on the weekends until 10 a.m.
OLMSTED CENTER
7 a.m.- 12:30 a.m., Sun.-Sat. A hub of student life, Olmsted Center houses a Drake apparel store, the Student Life Center, a basement dining hall and a coffee shop.
P
P
DR
GOOGLE MAPS
Have some time to kill? Forgot to pack something? Use this guide to you might need in the Des Moines area to fulfill (almost) all of yo needs. GROCERY
MOVIE THEATRES
BARS
• Hy-Vee 7101 University Ave. Windsor Heights 515-279-4408 www.hy-vee.com
• Varsity Theatre 1207 25th St. (Across from Drake campus) 515-277-0404 www.varsitydesmoines.com
• Peggy’s 3020 Forest Ave. 515-633-0475
• Dahl’s 1819 Beaver Ave. 515-255-3151 www.dahlsfoods.com
• Century 20-Jordan Creek 101 Jordan Creek Parkway West Des Moines 515-267-8981 www.cinemark.com
• Wal-Mart 1001 73rd St. Windsor Heights 515-274-6224 www.walmart.com
• Fleur Cinema and Café 4545 Fleur Drive 515-287-4545 www.fleurcinema.com
• West End Lounge 2309 Forest Ave. 515-279-4085 • The Library Cafe 3506 University Ave. 515-255-0433
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DRAKE STADIUM 7 a.m.- 12:30 a.m., Sun.-Sat. The site of most Relays events, the stadium has two entrance doors, on the East and West sides along with parking on either side.
P ARKING
With students, faculty, alumni and the Des Moines community coming together, parking can be hard to find.
PAINTED STREET 24/7 The heart of a Relays tradition, the painted street is designed and painted by student organizations the weekend before Relays starts.
RAKE HOTSPOTS Where to park, where to pee and where to play: A guide to the places you’ll go during Drake Relays
o 15 places our Relays
RESTAURANTS
HOSPITALS
MALLS
• Jethro’s BBQ 3102 Forest Ave. 515-279-3300 www.jethrosdesmoines.com
• Iowa Methodist Medical Center 1200 Pleasant St. 515-241-6212
• Valley West 1551 Valley West Drive 515-225-3631 www.valleywestmall.com
• Dos Rios 316 Court Ave. 515-282-2995 dosriosrestaurant.com
• Iowa Lutheran Hospital 700 E. University Ave. 515-263-5612
• Merle Hay 3850 Merle Hay Road 515-276-8551 www.merlehaymall.com
• Fong’s Pizza 223 4th St. 515-323-3333 www.fongspizza.com
• Mercy Medical Center 1111 6th Ave. 515-247-3121
• Jordan Creek 101 Jordan Creek Parkway 515-440-6255 jordancreektowncenter.com
compiled by JENNI MATASEK |Staff Writer
PAGE 6B
FAMOUS RELAYS GUESTS From Ronald Reagan to Suzy Favor Hamilton, many famous people have either competed in or attended the Drake Relays by LAUREN EHRLER
Staff Writer lauren.ehrler@drake.edu
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RONALD REAGAN In 1933, future U.S. President Ronald Reagan began his broadcast career announcing the Drake Relays for WHO Radio in Des Moines. He came back in 1974 as the parade marshal.
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
THE READERS’ GUIDE TO RELAYS EVENTS TRACK
compiled by JENNI MATASEK |Staff Writer
2 STEVE ALLEN
The first host of “The Tonight Show” Steve Allen was once a Drake student and came back as the parade marshal in 1957.
3 WILMA RUDOLPH
After being the first woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic games in 1960, Wilma Rudolph won the 100-meter sprint at the 1961 Drake Relays. The women’s 100 was also the first women’s event held at the Drake Relays.
4 JESSE OWENS
Jesse Owens won the 100 and long jump in record fashion in the 1935 Drake Relays. He went on to win four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics. He returned in 1959 to be named the top athlete of the first half-century of the Drake Relays. He was also the parade marshal in 1979.
>STEEPLECHASE
CATEGORY
photo by NICOLE BRAUNSDORF |Staff Photographer
DESCRIPTION
EVENTS
Racers run while jumping over hurdles that stand either 1.067 meters (for men) or .840 meters (for women) above the ground. Athletes are disqualified if they knock a hurdle down by hand, run over a hurdle not in their respective lane or interfere with another racer.
• 100 meter – Runners race over 10 hurdles, spaced 8.5 meters apart • 110 meter – Runners race over 10 hurdles, spaced 9.14 meters apart • 400 meter – Runners race over 10 hurdles, spaced 35 meters apart
Relay races are ran with a team of four racers. Each runner carries a baton, which they must pass to the next racer or their team within an exchange zone of 20 meters. If the baton is dropped by a racer, either the next racer must pick it up if it is within the exchange zone, or the person who dropped it can if it falls outside the zone. A team can be disqualified if the baton isn’t passed in the 20-meter exchange zone, is recovered illegally or is transferred not using runners’ hands.
• 4x100 meter – Each racer runs 100 meters (1/4 lap) • 4x200 meter – Each racer runs 200 meters (1/2 lap) • 4x400 meter – Each racer runs 400 meters (one lap) • 4x800 meter • 4x1600 meter • Sprint medley • Distance medley • Shuttle hurdle
Sprints
Runners in these races are required to stay in their respective lanes during the race. If they do not, it results in a disqualification.
• 100 meter • 110 meter • 400 meter
Medium Distance
Runners in these races move into the innermost lane after a fourth of the race has been run. For example, after 200 meters has been run in the 800 meter, runners may move into the innermost lane. Athletes don’t have to finish in their respective lanes.
• 800 meter (two laps) • 1500 meter (less than four laps) • 1600 meter (four laps) • Mile run (more than four laps)
Hurdles
Relays
FIELD 5 CARL LEWIS
The 10-time Olympic gold medalist, now actor, made his Drake Relays debut in 1994, winning the invitational 100.
6 WILT CHAMBERLAIN
The former NBA basketball player and member of the Harlem Globetrotters was a member of both the basketball and track and field teams at Kansas University. He tied for first in the 1957 Drake Relays high-jump competition.
7 MICHAEL JOHNSON
The four time Olympic gold medalist sprinter not only still holds the world records in the 400 and 4x400 relay, but also holds the Drake Relays records in the 200 and 400. Last year, Johnson was named the top male Drake Relays athlete of the century.
>LONG JUMP
CATEGORY Throwing Events
photo by KEVIN MORRISON |Staff Photographer
DESCRIPTION Throwing events are measured by how far a competitor throws the intended object from the radius of the throwing circle. Each competitor gets three throws, with the best scores used to determine who moves on to the next round.
8 GWEN TORRENCE
Gwen Torrence, who was named the top female Drake Relays athlete of the century, is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and the Drake Relays career victory winner.
Horizontal Jumping Events
Vertical Jumping Events
• Shot Put – Competitors “put” either a 4 kg (women) or 7.26 kg (men) spherical ball from one hand. • Discus – Competitors throw a 1 kg (women) or 2 kg (men) disc. • Javelin – Competitors throw a spear-like javelin. • Hammer Throw – Competitors throw a 4 km (women) or 7.26 kg (men) weight connected by a wire.
Horizontal jumping events have competitors run down a track into a sand pit. Distances are measured from the foul line to the closest break in the sand the competitor has made.
• Long Jump – As the name implies, competitors try to jump the farthest after a sprint. • Triple Jump – The triple jump has competitors taking two jumps, one on each foot, before jumping into the pit. As with long jump, distance is measured from the foul line to where the competitor lands.
In vertical jumping events, competitors test who can jump the highest. Athletes are given three tries to clear a set height, with competitors raising the bar as they clear each height.
• High Jump – Competitors must clear a vertical bar from jumping off one foot. If the vertical bar is displaced, athletes must try again to clear the height. The vertical bar is raised between 3 and 5 cm each time. • Pole Vault – Competitors must clear a vertical bar with the use of a pole. Like the high jump, if the athlete does not clear the bar, they can try again up to three times. The vertical bar is raised between 5 and 15 cm.
FAVOR HAMILTON & 9 SUZY STEVE SCOTT Former Olympians and Drake Relays contestants Suzy Favor Hamilton and Steve Scott will return to this year’s 101st running of the Drake Relays to lead the first Grand Blue Mile run.
EVENTS
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THE TIMES-DELPHIC
The Drake Relays parade hits the streets
photos by EMILY TOZER | Staff Photographer
MOLLY LUNDBERG AND ANIL ALIMOHD, the 2010 Relays hostess and host, wave at passerbys during the parade Sunday (top left). Owner Kevin Bell props up the 2009 Beautiful Bulldog Porterhouse. Porterhouse will relinquish his title today during the Beautiful Bulldog contest at 11 a.m. in Nollen Plaza (bottom left). The winner will make his or her first major public appearance during Relays ceremonies. Ronald McDonald was one of 70 different entries into the parade that encircled campus (right).
Q&A
LAY PACIORastEK C D N A N E S IS Y E C ke Relays Telec WITH STA d executive producer of the Dra The coordinating producer an
compiled by NICOLE MITTELBRUN |Staff Writer
STACEY ISSEN
Q How many people do you have working under you and what are their jobs? A I have an assistant, executive producer, content and technical producer, I oversee the talent coordinator who holds the talent practice meetings and I oversee the sales team, which has five people doing sales.
Q How much time have you spent preparing for Relays? A Oh God, well, each week since first semester I’ve had 30-minute meetings
with the sales team every Sunday, weekly hourly meetings with producers, talent meetings every other week since last semester and I have my own stuff to do for Relays other than just overseeing those things—it’s been a lot of time. The week of Relays we put in so much time, we have to edit packages and production elements, Thursday night, all-day Friday, all day Saturday we work Relays. We tear down Saturday night. It’s 60 hours straight. We have a 4 a.m. call to 10 or 11 p.m., sometimes later depending on what we still have to
photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
CLAY PACIOREK
Q Where can we find you during Relays? A I will be in the parking lot behind the stadium in a truck the whole weekend. I feel like a bat when I walk outside.
Q What has been the hardest part preparing so far? Q Why is it worth it for you to be so involved with Relays? A There’s nothing like the thrill of live production. It’s one of the most amazing A The hardest part is definitely trying to prepare without having a truck and experiences ever. You may be running around like a chicken with your head cut off and just knowing all the planning that you put into it, and see the product put out. It’s just so cool having that much power and control over a situation and being the person people answer to. It’s a power rush, but it’s awesome.
Q Do you have the opportunity to work with other broadcast crews and what is that like?
A Last year ESPN came in and some people went into the ESPN truck but it’s
completely a student broadcast that really rivals professional broadcasts. We don’t need to bring professionals in because ours really is professional, our talent is really good; they’re broadcast majors. We have play-by-play and color people, we’re directing, and we’ve won awards, like we won a Telly last year in live production and it wasn’t in a student category.
then finally figuring out we are going to have it. For a while I was preparing to do a broadcast in a way we’ve never done it before, so the uncertainty of that was difficult. Thankfully that’s solved, so it doesn’t even matter anymore.
Q What is your favorite part of Relays? A Being in the truck and when everything is rolling and things are going smoothly and we’re having fun. It’s awesome to see all the work you’ve put into it really play out and come together.
Q What kind of changes have you made since last year? A Last year was a great broadcast; it was the best one we’ve ever done. This
year I want to tighten things up and make some things better with graphics and continue what we had last year.
New organization takes to the climb by JACKIE WALLENTIN News Editor tdnews@drake.edu
Rock climbing. Hiking. Crosscountry skiing. For most Iowans, these sports would seem out of place in the Midwest, with corn husking much more likely to be a recreational activity than archery or camping. After working last summer as a trail guide in Wisconsin, senior math and computer science double-major Ethan Kerzner found his return to Drake greatly lacking in outdoor entertainment, the inspiration behind the Drake Outdoor Leadership Club (DOLC). “When I came back to school, I was distraught that I was back in Iowa and there was nothing to do outside,” Kerzner, a co-president, said. “I figured a student-run outdoor program was better than no program at all.” Kerzner pitched his idea for the club to fellow co-president senior finance and quantitative economics double-major Becky Hiu and sophomore actuarial science major Elizabeth Demmon, who shared his fascination for the outdoors. Together, the three students devel-
oped a plan and sent their proposal to Student Senate for an approval of the club. In late September, the DOLC became an official campus organization. “There was an outdoor club at Drake over six years ago, but it never worked out,” Hiu said. “Each and every one of us in the club has an interest in the outdoors. No other organization can provide these needs to students on campus.” Although the club had not yet been approved, the DOLC held their first unofficial rock-climbing event in September, which drew a crowd of approximately 30 students. “I love rock climbing to death,” Hiu said. “I used to teach lessons at home in Malaysia. I have expertise in that field, whereas Ethan is our wilderness expert.” The DOLC has a partnership with Climb Iowa, an indoor climbing facility with over 100,000 square feet of climbing space that opened in Des Moines in November. The partnership allows students to climb on Sunday nights after the facility closes. Hiu says rock climbing is the club’s most frequent event. Freshman journalism and English
double-major Chelsey Teachout attended a DOLC camping trip in the fall and has since then become an official member. The students traveled to the Loess Hills in the northwest corner of Iowa where they spent the weekend camping, hiking and exploring the prairie and forest bluffs. “I enjoy being outdoors, of course, so I wanted a club that wasn’t just a committee, but active,” Teachout said. “It has all been a positive experience.” The DOLC also works with professors in the environmental science department to gain knowledge and different depths of field about the nature surrounding them, Hiu said. The eight regular DOLC members meet on Sundays at 6 p.m. in Olin 102 to plan new events and discuss members’ experiences. Next year the DOLC will lose both Kerzner and Hiu, but Kerzner remains positive that the future of the DOLC is bright. “We’re trying to get the younger members to take over the club so our leadership positions are subsiding,” Kerzner said. “It’s really up to the younger members now. It’s in their hands.” n
photo courtesy of ETHAN KERZNER
DRAKE OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP CLUB MEMBERS practice climbing indoors. The group has a partnership with Climb Iowa.
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opinion THE TIMES-DELPHIC
CAREERS ON FIRE
Find out what in ternships other students have an d get advice on obtaining th e job you want. PAGE 2
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
SECTION C
history we are
writing
It starts out small, a brushstroke here and there. But pretty soon, it’s all in your hair. You can’t get away, there’s no use trying. No matter where you go, paint is flying. Each square unique, showing the differences of Drake, All threaded together as one, even though the paint may flake. Jitters running through the spines of runners jumping, anxious in line. Of all ages, from all places, People come to see the races. Get ready, get set, go! It’s been tradition since 101 years ago. History we are writing and history from the past. It’s all combined together to make Drake Relays last. poem by LIZZIE PINE | Managing Editor photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
OPINIONS & EDITORIALS
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 2C
INTERNSHIPS
Taste of the real world Emotions run high, deadlines run short
T
Dealing with everyday stressors of being a news intern
he life of a “The Des Moines Register” intern is fairly simple: - Work on local event stories - File the crime log - Listen to the scanner For the most part, the first task is extremely similar to what I would do as a reporter for The Times-Delphic: Call the right people, struggle to write a good lede and rush to finish the story before deadline. I sort through old police reports for the crime log, which is tedious to assemble (and usually far more depressing than the TD’s weekly chronicle of stupid decisions). Listening to the scanner is when things get interesting. You hear a whole other side of Des Moines while you’re listening to the scanner. It’s a diverse mix of dark, scary incidents garnished with humorous observations by officers on patrol. But, with all the chatter on the police frequencies, there is one thing interns listen for, and dread the most: report of a fire.
my way to the address, more I always feel an odd cominformation came over the bination of emotions when I airwaves. There was a dog head out to my car to cover a still inside. fire. On one hand you’re exWhen I arrived and cited to cover breaking news, stepped out of my car I was but on the other you fear overwhelmed by the midsomeone may lose their posJanuary cold. I started walksessions—or worse, their life. TYLER O’NEIL ing toward the home, where These bursts of activity the fire appeared to be out and emotion have thus far RELAYS EDITOR but some smoke was still defined my experience at The drifting out of the open front Register, and although I find door. it impossible to explain my Outside was the homeowner, and she was experience in 800 words, I hope I can give you a glimpse into a few of the fires that have encap- very anxious. I couldn’t stop shivering so I decided to use my voice recorder instead of taksulated my internship adventure. ing notes and introduced myself. She explained My second-ever shift at The Register that she had been frying potatoes in the kitchen, was fairly quiet until I heard there was a house stepped away for a minute and when she reon fire on the east side of Des Moines. I rushed turned the entire stove was on fire. Her husout to my car, the portable scanner in my coat band, son and three of their four poodles made pocket and a map pulled up on my phone. On it out safely, but she was still waiting for them to find the fourth dog. A short time later, a firefighter came out and whispered something into the on-scene captain’s ear. He approached the woman and solemnly informed her that the dog was found upstairs. It had died from smoke inhalation. I do not know the words to describe the pain displayed across her face as tears streamed down her frozen cheeks.
photo by TYLER O’NEIL| Relays Editor
FIREFIGHTERS combat a car fire as Tyler O’Neil covers the story for his “The Des Moines Register” internship.
Melting in Iowa
I
Understanding immigration
different languages), owa Council for to providing translaInternational Untion services, just to derstanding is a name a few. I am still nonprofit organiso awed at everything zation whose mission this organization offers is to develop a connecto ensure immigrants tion and understanding between Iowans SARAH VANLANDEGEN the most comfortable transition possible to and the international calling Iowa home. community. I recently COLUMNIST The organization, earned an internship however, is not just with the organization I limited to informing was interested in, and I delved into the logistics of how an organi- international residents and visitors about zation with such ambition operates. After Iowa; they also provide resources to get all, connecting individuals who differ in Iowans involved and educated about culture, often with language barriers, is the international community and issues. They host monthly luncheons open to the not an easy feat. I believe that the single largest blessing public at the Des Moines Public Library of the United States is its diversity. Per- where the host speaks on imperative inhaps this is why we are often referred to ternational issues ranging anywhere from as “the melting pot.” People from all over race and class to gender discrimination. In addition to the information they the world have been fortunate to call this country home. After all, we are all immi- provide to the community as a whole about international issues, the organizagrants to this nation. That being said, although many of tion also has programs that focus on the us have settled down in this country and education of international understandhave become accustomed to its ways, it is ing with high school students. Every year important to remember that immigration ICIU hosts the Iowa Student Global is still an important amenity of our coun- Leadership Conference, which allows intry today. Just as all of our ancestors were ternational exchange students from across foreigners to this country, we must have Iowa to come together in Des Moines for a weekend where they learn about global compassion to our new additions. For many Americans, it is hard to em- issues and participate in several multiculpathize with those coming to our coun- tural activities, and they are even allowed try, but we must imagine that it would be to bring their American friends. Talk anything but easy for people to leave their about a party around the world. Educatcomfort zone, culture, customs, family ing youth on international matters is essential to American’s future compassion and roots to come to our nation. This is the reason why I applied for an and understanding of international issues internship with Iowa Council for Inter- and perspectives. Among ICIU’s other accomplishnational Understanding. I believe that it is so special that an organization to unite ments, I believe its recognition of outpeople from across the world with Iowans standing immigrants in the Iowa comexists. munity is one of its greatest attributes. To We often take for granted how fortu- achieve success is an honorable thing in nate we are to be able to welcome people itself; however, to achieve high success as from all over the world into our country, a recent immigrant is remarkable. The and everything they have to offer. It is im- recognition of these exceptional people migrants that make this nation great. The that have called our country home is so more Americans can connect and under- important. stand with our new citizens and internaI am already learning a ton from this tional visitors, the more enriched our lives internship and think the objectives of will be. the organization are outstanding. I am Although I am new to the internship, I excited to become further invested in enam already very much impressed with the couraging positive relationships between organization and the vast realm of pro- Iowans and the international community. grams they offer. ICIU offers programs ranging from educational programs to hosting international visitors. ICIU provides new immigrants living in Iowa with any resource imaginable, ranging from VanLandegen is a junior international relations an information booklet, which provides major and can be contacted at newcomers with vital information for sarah.vanlandegen@drake.edu. their adjustment to Iowa living (in seven
I was several miles away when I could first see the plume of smoke rising above Adventureland Amusement Park in Altoona. It seemed to grow larger and darker with every passing moment. I was excited. The Feb. 20 fire consumed a block of Iowa’s oldest and largest theme park, and I was the reporter that would get to cover it. This would be the first time I would cover something the larger Des Moines community would really care about.
I spent several hours in the wet, cold weather covering the fire as it progressed. I tried sneaking in the back to get photos (a TV cameraman and I were promptly kicked out). I talked with witnesses to the fire and business owners whose shops were endangered inside the park. I emailed updates from my BlackBerry. Finally, we were allowed inside and I could see the charred remains of the toyshop and arcade. It was something significant, and I was there. Sometimes luck is the most important element to spot journalism. I was driving to my afternoon shift on April 4 when immediately to my right I saw a car with smoke billowing out from under the hood and tongues of flames escaping from the engine compartment. I called 911. And then I called the newsroom. I quickly parked in a nearby parking lot and I was snapping photos before the fire truck had arrived. I watched as firefighters pried open the hood and began dowsing the engine with a foamy mixture. I crossed the street and I talked with the occupants, both of whom luckily escaped unharmed. The driver, AK Doud, told me the backseat contained a large sound system used for outdoor events and was appraised at $4,000, far more than the car itself. The firefighters had been able to extinguish the blaze, saving the system. “(The equipment) was really the only thing we were worried about,” Doud said. “And we’re OK, so that’s really the most important thing.” I went into this internship without any expectations. I’ve worked at other newspapers and for other publications, but this internship has provided the most intense and dynamic experiences. It’s been exciting and I’ve picked up many good clips I’ll be able to use down the road, but perhaps the most important aspect of this internship has been the raw emotions I’ve witnessed first-hand. The people I have met have changed the way I look at the world; I’m more empathetic and understanding of tragedies now that I’ve seen how quickly people’s lives can turn upside down. I’m a better journalist and a better person for it. O’Neil is a junior news/Internet journalism major and can be contacted at tyler.oneil@drake.edu.
LAND YOURSELF AN INTERNSHIP The top 5 ways to keep find opportunities and get the job
1 NETWORKING
Expand your contacts list. Companies hire people that are referred to them. Meet more people—everyone has their own network.
2 UPDATED RESUME
Keep it simple and free from mistakes. Have your most recent accomplishments listed. Visit www.drake.edu/career to have your resume critiqued.
3 CAREER EVENTS
Practice with mock interviews at the business school, go to the career fairs or join professional fraternities.
4 ONLINE TOOLS
Visit Career bluePrint in the Student Services tab on blueView, job search engines such as internships.com and research specific company’s Web sites.
5 DON’T LIMIT SEARCH
If you’re going into accounting, don’t just look into the banking industry— every business needs an accountant. Try a variety of industries and locations. Information provided by Annette Watson, career services manager of the College of Business and Public Administration.
Working for the greater good Helping nonprofits—more than just experience
C
ollege means internships. And most of the time, internships build your skills, increase your experience and enhance your resume. They give you realworld understanding and create networking opportunities. But at Children’s Cancer Connection, my internship does much more. Children’s Cancer Connection’s mission is to “enhance the quality of life for children and families affected by childhood cancer by providing programs for education, recreation and support”—and being an intern there since January has been more than just a professional experience. On my third day, I took part in an endof-chemo party. Every week, I get to interview volunteers, donors, families and more about what they have contributed—and received—from Children’s Cancer Connection. Working there three days a week, I don’t get paid, but I feel like I’m making a difference in the lives of local people affected by cancer.
ALYSSE GEAR COLUMNIST
Cancer Connection runs Camp Heart Connection, sending hundreds of cancer survivors and their siblings to two separate camps each summer—for free. Our volunteers spend time with kids in the hospital, providing Beads for Bravery for each cancer-related milestone and letting them pick a toy from the “Poke Box” after every procedure, and we offer support for families at monthly meetings of Club HOPE. This semester, one employee at Children’s Cancer Connection is even celebrating her 24th birthday by raising money to send 24 kids to camp—and I’ve been lucky enough to get to help out. Through my internship, I’ve learned new skills and gained definite connections, but Children’s Cancer Connection has also opened my magazine-major eyes to a whole different line of work.
Working there three days a week, I don’t get paid, but I feel like I’m making a difference in the lives of local people affected by cancer. Yes, I have my journalismrelated responsibilities like writing press releases, working on our e-newsletter and maintaining our social media. But knowing the greater good that comes from the work of our small staff is so much more rewarding than what’s reflected on my resume. Children’s
Gear is a junior magazine journalism major and can be contacted at alysse.gear@drake.edu.
PAGE 3C
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
OPINIONS & EDITORIALS
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
HOW TO
How to survive a bad date
D
Guidelines to staying sane before you find Mr. or Mrs. Right
ating is a natural part of the college experience. It can also be stressful and even painful. Finding a boyfriend or girlfriend is kind of like finding a pair of shoes; you have to try on a few before you purchase a pair. Of course, there are always shoes that pinch your feet in such an unpleasant way: That is like a bad date. It’s not always a pretty scene. Surviving a bad date isn’t always easy, but it is possible. If you find yourself on a bad date, don’t panic! With these guidelines, you may come out of it with your sanity intact.
1
2 3
Attempt to suffer through It’s just a date, after all. It won’t kill you. The date may suck, but if you can manage to make it through the whole thing, feelings will be spared. Your date will hopefully recognize the lack of chemistry and leave you alone. If not, you can politely reject any further requests to go on a date. Double-dating can also help to lessen your pain. A friend and his or her date can accompany you and your date. Not only can you talk to them instead of your date, they can talk to your date so he or she can’t talk to you. Win, win! Less interaction equals less boredom If your date bores you to tears, you do not want to spend the whole evening talking to them. Hell, you might not even want to look at them. That’s why you must choose date destinations wisely. Movies are a great date destination. You don’t have to say anything to your date for at least an hour and a half ! You don’t even have to look at them! It’s perfect. Plus, if you end up actually deciding the date might have some potential, you can always go out to ice cream afterward or something. If you can’t stand your date’s voice, you don’t want to go to a dinner for two in a restaurant where you’re secluded from the rest of the customers with only a waiter or waitress to keep you from stabbing yourself with the butter knife.
4
LAURA WITTREN COLUMNIST
Dating isn’t always easy. It may take several dates before you find one person you can stand to be around for more than half an hour.
Bring better things to do iPhones and iPod Touches are probably the single greatest invention for this very reason: Games, texting and other random applications like the shotgun app can help you keep your sanity.
5
Cancel If after planning a date you realize nothing in the world could possibly salvage the night if you go through with it, canceling is your best option. If you make up a situation such as a sick relative or illness, your date will probably just reschedule, which could be awkward. Instead, tell your date that you just got out of a bad relationship. You thought you were ready to date again, but you’re just not ready yet. Get out of the date—while it’s happening You’re on the date, and you just can’t take it anymore. You have got to get out of there, but you still want to preserve their feelings. Fake an emergency! They might try to reschedule, but at least you’re out of the date for now. You can come up with excuses why not to reschedule later. The best way to fake an emergency involves the phone. First, if you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, download the app “Fake a Call.” The app is free and you can schedule it to give you a “call” at a certain time. You can even pick certain situations that will be the voice on the other end, like sick aunt, friend or bail call. If you have the app, practice talking with the voice on the other end. During the date, let it go off and answer it in front of your date. Talk with the automated message and then excuse yourself from the date. If you don’t have access to this app, pretend you are getting a call on your phone. Walk away from the table, but stay in eyesight, so your date can see you talking on the phone. Look distressed and come back saying you have to leave. Deny any offers to be driven or accompanied out.
Dating isn’t always easy. It may take several dates before you find one person you can stand to be around for more than half an hour. You’ll never know if you don’t go out there, so suck it up and suffer through the crappy ones. Good luck!
Wittren is a first-year magazine journalism major and can be contacted at laura.wittren@drake.edu.
POLITICS
Three candidates and three debates
T
Who will win out in the end to challenge Gov. Chet Culver? the health care initiative that Branstad, who leads both of was passed in March. The them significantly in the polls. bill, which barely made it Roberts and Vander Plaats past the House of Represenwill only win the primary if tatives, is unpopular among they can successfully chalmost Americans, and rightly lenge Branstad from the right. so. The bill will eventually Most of the people that vote require all Americans to buy in primaries are party loyalSEAN WALSH health insurance. While this ists. Branstad’s more moderseems good in theory, many ate stance on gay marriage, COLUMNIST Americans chose not to get and support, while governor, health insurance for their for state-licensed gambling own reason, and constitucasinos and tax hikes are all tionally they should have that right. During points his opponents need to make stronger. Of course, that is not to say that the two did their debate, all three candidates said they were not challenge Branstad at the debate. Vander in favor of using the courts to challenge aspects Plaats, who has the best chance at beating of the health care Branstad, opened by saying, “I won’t need to bill (just like sevcome back three, four or even five terms to get eral other states that the job done.” Obviously, this was a snide at- have recently sued tack on Branstad. However, not even this attack the federal governseemed to be effective, because so many Iowans ment). While Gov. Culsee Branstad as someone who can fix the mess that has been created over the last few years. ver is in full support To some, Branstad is to Iowa what President of the bill, and it Obama was to the U.S. two years ago. And would be easy for when someone is able to run on both experience his Republican chaland hope, like Branstad is, it is going to be aw- lengers to campaign fully hard for anyone to defeat him, especially solely on overturntwo lesser-known politicos. ing it, this would A second event that has taken place to dra- not be wise. Yes, a matically change the shape of the race has been lot of Americans were angry because of the way the bill was crafted. For instance, in December in order for the bill to pass the Senate, several deals were cut to states so that senators would vote in favor of the bill. In fact, afterwards Sen. Ben Nelson (D) revoked his vote and said it was a mistake. However, since the passage of the bill, many Americans are more likely to look at the good parts of the bill and forget the way the bill was passed. What candidate really wants to focus their campaign on overturning the portion of the bill that stopped the practice of health insurers denying coverage for those people with pre-existing conditions? Likewise, the bill also expanded coverage to children so that they could stay on their parents’ insurance plans longer. DemoBOB VANDER PLAATS ROD ROBERTS crats will be able to taint these aspects of the bill photos courtesy of respective campaigns
he race between Iowa’s gubernatorial candidates is starting to heat up. While the general election will not take place until November, the three Republican challengers hoping to defeat Democratic Gov. Chet Culver will first face each other at the ballot box during the June 8 primary. Since I last wrote this column on the contentious 2010-midterm elections, the Congress has met and debated and passed the national health care initiative. Both of these events have added a unique aspect to the race. Several candidates vying for the top job in Iowa have dropped from the race since the beginning of the year due to the fact that they could not garner enough attention to raise funds. Perhaps these lesser-known candidates would have had a better chance in a year where a former governor had not decided to run, and a popular one at that. Former governor Terry Branstad has the most name recognition, and therefore the most money. And in politics, money is power. However, there are still two challengers vying for the nomination against him: Bob Vander Plaats and Rod Roberts. The three Republican candidates are squaring off in a series of three debates across Iowa. While the next two will take place in early May in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, the first already occurred in early April in Sioux City. What the two lesser-known candidates needed to do, and failed to do, was to strongly challenge
TERRY BRANSTAD
Former governor Terry Branstad has the most name recognition, and therefore, the most money. And in politics, money is power.
THE TIMES-DELPHIC THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER FOR DRAKE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884 MATT VASILOGAMBROS, Editor-in-Chief times.delphic@drake.edu
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as positive, and by November the way the bill was passed will not matter much at all. Democrats will be able to put Republicans on the defensive as to why they did nothing about health care when they were in power. However, this is not to say that the Republican candidates running for governor (and other elections across the state and country) cannot use aspects of the health care bill to help their cause. The bill is likely to raise taxes and added even more debt to the federal budget. These two fiscally conservative points will resonate with Iowa voters, especially after the recent budget crisis, when Culver was forced to cut several government jobs and other government spending. It seems odd that the former treasurer of the state of Iowa did not plan ahead enough for a budget shortfall before it happened, but somehow that was the case. It will be fascinating to see if Branstad can be stopped. Some conservative groups have recently come out saying they will not support Branstad in the general election for his more moderate views. This is, of course, silly. Branstad has proven to be an effective leader and the best bet for Republicans to beat Culver in the general election. It is only April and the Iowa gubernatorial race is already exciting. But it is not just Iowa where midterm elections are shaping up to be exciting. It is very apparent that this is no ordinary midterm year, and for people that love to follow politics, it should be a great year.
HOLLY WORTHY, Copy Editor holly.worthy@drake.edu MATT MORAN, Copy Editor matthew.moran@drake.edu JILL VAN WYKE, Faculty Advisor jill.vanwyke@drake.edu
Walsh is a first-year news/Internet journalism and politics double major and can be contacted at sean.walsh@drake.edu.
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THE TIMES-DELPHIC
OPINIONS & EDITORIALS
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 4C
STUDYING ABROAD
A world of experiences The no-plan plan to finding your way in Spain—maybe not a good idea
photo courtesy of SARAH VANLANDEGEN
SARAH VANLANDEGEN finally relaxes in Toledo, Spain, after her adventure getting out of the airport, into a hostel and accepted into a university.
Huddled in a corner of the Madrid airport is not the ideal way to start studying abroad
O
n Jan. 7, 2009, I landed in Madrid, Spain, without my luggage, without knowing anyone and without knowing where I was going. I was told my lost luggage could be sent to my address; however, the only address I knew was tucked away in that very luggage. It was the address to the school I would be attending, the school that didn’t even know I was coming. Not knowing if my luggage would arrive for hours or days, I made myself comfortable in a secluded corner of the airport where I waited. Being exhausted from over 20 hours of traveling I quickly fell asleep. I lay hunched over the few belongings I had in a coma for quite some time, until I was abruptly shaken awake. I awoke in a state of panic and confusion, wondering where I was and why there was a large man standing over me, shaking me, yelling in Spanish: “Estas muerta?!, Estas muerta?!” Translation: Are you dead? I looked at the wings on his shirt and realized he was a concerned pilot who stumbled upon a distraught looking blonde girl passed out in a lonely corner. I mustered up my best Spanish to tell him that I was not dead, just simply very tired after a long day. He then told me what I believe to be something along the lines of “You look dead, and stop scaring the citizens.” Perfect, my first five hours in Spain and I already managed to become stranded and scare a bunch of people. I then decided it was in my best interest to stay awake. People of-
ten came up to me to talk, which was reciprocated with a lot of smiles and nods, as I was nowhere near fluent in Spanish. I often got weird looks, they could have been telling me someone stole my wallet for all I knew and I just responded with a drawn out Spanish “yaaaaaa” and a smile. A huge wave of relief came when my luggage arrived eight hours later. This relief quickly morphed into a “Now what?” epiphany. It dawned on me that I had no idea what to do next. I did not know anyone and had nowhere to go. I wandered around until I found the exit of the airport where I got in a cab. I asked him if he spoke English and he laughed and said “No.” I asked him to take me to a hostel and he responded “there are millions.” Not knowing what to do coupled with watching the meter rapidly rise, I simply asked him to take me downtown. Thirty-five minutes later I was standing downtown the third most populated city in Europe, on a random street corner, alone. So how did I get here? Before I left for Spain, I had it all planned out. I didn’t want to have the spoon-fed study abroad experience. I wanted to find a place on my own, I wanted to figure out things for myself and I wanted to live on my own terms. I wanted it to be a challenge. I had this glorious picture made up in my mind where I would fly to Spain, make friends with tons of students on the airplane, then land and find a hostel with my new friends. I would make tons of friends at the hostel and some of them would go to my
SARAH VANLANDEGEN COLUMNIST school. At school I would meet other exchange students my age and we would all get an apartment together, I would learn tons of cultures, languages and make everlasting friends. Looking back, to say I was ambitious was an understatement. So there I was, wandering around downtown Madrid with six months of luggage for a good hour. I had no idea what a hostel even looked like so I wandered into what I thought could be a hostel. When I got inside, it literally looked like I was in an abandoned building. I was so confused so I just got on the elevator and thought to myself, “Good job, Sarah, you got yourself stranded in a foreign country, where nobody speaks English, and no one even knows you are here.” I started to consider the fact that I might die at the age of 19. I looked at the elevator buttons and just hit a random number: three. I got off in what still looked like an abandoned building and then all of a sudden a huge wooden door swung open. A lady abruptly appeared and I asked where a hostel was and she
photo courtesy of SARAH VANLANDEGEN
SARAH VANLANDEGEN enjoys a glass of wine in Madrid, Spain—where it was legal for her to drink—while looking out from her apartment abroad.
told me I was standing in a hostel, then laughed at the stupid American. I walked through the hostel and found a crazy lady behind a desk and after much confusion, finally rented a room. I walked in that incredibly tiny square box with a bed, dropped my million pounds of luggage, sat down on the bed, and cried. There was no Internet and I couldn’t get my phone card to work to even let my parents know I was alive; I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. By that time, it was nighttime in Madrid. I decided to go out and find an Internet café and/or a phone store. Then I got lost, of course. And I did not find either, of course. I did, however, manage to somehow set off the alarm in a random store and had three Spanish girls chase after me. That was fun. Coming from someone who gets lost in their own backyard, it took me a good two hours to find my way back to my hostel where I decided to just cut my losses and call it a night. The next day I tried to use the metro to find my way to the school I planned to attend. Forty-five minutes later I arrived at the right stop and a bunch of students got off. I was so proud I was able to find the school all by myself. I followed the students for 20 minutes and arrived at the wrong university. Talk about a Debbie downer. Two awesome things happened when I finally arrived to the correct university. First of all, the only person who spoke English was not there and second, they asked me who I was and when I told them my name they replied, “We have no record of you, sorry.” The university had no idea who I was or that I was even coming. After a lot of waiting in random rooms, a lot of phone calls and a lot questioning if I was dreaming this, I was allowed to enroll in the university, two weeks late into the course.
I walked into class and I explained to my professor and classmates why I was late (two weeks and two hours) and watched their jaws drop. After the initial shock and being called quite a few crazy names in Spanish, I made friends. My little fantasy plan soon fell into place when I met some guys from the University of Florida that said I could crash on their couch until I found a place. Florida kids weren’t exactly the cultural experience I was hoping for, but at this point, I was desperate. Making friends was the biggest relief I have ever had in my entire life. Being the only person you know on an entire continent is a completely new form of isolation. Additionally, not being able to talk to anyone due to the language barrier, put lonely on a new level. So I crashed with my new friends until I found a beautiful apartment downtown. The rest is history. I went from being homeless with zero friends, to traveling to 19 countries and making friends from all over the world. I guess my ‘no-plan’ plan worked out after all. Because as I sit and write this article I just returned from visiting those friends I made that first day of school. They still make fun of me for coming to a foreign country homeless and having to sleep on their couch. Although, at the time, the experience was one of the most terrifying of my life, and I probably almost died at least 100 times, I have no regrets. I was pushed about as far out of my comfort zone as one can possibly go, but you know what? It makes for one hell of a story. Oh and P.S. … please do not tell my parents.
I had this glorious picture made up in my mind where I would fly to Spain, make friends with tons of students on the airplane, then land and find a hostel with my new friends … Looking back, to say I was ambitious was an understatement.
VanLandegen is a junior law, politics and society major and can be contacted at sarah.vanlandegen@drake.edu.
PAGE 5C
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
OPINIONS & EDITORIALS
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
STUDYING ABROAD
Going international can give you a lifetime of memories
Out and about down under Spending time outdoors in nice weather— the real reason for a semester abroad
HOW TO PREPARE FOR LIFE ABROAD Instead of the no-plan plan, do your research so you can relax and enjoy it
1 PASSPORT
EMILY CORNISH COLUMNIST
Sunday, Feb. 21
I
just got back from my four-day East Coast tour with Study Australia and am still in awe at all of the neat things that we did. I was a little nervous to go on the trip seeing as there were only two of us Brisbaners who signed up for it. But I got there without a hitch, navigating the trains and airport by myself and arriving a little early to the Hamilton Island airport. Unfortunately, I found myself with an hour to kill before my ferry to Long Island (I missed the other one by 10 minutes), without my book (I left it on the plane, darn it!) and with a broken purse strap—I’m still not exactly sure how that happened. But I was able to kill some time and boarded the ferry with the rest of the resort staff. As the sole passenger traveling to Long Island, I almost missed the stop, too. But luckily, they hadn’t pulled away from the jetty before I realized that I needed to get off. Of course, there was no reception on the island, but there was a hotel staff member there to greet me and tell me which room I was in. She was wrong, but very nice. It was also happy hour when I arrived, so a lot of the other students in the program weren’t exactly helpful in directing me to where I could put my bags down. I eventually found Matt (one of the program leaders) and he sorted things out and I met the girls I would be staying with over the next few days. They were super nice and I walked along the beach with them for photo courtesy of EMILY CORNISH a while before heading into the pool and EMILY CORNISH plays with a koala while in Brisbane, Australia. partaking in happy hour myself. That night was a free night and we ended up heading to bed rather early so suits literally covered you from head to toe But, unfortunately, I ended up with no that we could get up bright and early the with little mittens on the hands and a hood classes on Monday or Friday, so I’ll just next morning and do some exploring. We to cover your head. I was given a wet suit, have to power through and soak in as much started the day off with a bush walk, which which is basically the same thing. as I can in the other three days that I do should have been called a puddle walk. It Our second stop was the Whitsunday have classes (pause for laughter). So tois currently the wet season in Queensland, Island National Park where we went on an- day was a lazy/recovery day from Sunday and the island had seen quite a bit of rain, other, shorter, bush walk. This one led us up which was spent on the Brisbane river enrecently making the trails slippery and to a viewing platform where we could look joying the company of the UQ wakeboardmuddy. We powered through, however, down into the crystal-clear water and see ing and waterskiing club. I had signed up and followed the Whitsunday Loop trail on sting rays swimming about. It was breath- for the club on market day and had been a walk that lasted just over an hour. taking. After that, we hopped back on the looking forward to this past Sunday, the After lunch we decided to try our oys- boat and prepped for the last adventure of day it meets, to have a go at it myself. ter-shucking skills and, once low tide set in, the day, snorkeling and scuba diving. The club starts the day around 10 a.m. headed across a shallow channel to a nearI had previously informed the scuba taking people out on the river, but we deby island. We climbed over a few rocks and instructor that I would like to try scuba cided to sleep in a bit and left for the river found hundreds of oysters clinging to the diving. Unfortunately, after some thought, at 11 a.m. We were told that the spot on the now exposed rocks. We were able to break he informed me that the place we were river that we were to be at was “to the right them off and slurp them out of the shell. stopping wasn’t a very good place for a of the ferry.” However, we decided to walk Talk about fresh seafood. first dive, as there wasn’t much to see and instead of taking the ferry, since it’s right And yes, I did try them. In fact, I had he personally didn’t think it was worth the near campus. So, after a bit of wandering two. $70. So I ended up snorkeling with the rest in the wrong direction, we decided to turn Back at the hotel, we immediately of the group, and still had a wonderful around and see if we could find anyone by jumped into the swimming pool and spent time. No jellyfish were spotted. walking back the way we came. Of course the rest of the day kayaking, sunbathing Back at the hotel that night we had a the spot was pretty obvious (what with a and of course, taking advantage of happy nice final supper and a relaxing evening. big sign and all) once we were headed the hour. That night we enjoyed live music by Most people went to bed early or tried to right direction and we were welcomed with the pool and talked to some Australians pack up before today when we would leave an enthusiastic shout of “America” from who were on vacation themselves. the island. While I made my way back to Dave, the Irish guy who talked us into joinFriday found us awake and ready to go Brisbane, the rest of the group hopped on ing the club. We signed up for a riding time, by 8 a.m., loading up the ferry by 9. We a bus to take them up to Cairns where they received a land lesson and hung out until it had booked a “cruise” around the Whit- will finish out the rest of the East Coast was our turn to go. sunday Islands for the day and headed over tour. I am now currently sitting on my With a bit of down time, I swam in the to Whitehaven beach as our first stop. couch with the patio door open and two river a bit. The current was pretty strong, Whitehaven is one of the world’s most fans blowing on me. I’m a tad sun burnt, though, so everyone was holding onto photographed beaches, and also one of but not too bad considering the amount ropes attached to the dock. I was pretty the only two beaches in the world made of time that I spent out in the sun the past nervous about my upcoming turn, but evof silica sand. The sand itself was actu- couple of days. It was truly a wonderful eryone was so relaxed about it and calmed ally exported in order to make the Hubbell trip! me down a bit. I was the first of the four of telescope (pause for dramatic ooo’s and us from my group to go and Andrea and ahhh’s). Sarah rode on the boat to watch me atMonday, March 1 Unfortunately, it is jellyfish season so in tempt to wakeboard. Extreme wakeboarding ... kind of. order to swim you had to wear what was It was actually quite a bit easier than Well, today was the first day of classes. called a stingy suit the whole time. These I anticipated. Wakeboarding and waterskiing are different in the same sense as snowboarding and mountain skiing. A wakeboard is shorter and wider than a snowboard but has the same type of footholds, with both feet facing the same direction. Apparently wakeboarding is a little easier than skiing, so of course we all went for the wakeboard. After several failed attempts to get up, I started to stay up for a few seconds before finally having one good run where I was up for probably about 30-40 seconds (woo!). At that point I was pretty tired and holding onto the pull rope took a lot of effort, so I got back into the boat and was able to watch Andrea take her turn. I was in the water for a full 10 minutes, which means that it was $10 for me to participate. Being a member of the club, it only cost me $1 a minute, whereas a nonmember would pay $2 a minute. The day was definitely worth the money though, and I have something to look forward to every Sunday! We also met a ton of really awesome people, so overall I would say that it was a very successful day.
photo courtesy of EMILY CORNISH
EMILY CORNISH tries out wakeboarding among other things while abroad.
Cornish is a junior health sciences, health management double-major and can be contacted at emily.cornish@drake.edu.
If you don’t already have one, get your passport. It takes four to six weeks to receive after applying, so get it now.
2 PLAN EARLY
If you want to study abroad, you need to meet with your advisor to set up an academic plan for classes abroad. Most students go the second semester of their sophomore year or the first semester of their junior year.
3 GATHER INFORMATION Learn about how study abroad works at Drake. Attend a study abroad general information session offered throughout the semester at the International Center. Session days and times are listed at www.drake. edu/international/studyabroad/schedule.php.
4 DECIDE LOCATION Think about where you want to study and how your study abroad will help you fulfill your academic, professional and personal goals.
5 PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES Talk to students who have gone before you. Some of them are mentors to students interested in studying abroad. There is also a student organization, Drake University International Travel (DU–IT) that is made up primarily of study abroad returnees, but it is also open to students interested in traveling abroad.
TOP DESTINATIONS These are the top four cities Drake students choose • London, England • Sydney, Australia • Barcelona, Spain • Florence, Italy For more study abroad experiences, check out these blogs: • http://norakreml. blogspot.com/ • http://kristinaannbell. blogspot.com/ • http://tomlehn.word press.com
Information provided by Jen Hogan, assistant director of the study abroad program at Drake University.
OPINIONS & EDITORIALS
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 6C
THE ARTS
The world I have entered What am I that food cannot satisfy my hunger? What’s happened that water cannot quench my thirst? Since when can a woman’s touch, a hug even, satisfy more than sex and her body? When did I reach the point of not fighting, of simply not caring? What is this world I have entered? When have I been so motivated with no outside cause? When have I been successful as a result of hard work? Who is this person I’ve become, rejecting his friends, accepting his enemies? What is this world I have entered?
Jacob Tauer is a first-year psychology major and can be contacted at jacob.tauer@drake.edu.
TABULA RASA
Common Sense Government should deal with issues, not babysitting its citizens
D
anger; reading this may damage your eyesight. Danger; thinking about what you just read may distract you from something else. This may lead to a problem. Danger; there are too many dangers everywhere we look. I work at the Iowa State Senate now on Tuesdays and Thursdays as an intern. It is an insightful experience into not only the politics of our state, but also its trends. In the last couple of weeks, the senators have found themselves in heated debates about government reorganization and protection Iowa’s workers. They also found themselves spending time debating regulations on amateur boxing, seatbelt requirements and banning texting while driving. Is it just me, or are all three of these issues common sense? I don’t intend to box someone if they’re going to successfully break my nose (thus, I never box). Believe it or not, my fear of death is much stronger than
my fear of a ticket, thus I wear my seatbelt anyway. I consider myself at least marginally intelligent and I understand that driving a car weighing several tons down a highway at high rates of speeds means that I should at least put the car on autopilot if I want to text. Are our senators really spending time debating about how much they should nanny us? I recently read a newspaper article about the invention of a choke-proof hot dog, and then there’s the classic example of required “hot” warnings on the side of hot chocolate mugs. Since when can’t we chop up our hot dog before we eat it? Since when do we think that the steam coming out of the hot chocolate means it’s ready for chugging? Since when do we think we can text and drive? That’s like someone thinking they can play basketball and go fishing at the same time—just silly. If you’re texting you shouldn’t be driving. If you’re in a car you should wear a seatbelt. If you’re boxing you
RYAN PRICE COLUMNIST should set rules. If you’re climbing a ladder, you shouldn’t climb to the top rung. Simple. Does our government really need to nanny us all? Maybe this is one reason for our generation’s lack of protest—we’re so used to being taken care of. But I don’t want to live in a nanny state anymore; if for no other reason than the fact that I believe in evolution. Now, no one should die, but if I saw a deer chugging a hot chocolate and subsequently burning its tongue, I would not feel bad for it. If I saw caterpillars boxing one another without setting some ground
illustration by MEGAN YULGA | Staff Artist
rules, I would try and tell the scrawny one it’s a bad idea. If I saw some raccoons playing video games while driving a car, I wouldn’t feel bad if insurance didn’t cover the accident. Sometimes I wonder what we are doing to ourselves evolutionally. Why does life’s only known intelligent being need to be told that the top rung of the ladder is not safe? Why can’t we chop up the damn hot dogs? Why do we need to be taken care of so much? I’m not a eugenicist in any way, but I am a proponent of something much more effective than laws: learning from our mistakes. I love interning at the Capitol, and the legislature has passed a lot of important legislation this year. I just hope they stay legislators and don’t turn into babysitters. Last fall, the Stalnaker Executive Council put on a game of “stalnassins.” It was an awesome program where the hall’s members received someone else’s name and face and
had to “assassinate” them at some point. This “assassination” was very simple. The assassinator had to throw some socks at the target, and then they were “dead.” Well today, it’s all fun and games until the nanny state steps in. “Stalnassins” probably won’t happen in the same form again because the game was deemed as “dangerous” or “promoting violence.” Really? Socks? This is just goofy. If I have children in the future, I want them to write on their own blank slates. I want them to play Red Rover on the playground and skin their knees riding their bikes. I want them to learn to cut up their hot dogs. And hopefully they won’t be fearful of hot chocolate or, even worse, the socks on their own two feet.
Price is a first-year rhetoric and politics double-major and can be contacted at ryan.price@drake.edu.
THE ARTS
Wrong assumption, right path
R
eading and writing were two of my strongest subjects throughout elementary school—but then again, so were all subjects. Successful academic performance required minimal effort; remaining interested became the most difficult aspect of school. I grew to despise the words creativity, intelligence and potential, as they were labels imposed upon me by an inferior foe. Armed with my natural opposition to authority and my completed homework, I identified the systematic boundaries and quickly tested them. When I reached middle school, my passion for getting kicked out of class remained undiscovered, submerged beneath the façade of satisfactory report cards; unfortunately, my passion for writing also remained undiscovered, submerged beneath the crust of unbearable complacency. Though my writing was saturated with emotion and ego, a spark was needed to ignite my ambition. I walked into Mrs. Spickler’s classroom in seventh grade and immediately saw my writing strategies crumble. My mind went from a blaze of boredom to an inferno of infuriation. Sure, I wrote my papers on the bus the morning they were due, but who did this lady think she was? She gave me a B when my writing was infinitely better than my buddy who received an A-. I was determined to master these new standards, to manipulate them to best suit my goals. I predicted that I could simply
The battle with writing and the reader nemeses, soon turned into a refine my writing to satisfy complete disregard for them. my teacher’s expectations. It no longer satisfied my unInstead, I discovered that the rest to simply work creatively words creativity, intelligence within some proverbial box. and potential were not being I wrote for myself, where I used to describe me, but were determined the rhythm, the being used against me; they meter, the rules. I controlled were precisely her expectaJEFF HOYT the relationship between my tions. writing and me, between It was only after I came to COLUMNIST my thoughts and myself. I this realization that I focused encased my aggression in my attention on the system metaphors and figurative of writing. The “authority figure” became the English language and its op- language, my masterpiece of words, and paintpressive guidelines. I experimented with concoc- ed vivid mental images. I crafted my words, distions of tantalizing wordplay with an aftertaste obediently structured, strategically mysterious, of intrigue. Through writing, I was able to dis- beautifully disturbing, though I did not allow sect, analyze and construct my thoughts as I did others to behold my art. As my thoughts materialized on the page, I my words. I found a new enemy in the system, and conveniently, a more construc- thought I had won, had taken my rightful place tive display of my smoldering as an authority. As historians, scribes and even cave dwellers have documented, and conseemotions. Outside of school, my quently, shaped human existence. I vowed to battle with become a contributor to this cycle. I was truly w r i t i n g equipped to change readers’ worlds, their views c o n v e n - of reality, with my words. Though the world is substantial, I believed it postions, my sible for a lone individual to set it ablaze. I descended upon
Drake from the pedestal I had erected in my mind, emotional, egotistical, equipped with a four-year supply of fuel. I did not consider my reader as an authority, did not care how my reader was translating my words. If I was the only one capable of comprehending the thoughts burning in my mind, it was my reader’s loss. Appreciation for my style was a matter of preference, but the unique connections between myself and my writing, between my writing and my reader, I thought, were separate. After only a short time, I once again saw my writing strategies crumble; the process of reading was missing from my design. I was aware of my difficulties in interpreting my thoughts onto the page, but misplaced the importance of how the words I selected would be interpreted by my reader. If I wanted to change people’s perceptions of reality, to have my flame scorch its mark on society, I had to be equally, or even more, concerned with my reader. Reading has prompted me to rethink my writing philosophy. I call myself a writer (and perhaps an aspiring reader). I have become quite self-conscious about my own writing, even as I reread these very words. Indeed, I do have some form of power over my reader, but my reader has an equal, yet distinctly different, power over me. I wonder how my message is being interpreted, how my thoughts are being translated by my reader. Of course, I must continue to strive to produce writing that draws on emotion and ego, to represent my personal originality in my writing. But as I have recently discovered, I must also remember that if my reader does not perceive my words the way I intended, I will not succeed in communicating my message. If I am the only one capable of comprehending the thoughts burning in my mind, it is my loss. I must consider my reader when writing, for my flames may be extinguished upon my death, but it is through my reader that my words will spread like wildfire.
illustration by MOLLY CRICHTON | Staff Artist
Hoyt is a first-year writing, philosophy and rhetoric triple-major and can be contacted at jeff.hoyt@drake.edu.
OPINIONS & EDITORIALS
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
THE ARTS
Abuse
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 7C
The Leap
Reflections from mirrors may mislead, The way kissing with open eyes does. A touch, an embrace, a drink that burns Smoke filled breath, fill my lungs with Glass. If hate kills all, how the hell does love Keep us alive? Trying to rewrite comfort, every letter With care, Snuggle up to me. Make my heart leak Lead. Let me be a rock, Not a sponge. My laugh is as deep as a play pool. These eyes are reflections like mirrors, And they may mislead.
Lisa Jaffe is a sophomore psychology and writing double-major and can be contacted at lisa.jaffe@drake.edu. illustration by MOLLY CRICHTON | Staff Artist
Movements tremble with a rush of raging wind and sweaty callused palms. Climbing the slippery metal rods of the playground of youth, reaching up cautiously with each step bringing her closer to the tippy top. A platform, dotted with peep holes displaying the gravel, the clusters of laughter below. Cool fall breeze and sweaty palms. Her stomach swirls, spinning circles as children’s chanting engulfs the silence. One shiny pebble amongst a sea of stones catches her eye, enticing the jump. With a flicker of encouragement, her toes begin to tingle. With feet planted firmly, covering as many of the openings as possible, she closes her eyes tight, and takes the leap.
Anna Guth is a sophomore English and psychology double-major and can be contacted at anna.guth@drake.edu.
Fading Perhelion, lost in fog
All the world All the world lay down in a velvet hush around me. The sun ducked out and all the little lights peeking out of Christmas bulbs huddle out of my way.
Walking the soft waterfalls of the slanted sidewalks After a waking rain, Traveling the twilight reverie of existence In the cold breath of October, Scouring the mournful relics of time Through twisting annals of memory, I cough and gasp for verification, A valediction to the mist that shrouds me. And when my long repeated echoes come back to me From the gaping maw of humanity I suffocate, I am silenced.
The flakes prickle on the branches licking up a little bit of the moonlight and clutching it to themselves. I twirl down the sidewalk a tiptoe waltz in my ears. The stars wake, blinking down like toddlers from a nap. The blue collar heroes in all their little rooms stretch under the sheets, muscles groaning like couch leather. I romance with myself three steps at a time letting little dust-like particles of light shower my shoulders. My veins are whistling with caffeine my mind, a kettle steaming with impatience: Let’s go, go, go. On with the night.
Cyrus Nadia is a first-year psychology and international relations double-major and can be contacted at cyrus.nadia@drake.edu.
Dana Schroeder-Davis is a senior creative writing major and can be contacted at dana.schroeder-davis@drake.edu.
illustration by MOLLY CRICHTON | Staff Artist
STAFF EDITORIAL
For those who have made the Relays possible, thank you When the Drake Relays roll around every year, there is a collective sense of excitement in the Drake community—students get pumped for a break in classes and an excuse to party hearty, and alumni come into town to meet up with old friends and participate in the time-honored events. However, after going through old Cowles Library files and reading over stories from our writers on the long and amazing history of the Relays, we stepped back and took a hard look at what makes the Relays so special. Before there was Hubbell Dining Hall, before there was the Quad and before there was Olmsted, Drake Stadium was the epicenter and soul of life on this campus. For one week a year, for the last 101 years, people have flocked to Des Moines to pay homage to the majestic occasion know as the Drake Relays. When you look through the several stories in this issue regarding Relays history and about the people who have been affected by the event, it’s only appropriate to pause and attempt to grasp the magnitude of this feat. It’s been 101 years—a time in which 18 U.S. presidents have served. The Relays theme is right; this is a tradition to our campus. The Relays are not just another track and field event. It unifies the Drake community—past, present and future. It honors thou-
sands of athletes with extraordinary talents. And it also allows us to reflect upon all of those who have dedicated their lives to this university and the values and honor it represents. In the 101 section, we honor Mr. Drake himself—Paul Morrison. For over 65 years, the man has been a mainstay on this campus. His love and passion for Drake is to be admired. Although he retired in 1986, he continues to come to work every single day of the week. One could only hope to have such enthusiasm, even at 92 years old. We also reflect on all persons on this campus who work their hardest to make sure the Relays run as smoothly as possible. From faculty like Drake Relays Director Brian Brown to students like Drake Relays Telecast Executive Producer Clay Paciorek, there are multitudes of people who make the Relays possible. We are on the map year after year, and it’s because of these people. So now, as we prepare for the 101st Drake Relays, we ask Drake community members and others from around the world visiting to take a deep look into this amazing tradition of a small, private school in Des Moines, Iowa. Give the Relays some respect. This is a time for celebration. But it’s also a time to honor our community and history.
101 THE TIMES-DELPHIC
OPINIONS & EDITORIALS
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 8C
THINGS TO DO the who, what and where; your complete relays checklist
DURING RELAYS
GET READY 1. 2.
3. 4. 5. 6.
7. 8. 9.
Pick up the Relays edition of The TD. Pace yourself; after all, the Relays are over a week long. Work before play. Do your homework first and you will thank yourself later. Print a schedule of all the events going on, whether it is track and field or the carnival. Don’t miss any of it. Clean your room. It will be a disaster after this week, so start it off right. Park your car on Wednesday and don’t move it. You won’t find another spot. Invite friends and family down for the weekend. They will love you forever. If you have friends over, be sure to get them a pass at the hall front desk with their license.
windows at night unless you want to 10. Close get woken up by stadium announcements.
11.
12. 13.
14.
15.
Watch the sun rise over Old Main with dew still on the grass and trees blossoming. Do your laundry so all your Drake gear is clean and looking fresh. Try to go to classes; teachers frown upon skipping for invalid reasons. Prepare yourself for disgusting restrooms. That doesn’t mean pee outside. Work out during the day. Walking to places and dancing is not enough.
16. Get plenty of sleep early in the week. bring sealed drinks into dorms unless 17. Only you want to be chugging on the steps. 18.
Check behind your ears when you shower. You know there’s going to be paint.
OUT AND ABOUT
19. Have a burger and waffle fries at Jethro’s. 20. Dance your heart out like no one is watching. 21. Witness the chaos on 34th Street. up to a random stranger and start a 22. Walk conversation just for the fun of it.
a football in Helmick Commons. If it’s 23. Throw not raining in Iowa, take advantage of it. your Drake ID with you at all times—you 24. Keep need it to get into the residence halls.
25. Play a game of bags. an off-campus student with a grill, grab 26. Find some hot dogs and get cooking. 27. Save some fun for the weekend. 28. Leave your phone at home. prepared for odd sleeping habits and 29. Be places. Enough said.
Spring Break by hanging with friends 30. Recreate on a blanket in the GK commons.
31.
DRAKE TRADITIONS
to Relays. Watch the track meet and enjoy 32. Go the show.
your school spirit: Paint yourself blue or 33. Show bring a pom pom to cheer on the Bulldogs.
Paul Revere’s in advance—the lines are 34. Order going to be crazy long. Porterhouse when they take away 35. Comfort his crown. 36. Pet and meet the crowned Beautiful Bulldog. as many alumni as you can. This is the 37. Meet only time so many are in one place.
the knowledge. Help a first-year learn 38. Spread the ropes of Relays. 39. Go to the Pancake Breakfast Friday night. on Court Avenue by dancing to 40. Celebrate HelloGoodbye. to one of the athletes. They’re 41. Talk everywhere and have great stories.
the Grand Blue Mile downtown on 42. Run Tuesday.
the Relays carnival in the south stadium 43. Visit parking lot with all your on-a-stick cuisine.
your Drake athletes. They earned 44. Support their spots—see them run.
Athletes come back each year because 45. Clap. of the energy.
RATED M FOR MATURE out with a group. There’s so many people 46. Go around, you might get lost.
at least one beer with a professor. 47. Have Buy it, and that A might just happen. the alumni. They’re past their 48. Outdrink prime.
bring drinks to class. It’s tacky and you 49. Don’t run the risk of jeopardizing your grade. 50. Go to Drubbell. Even if it is for breakfast. Pedialyte before pre-gaming to avoid 51. Drink hangovers. 52. Always tip. Those bartenders are busy. 53. How many nights in a row can you last? in mind; what happens at Relays doesn’t 54. Keep always stay at Relays. 55. End your night with McDonald’s—the breakfast menu.
TOO FUN TO MISS
56. Befriend a residence hall rent-a-cop. in for the Drake Relay’s telecast on 57.Tune Channel 16.
on the hill by the throwing arena and 58. Lay watch people lob heavy things really far. the south side of the stadium, watch 59. On people jump 7 feet high.
timesdelphic.com to see the other 41 60.Visit things to do during Relays. Calder is a sophomore public relations major and can be contacted at jennifer.calder@drake.edu. Additional ideas provided by Amy Harren and Colin Hagan.
Take a second and recognize how fortunate we are to have and experience the Drake Relays.
JEN CALDER COLUMNIST
features THE TIMES-DELPHIC
CAMPUS CHA RACTE
RS Who are they an d where do they come from ? Meet Drake’s most unique ch aracters. PAGE 4
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
Visit timesdelphic.com for more coverage:
Drake Legends
Drake’s been around for longer than 101 years of Relays, and some of its mysteries delve deep.
SECTION D
MASCOTS by DOMINIC JOHNSON
Staff Writer dominic.johnson@drake.edu
Western Kentucky’s “Big Red”
The iPad hits Drake
Logically, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers would have had a hilltopper for their school’s mascot. But there was one issue. Does anyone know what a hilltopper is? Jack and Jill ... didn’t quite make it to the top of a hill. Scratch that. The Ricola guy on top of a hill just yelling “Riiiicolaaa”? Sure, he’s a great slogan-machine, but a mascot? Not so much (although the Western Kentucky Ricola-Guys would make this list as well). So instead of searching for an actual hilltopper, they chose to make a big red … red thing. The Big Red really doesn’t look like anything besides a big red blob. Creativity flourishes in the state of Kentucky it seems. But don’t worry; Big Red will look downright lovable compared to other mascots on this list.
Ohio State’s “Brutus the Buckeye”
Is it flashy? Yes. Is it fun? Without a doubt. But is it useful?
Day on the Dart
Drake students rarely take advantage of Des Moines transportation. What are they missing?
This one isn’t so much creepy or odd as it is just plain confusing. Being a member of the Big Ten Conference, one would think Ohio State would follow suit with easy-to-decipher mascots. People know what you mean when you say Gopher, Badger, Wolverine, etc. But a Buckeye? That’s a little more complex (and not to be confused with a Hawkeye). One could certainly describe “Brutus” as an incredibly creepy-looking mascot. The fact that a fairly large number of people have no idea that the thing is a NUT makes it worse. Buckeye sounds like something cool, though, which is the saddest thing. I mean, who really knew that a buckeye was a nut as a kid? The mascot sure doesn’t help make educated guesses. It just looks like a dude with a big head —maybe “Buckeye” is a nickname given to Jay Leno. The Ohio State Jay Lenos doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, now does it? What’s worse is that Brutus (before he was even named Brutus) was just a big papier-mache nut. No body or anything. Just a nut with legs. Think of Scout Finch’s ham costume in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” but instead of an innocent little girl inside, it’s a sweaty college student. How pleasant.
St. Louis’ “Billiken” The Billiken scares the crap out of 99 percent of the world population. Out of 32 doctors, 32 agree can be detrimental to your health. It looks like a cross between a vampire and an alien. The scariest part is that nobody knows what this thing is. It can practically stump Google. If somebody was to do a project on this thing, they would have had to search a few different sources to get a straight answer (professors take note, Wikipedia can provide that straight answer). Apparently, a Billiken was a charm doll created by an art teacher. Seems fair enough, some art teacher got a little creative one day and made up some sort of demon spawn. No big deal. But there’s more to it than that. Apparently this art teacher said she saw the Billiken in a dream. Loony art woman definitely crossed into major creepy territory with that one. But people loved it. This nightmare-inducing thing was sold as a toy doll, and the people of the early 1900s loved it. After disappearing from view for half a century or so, Saint Louis University thought it was a great idea to have this as its mascot. Let’s get this squared away, Saint Louis. You do a few things well, so society as a whole can’t completely bash you. That arch thing you got there is pretty nice. You had Kurt Warner for a while, so that must have been halfway decent. You host the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball tournament. All of those are good things, but it’s so hard for people to love a city that loves a Billiken. Maybe if Brett Favre makes his way over to the Rams before he reaches age 80 you can save your city from the wrath of the public’s scorn. Everybody loves Brett (everybody now consists of solely John Madden).
UC Santa Cruz’s banana slug
Nearby Coffee Shops
There can’t be a big difference between a banana slug and a normal slug, but that still sound … like the best idea ever. A Big Red is confusing, a buckeye sounds way cooler than it really is and a billiken is probably the scariest thing ever, but naming your school the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs takes some balls. Whenever the Banana Slugs beat a team at any sport, the opposing team has to head back to its campus, saying “Damn, we lost to the Banana Slugs. How embarrassing.” It destroys the other team’s spirit, a purely tactical move I’m sure. Maybe these slugs are found in the nearby woods, and students wanted their mascot to show that athletics could reflect the entire campus, not just 300-pound athletes with triceps the size of runaway Toyotas. One could say that’s a cute idea, but if that was the case, UC Santa Cruz could have been the UC Santa Cruz Really Fast and Relatively Athletic Normal People.
Drake University’s “Spike the Bulldog”
Liquid squeezed through Brazilian beans plays an integral role for most collegians. Where do students go for their caffeine?
Finally, a normal mascot! Unlike Big Red or a Billiken, Drake’s Bulldog is practically the definition of normalcy. In fact, it could be too normal. Over 35 colleges and universities have the bulldog as a mascot. But fortunately for Drake, they are in good company. The most popular bulldogs in the nation right now have to be those of Butler University in Indianapolis—the team that made it all the way to the national championship game, only to fall to the Duke Blue Devils. Other famous bulldogs include Yale, Gonzaga and Georgetown. But what Drake’s Spike lacks in originality he makes up for in good mascot logic. Unlike the mascots listed above, Spike doesn’t scare small children or fragile college students. He has a comically big head, sure, but at least it’s not a big vampire-bugalien-billiken thing. Also, Spike is a mascot with muscles. Why does a dog have muscles? Don’t worry about it. Here at Drake, we have a team of people that put on a mascot suit with biceps the size of most third-world countries. That says, “Hey other NCAA teams, I’m going to bench more weight than what you got on your SAT score.” Butler may have gotten to the national championship game, but its mascot has no muscle tone and wears a silly hat. And Butler’s live bulldog, “Butler Blue II” doesn’t hold a candle to Drake’s “Porterhouse.” What Drake lacks in the Gordon Hayward department, we make up for in the stellar mascot design department. photos courtesy of THE RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS
FEATURES
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 2D
Caring for the fallen Family members of the last Iowan to die in Iraq cope with their loss and memories by MATT VASILOGAMBROS Editor-in-Chief times.delphic@drake.edu
When Army Cpl. Jason Pautsch’s funeral procession went down the streets of Davenport, Iowa, and then to Rock Island, Ill., Quad Cities residents lined up for three and a half miles to pay tribute to a fallen soldier. David Pautsch, Jason’s father, said he saw police officers saluting, mothers crying and children staring solemnly. There was silence—the only sound was the snapping of the flag in the wind, he said. Jason was a hero to these people, despite having never met many of them. Over there Jason Pautsch was killed in April in a suicide bombing near the Iraqi Police Academy in Mosul. He and four other soldiers were sitting in their vehicles when a suicide bomber driving a dump truck detonated 20,000 pounds of explosives. All five soldiers were killed instantly. Jason – was 20 years old. Jason had been in Iraq for seven months before he was killed. As his body was taken off the plane at Dover Air Force Base—in a casket with a perfectly placed American flag draped over—David Pautsch said that the moment was sobering. “It hit as a reality that he was gone,” David said in a telephone interview. “I still haven’t embraced the reality. You’re in denial about it.” Two three-star generals spoke to the families. The Army, he said, was supportive in this troubling time. “It was a sad occasion to realize your son was gone,” David said.
“
Growing up While the rest of his senior class was preparing for prom, Jason graduated from high school early in December 2006 and joined the Army. “He believed in our country,” David said. “He believed in what he was doing over there. He liked adventure.” The side of Jason his father said that brought it all together was his spiritual side. In eighth grade, he was in a BMX bike accident that injured his liver. While in the hospital, he and his father had a conversation that changed Jason life. “I told him, ‘You act like you’re afraid to die,’” David said. “And he said, ‘Well, sort of.’ And so I told him, ‘Why don’t we say a little prayer.’ So we did.” After they found out he didn’t need surgery, he quit hanging out with the wrong crowd, got a job and started praying. “So, he went into the Army with a certain resolve that he was doing the right thing and that he was led to do it,” David said.
I told him, ‘You act like you’re afraid to die, and he said, ‘Well, sort of.’ And so I told him, ‘Why don’t we say a little prayer.’ So we did.
RESPECT
”
‘It was worth it’ In a moment of despair and hopelessness last summer, David had a dream. “In the dream, my 15-year-old daughter and I met DAVID PAUTSCH Jason in some restaurant, and my daughter said to Jason, ‘Why did you have to die?’” David said. “And Jason said—and he was wearing his combat uniform—he says, ‘It was worth it.’ He didn’t say why, he just said, ‘It was worth it.’” David said that his dream has comforted him in the last few months. The Quad Cities community has also been an inspiration, he said. Jason was buried in Rock Island National Cemetery. At his funeral, Iowa Gov. Chet Culver and Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn spoke. David said his son had a funeral fit for a president. “He had a funeral that was so incredibly
What does Iowa do for fallen soldiers?
1 A PROCLAMATION 2 A LETTER A gubernatorial proclamation in honor of the fallen soldier is presented to the soldier’s spouse or parents.
4 A FLAG
The governor orders the flags lowered on the day of the soldier’s funeral; a press release is issued.
The governor and Lt. governor write a letter of sympathy and honor to the soldier’s parents and spouse (when applicable).
3 THE CALL
The governor calls the family of the soldier, if it is determined that the family would welcome such a call.
5 PHOTOGRAPH
A photograph of the soldier is added to the display in the state capitol of photos of Iowa soldiers who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
photo courtesy of DAVID PAUTSCH
JASON PAUTSCH was the last Iowan to die in Iraq. His family has had some help in coping with their loss from the state of Iowa, which honors its soldiers in a variety of ways. honoring,” David said. Jason is the last Iowan to perish in Iraq. Moving On On Dec. 1, President Barack Obama spoke to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he outlined his plan to deploy 30,000 more troops. With this announcement comes fear—fear of strategy, fear of public support, but most importantly, fear of death. For those families of the soldiers who will be deployed, and families of current-serving soldiers, concern arises of what will happen when they receive the terrible news from the armed forces that their loved one was killed in action. According to icasualties.org, a site that gathers its information primarily through the U.S. Department of Defense, 47 Iowans have been killed in Iraq and seven in Afghanistan. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Nathan Banks said the Army provides grief counseling to the families of deceased soldiers. He said that these are voluntary and are done through both Army and civilian psychologists. “It’s a program for them to reach out and have a certain certified counselor in which to talk about the problems and issues that they are going through,” Banks said. Local Veterans Affairs offices, Banks said, offer these grief-counseling programs to assist the families. However, he said, organizations such as Gold Star Mothers are more effective in assisting the families. Gold Star Mothers is a volunteer, nonprofit organization that provides services to mothers
who have children who perished in the line of duty. Members provide emotional support and also volunteer at local VA hospitals. Ruth Stonesifer, national president of Gold Star Mothers, said that although it can take parents a while to find the organization after they’ve lost their son or daughter, there is an instant bond once they do. “Some meet and just go to lunch, but others are very active in doing fundraising and help to establish a Fisher House,” she said. The Fisher House Foundation provides support to soldiers and their families, specifically temporary housing for families of soldiers who need specialized medical care. There is no Gold Star Mothers chapter in Iowa. Stonesifer said that there are enough members to form a chapter, but they do not meet regularly. She said that Iowa currently has three mothers involved in the organization. Her son, Kristofor, was the second American soldier killed in Afghanistan. After his death, she met with three Vietnam War mothers involved in the organization who shared their journeys after losing their sons. Stonesifer made quilts for the wounded soldiers in Walter Reed Army Medical Center. “That was a project I was able to take on and proceed with,” she said. “But being with the other moms and working on the national board and traveling all over the country to meet with them and find out what all their projects were all about, it gives you great inspiration on what you can do.” n
Unconventional students Getting a degree after two or 87 years gives a different educational experience by LAUREN EHRLER
Staff Writer lauren.ehrler@drake.edu
What is the value of education? Drake University set the price at $26,400 for the upcoming school year. While most of Drake’s traditional 18- to 24-year-old students consider it a high price to pay, some of our more nontraditional students with a little (or a lot of) life experience under their belts know that education is worth every penny. At 87 years old, first-year history major Barbara Graham is not your typical college student. However, Graham says that at her age, she appreciates education and sees the value of it now more than she had ever before. “When I was younger, there were too many other fun things to do,” Graham said. “Now, I want to read. I want to do homework.” Graham, who was born and raised in Des Moines, studied home economics at Iowa State for two and a half years. At this time, World War II was being fought, and Graham decided to stop schooling to marry her husband, who was
Features by the 3 Figures 25 The college experience for non-traditional students can be considerably different from most undergraduates. At Drake, non-traditional students are enrolled across all colleges and schools.
serving in the Marine Corps. Graham said she now has the time to go back to school since her husband passed away. “I am grateful that I have the energy and the health,” Graham said. Graham said that she has wanted to take classes for a long time and is so proud of her children and grandchildren that have graduated from college. She has always been intrigued by history and finds it interesting to relearn things that she has actually lived through. While a degree is not in her immediate goals, Graham said for now she just wants to enjoy life, keep her mind active and learn a bit more. Graham said she noticed that there seems to be a lot more homework now than what she remembers at Iowa State. “I admire the youngsters who can carry a full load,” she said. While Graham knows that students are probably surprised that she is back in school when she doesn’t have to be, she is grateful that she can be a student while she is able. Like the average college student, Graham Hopkins enrolled at Drake right out of high
majors with the most non-traditional students enrolled: accounting, elementary education and secondary education. Students attending Drake over this age are defined as non-traditional.
number of degree-seeking non-traditional undergraduate and students in 2010. 157 Thepharmacy 2/3 of non-traditional students are between the ages of 26 and 34. 26-87 the full age range of non-traditional students at Drake. According to Rachel Boon, director of institutional research and academic compliance
photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
BARBARA GRAHAM is an 87-year-old first-year history major at Drake University, currently enrolled in a history class that covers over half her lifespan. school. Hopkins spent four years here, but didn’t graduate. He then took a two-year hiatus. Hopkins said that after successfully completing three and a half years, he just wasn’t focused during his last semester. Although he walked at graduation, he did not receive a degree. Hopkins worked many jobs during his two-year hiatus: dish washing, bartending, waiting tables and washing cars. However, his time off did give him perspective on new career goals. While away – from Drake, Hopkins took an EMT course that inspired him to get back to school. He is now motivated by his goal to become a Pararescue officer in the Air Force—a job that requires a degree. During Hopkins’ time off, he spent time going on road trips and backpacking. He climbed mountains in Colorado, Arkansas, Utah and California and went on salmon fishing trips in
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Michigan. During these trips, he would spend a week in the wilderness, surviving off food he packed or fish he caught that day. “I spent my whole life in school. I never had the experience to get out in the wild,” Hopkins said. “I took the time to think about the future and to think about my goals.” Hopkins returned this semester to Drake and will graduate with a degree in environmental science this May. While the two years off was BARBARA GRAHAM not expected, Hopkins said the struggle to get back to Drake helped him appreciate the value of education. “It is hard to live without a degree in this economy,” Hopkins said. “You become very expendable to employers. I was living hand-tomouth. It really made me appreciate the value of a dollar in the real world.” n
When I was younger, there were too many other things to do. Now, I want to read. I want to do homework.
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FEATURES
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
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Inside the president’s office From memorabilia to posters, relevant objects line Maxwell’s desk by KATHERINE HUNT
Staff Writer katherine.hunt@drake.edu
Helicopters, Russian posters and airplanes— these are just a few of the interesting items that adorn the desk and walls of President David Maxwell’s office. President Maxwell performs a variety of functions in his office: conference calls, meetings with students and greeting celebrities. The Times-Delphic got the inside scoop on the office. Upon entering the massive office, several things catch the eye at once. First, there are two helicopters with remote controls resting on a table. The smaller helicopter was a gift to Maxwell by his oldest son and daughter-in-law, claiming that it was a “sanity gift” for the office. The larger helicopter is from an American Express promotion that came in the mail. Also
on Maxwell’s desk are manufacturer’s model airplanes. These, however, came from a Drake alumnus who worked in southern California making actuators for airplanes (actuators help move the moveable surfaces on planes). Hanging on the walls are three posters. These came directly from Russia while Maxwell was on his official academic exchange for his doctorate. He was awarded the Fulbright Scholar grant to make that trip possible. When he was just 39 years old, Maxwell got the opportunity to see multiple Russian plays by the dramatist Anton Chekov and even witnessed the start of the Moscow art theatre. Once the shock of the interesting objects of the room passes, it’s time to focus on the man of the office. Spending approximately 10 to 12 hours on campus every day of the week, Maxwell has seen the campus when packed and when completely dead. The same variation also holds true for his office. Maxwell has met with only one person for an hour and up to four people for 90 minutes, and that was just within the past week. “There is no such thing as an average day,” Maxwell said. “No two days are the same.” Maxwell has had some notable guests in his office, including Maya Angelou, Ken Burns, Jane Goodall and a myriad of other local and national celebrities. He has yet to receive a visit from this year’s Spike, he said with some disappointment. Maxwell uses his office for serious conversations, such as those to discuss the future of the university. Although strategic meetings of this sort occur often, he still finds time to relax on campus by playing at the tennis courts. He most recently played a match against men’s tennis coach Maor Zirkin during halftime of a men’s tennis match.
photos by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
PRESIDENT DAVID MAXWELL has a variety of items on his desk, including a model of an airplane and a replica of the famous “Spike the Bulldog.” When asked if there was anything he’d like to change about his office to make it even better, Maxwell wanted to get a “treadmill desk” from a local company called Steelcase. He found out that this desk existed from another Drake alumnus who beta-tested it. Like the students and other faculty members, Maxwell takes a summer vacation, when he and his wife go to their log house in Maine. Finally, The Times-Delphic wanted to know what Maxwell’s favorite thing was about the Drake community. He chose three: the diversity of campus, the topics in conversation and the way that the mind is always stretched while on campus. n
Shaking off the gender roles University’s computer science program defies the school’s traditional male-female ratio by CAITLIN BERENS
Staff Writer caitlin.berens@drake.edu
photo courtesy of TREBLEMAKERS
MEMBERS OF THE TREBLEMAKERS, a group originally founded at Drake, are a group of a cappella singers with different majors and backgrounds.
Drake group sings proudly by JESSICA MATTES
Staff Writer jessica.mattes@drake.edu
Members of the TrebleMakers might not share the same majors, but when the pitch pipe sounds, they’re all in the same key. Justine Ahle, a sophomore biochemistry and cell and molecular biology major, said only one member of the group has a musicrelated major. “We really are a group of girls who have very diverse interests,” Ahle said. “But we’re all brought together by our love of singing.” The group was started three years ago by Kathleen Wilson, a junior public relations major. Wilson had started an a cappella group in high school and wanted to do it again at Drake. After a choral event hosted by Barbara Sletto, professor of music, Wilson found a partner to help her with the group auditions. TrebleMakers held their first auditions in the fall of 2007, when the original 12 members were selected. “It was difficult to get the group down to 12,” Wilson said. “There were 40 girls who auditioned, and as a first-year, it was difficult to select from just one audition.” Since 2007, the group has varied in size and sound. Students who missed rehearsal and ended up dropping out of the group were replaced by new, eager voices. “We have been up and down,” Wilson said. “The group has always been between eight and 12 girls.” No matter their numbers, TrebleMakers have managed to book performances around
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Drake and the Des Moines community. “We’re free entertainment,” junior music business major Kelsey Wells said. The a cappella crew said they most enjoyed performing at the Vagina Monologues at Drake. Because it was on campus, girls knew their friends and fans would be able to make a showing for the performance. “Monologues was a great place to perform,” Wells said. “Plus, it was for a good cause. As an all-women’s group, we like to support fundraising for women’s causes.” Wells added that the environment was fun and allowed them to experiment with material, including arranging and performing a song by Lady Gaga. Members take turns arranging music for the all-female ensemble and teaching individual pieces to the choir. While Wilson accepts the role of director, she won’t take credit for all the direction of the group. Aside from the Vagina Monologues, TrebleMakers perform at the annual Relay for Life, multiple concerts with Drake Chorale, retirement homes, national anthems at fundraising and sporting events in addition to their end of the year concert, which will be held in late April or early May this year. Fans can support women by joining their Facebook fan page, which displays updates for concert times and videos. Current students interested in auditioning for TrebleMakers in the fall of 2010 can contact kathleen.wilson@drake.edu. “We practice twice a week,” Wilson said. “It’s a lot of work, but a lot of fun and we are always looking for new events and performance opportunities.” n
Advice from Alumni by Caitlin Berens There are tips to going through college at Drake. Some are obvious: study, participate. But some things you just have to learn first-hand, like to be wary of the mystery meat at Hubbell. READ MORE timesdelphic.com
Whether you’re sitting in class, grabbing a bite at Olmsted or laying out and enjoying the warm weather, one thing’s apparent—there are a lot of girls here—about 60 percent of the student population, in fact. With women comprising the majority of the student body here at Drake, many get used to the typical set up of classes; having more girls than guys in a classroom isn’t unusual. That is, unless you’re a computer science major. Enter Elizabeth Olson, a junior at Drake. In most of her computer science courses, Olson is one of only a few females in the classroom. “I always get a strange look when I tell people that I’m a math/computer science (double) major,” she said. “Or else it’s a response of, ‘oh, wow.’” Like a handful of programs at Drake University, the computer science department is rather small. “Last August, there were about 37 total computer science majors,” Lawrence Naylor, associate professor of math and computer science said. “Of those, about six were female. My guess is the number of – majors currently is up over 40, but I haven’t seen any lists to say how many new women have added the major. I hope that number is increasing.” Nevertheless, it’s unique to see the men outnumber the women in the room—especially if you fill your schedule with arts and science credits. But, whether one would assume this changes the dynamics of the class or not, it seems that it’s the small number, not the gender differences in the courses, that computer science majors and professors notice the most. “I’ve never really thought about it (the gender differences in a computer science classroom),” Ethan Kerzner, a senior math and computer double major at Drake, said. “I guess it’s the fact that there are so few people in computer science (at Drake); that’s what’s weird, not necessarily so few girls—because it’s like, these are the same 12 people that I had class with last semester. Cool.” So does a male in the computer science program notice the lack of a female presence, or find the experience different than classes in other areas? “It’s like being a male in any other department,” Kerzner said. “Like, computer science classes don’t really differentiate by gender, so it’s not really like, ‘What do guys think’ or, ‘What do girls think,’ it’s like – ‘Is this right or wrong?’ I don’t think the professors really differentiate our opinions, students like guys or girls or things like that.” Senior Angela Flom is another computer science and math double-major. The lower number of women than men in the computer science program doesn’t bother her. “If I knew there were women who did not want to major in computer science because of the majority of men (in the program) then I would be bothered,” she said. However, even with there being fewer women than men in the computer science program, Flom said she has loved it. “When there is a group of computer science
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women in a class it becomes a bond and makes that class extra memorable.” Timothy Urness, an assistant professor of math and computer science, said that although he doesn’t have a formal count of the percentage of men and women enrolled in computer science courses, he broke the ones he teaches down. “In my two upper-level courses that I am currently teaching, I have five out of 31, 16.1 percent females and three out of 13, 23 percent females,” he said. “I would like it to be better, but I think that’s about average for courses at Drake since I’ve been here. I do believe, however, that Drake graduates a higher percentage of women than the national average.” But the question remains: Why are there more men than women in the computer science classes here at Drake? According to Urness, this is a trend that is reflected in the work force. “I think (the computer science field) is mainly dominated by men, and the discipline will greatly suffer if the trend of women staying away from CS isn’t reversed,” he said. Professor Urness believes that stereotypes may also play a role in major choice. “I think the ‘geek’ factor is still a strong reality that is pushing away women from striving to be computer scientists. The stereotypELIZABETH OLSON ical face of computer science is a male geek that relates better to computers than he does to other people.” According to Flom and other computer science students, the stereotypes are changing. “Being ‘nerdy’ is now defined by an exceptional knowledge of computers that comes from outside the classroom,” she said. “But this is no different than other majors. You tend to be passionate about many areas of your field and by knowing a lot about computers – that makes us nerdy and other majors, not so much.” Flom was attracted to her major because it’s what she likes to do. “I like challenges and puzzles and thinking outside the box,” she said. “It is also a competitive field, which I enjoy.” Flom added that women who attend Drake tend to seek out strong programs that are typically female dominated. “The CS department (at Drake) is small in general, so trying to attract females to a stereotypically male dominated field to a small program is difficult,” Flom said. Olson agrees with most of Flom’s points, but doesn’t seem overly concerned or bothered about any stereotypes or the lack of women in the computer science department. “I think it’s a little funny because the ratio of men to women at Drake is something along the lines of 40-60, but it is not represented in any of my classes (except women’s studies).” But the gender dynamics of Olson’s classes aren’t always on her mind. “It’s something that I notice maybe once every so often. The first day of class I will mentally note how many other females there are and then ignore it the rest of the year.” So next time you find yourself thinking, ‘Where have all the men gone?’ Take a peek at a computer science class. Though it’s apparent that computers and the computer science world of academia at Drake would rather focus on the computer programming at hand and how to improve it, not who is sitting in their classroom. n
I always get a strange look when I tell people that I’m a math/computer science (double) major. Or else it’s a response of, ‘Oh, wow.’
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FEATURES
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
Bryan Loya Originally from San Bernardino, Calif., Bryan Loya is a junior international business and politics double major, with a concentration in law, who was instantly inspired by the movie, “The Boondock Saints.” “I’ve seen the movie and thought it was sweet,” Loya said. “I eventually looked into the meaning of the tattoos.” These tattoos, commonly mistaken for Greek, are Latin for ‘truth’ and ‘justice.’ “They’re words to live by,” Loya said. Since he is pursuing a career in law, the titles seemed fitting. Although his professors, peers and colleagues may not find Bryan’s tattoos as appealing, Loya cares little about what others think of his mark. “No regrets,” Loya said. “It doesn’t bother me if people judge. If you have a problem, I don’t care. People either think it’s cool or they stare. It gets annoying, but it’s whatever.” Lydia Clark, a first-year international relations major, has a politics class with Loya and has not noticed his tattoos for the majority of the semester. “He is so intelligent, they’re easy to look past,” Clark said. “Honestly, I wouldn’t have noticed them had he not sat in front of me and raised his hand. “If future employers take his tattoos into negative consideration, they are truly selfish and judgmental.” Bryan has been in Iowa for a few years and now lives here in Des Moines. He recently joined Lacrosse Club, but spends the majority of his time off campus. Loya enjoys and thrives on his uniqueness. “People don’t have to like or accept them, it’s my signature thing,” he said.
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Mysterious people campus daily, but does acknowledge their Kilt-wearing boys cross men pass by and tattoo class. Who are these f and why are they t
Harold Dudley Even when he is not in sight, Harold Dudley can be heard throughout campus. His operatic voice rings over Helmick Commons as students pass from class to class. Dudley is a senior voice performance major from east Des Moines. “My senior year of high school a man came to offer a scholarship to one student from every local high school,” Dudley said. “It entitled a student to one free year of lessons and courses at Drake. And my director picked me.” After his first year at Drake, Dudley received a year of free lessons from professor Aimee Beckmann-Collier, better known as ABC. “I guess she saw something in me,” Dudley said. “Or maybe because she liked what she heard.” Harold grew up singing in church and sang when times were hard. Before college, he had little formal voice training. “Often, singing is an outburst of what I’m trying to communicate,” Dudley said. “And I don’t always know what that is. I’ve always sung. Even in high school, but I was unaware of that.” Singing has always come naturally to Dudley and is a form of self-expression. “If more people were more themselves, everyone could make others happy through something that they do,” Dudley said. Little do most people know, if Dudley were to pursue a career in music, he would much prefer to play the piano. He has taken three years of piano lessons and has to work much harder than he has ever had to work for his vocal skills. In the following years, the famous Drake singer plans on living in another country and traveling to “see what life is like out there.” “I would prefer a simple lifestyle,” Dudley said. “It is so easy to jump into the work force, but jumping in seems like the expected thing to do. Once you do that it’s kind of the end-all-be-all. Singing is essentially what I’m best at. It’s kind of expected of me to go ahead and go after that, but I don’t know if that’s what I’m going to go after. And I don’t think I should have to know.” Dudley has always had a desire to travel. “Some people’s sense of home is where they come from, others—it’s who they are,” he said. “I just want to find a place I can relate to more, a place I can call home, I guess.”
Grant Caswell
Grant Caswell is a sophomore bassoon perform his many colorful kilts and a lengthy ponytail. “I’ve always wanted one, just because,” Casw told me I could only have one if I made it myself Caswell has made four of his own kilts, but ha tion. Kilts can be purchased in various places and “Kilts can be found mostly online,” Caswell sa com. It’s a Monaghan—an Irish brand kilt. Of the while I was in Germany over the summer. I think Although Caswell models his kilts like a profes life. He made his first skirt his senior year of high Kealie Rogers, a first-year biochemistry-mole High School with Caswell. Rogers, along with noticed the change in apparel during Caswell’s se “Everyone noticed; he was hard to miss,” Ro tradition.” Caswell pays little attention to the interest ot “I wear kilts because they’re comfortable,” C Patrick’s Day and during my time in England.” When the winter months arrive, Caswell adm “During the winter I wear pants, but I also lighter winters, I can wear my kilts all year round
CAMPUS CH
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FEATURES
e travel the Drake s anyone ever stop to fascinating ways? s campus, wildly singing oed individuals trot to fascinating individuals the way they are?
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
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Mindy Davis If you’ve lived on campus, you’ve interacted with residence hall front desk receptionists. You see them multiple times per day, sorting mail and taking care of all your needs. Of all the bright, shining smiling faces behind the front desk, perhaps Mindy Davis’s cheerful grin is the biggest. Davis has been at Drake for five years and previously worked as a paraeducator for Des Moines Public Schools. Although her new job in Herriott is different than legal education work, she enjoys working the front desk. “Everyday seems to be a little different,” Davis said. “The best part of my job is most definitely getting to talk to and know the students. They are always full of great stories for me!” So what exactly does a front-desk receptionist do on daily basis? Rushing from rooms to class, students don’t get to see how busy the employees behind the desk really are. “I sort mail, I answer phone calls and greet visitors, I contact facilities if something is broken,” Davis said.
Anthony Doss Residence hall bathrooms can get pretty disgusting on weekends when the custodial crew isn’t on shift to clean it up. Meet Anthony Doss. As part of the crew in Jewett, his job is to clean up after the wild weekends and messy students. Doss worked on a construction crew prior to being hired at Drake in 2002. His average day is certainly not enviable. “I get up and get to campus around 4:30 a.m.,” Doss said. “We staff clean bathrooms, vacuum floors; everything you see us doing. I get done around 1 p.m., then go home and take a nap.” His favorite part about working at the university is right at this time of year. “I love Relays,” Doss said. “The flowers are blooming, the flags are flying, students are happier. It’s great. That’s why I choose to work with them.” Doss arrives after your late night study session to clean up that midnight snack that didn’t make it into the trash. Doss’ only suggestion to students: remember to lift the toilet seat if you’re going to be sick.
mance major and displays his independence with
well said. “I told my mom I wanted a kilt and she f. So I did.” as bought a few to expand his homemade collecd range in prices. aid. “My favorite skirt I own is from AtlantaKilts. e few I bought, my most expensive kilt I bought k it equaled out to about $250.” ssional, he has not been wearing them his entire h school. ecular biology major, attended Southeast Polk the entire student body at S.E. Polk, instantly enior year. ogers said. “And now he is just carrying on his
thers take in his choice of attire. Caswell said. “I get comments, but mostly on St.
mits his kilts are not always practical. have heavier kilts,” Caswell said. “Although in d.”
William Thon He has just one class left, plus an internship, until he graduates next fall. He is not a student, however; he is the lovable and always smiling William Thon. William can be found in the basement of Olmsted this semester working as a cashier for Spikes. His weekend is Monday and Tuesday, but he does not get time off like most do. “I take classes at DMACC to be a legal assistant. I don’t get to just relax and have fun,” Thon said. He has been in America for nine years after moving from Africa in 2001. Surprisingly, his favorite thing about being at Drake is the diversity of students he meets. To the casual observer, the university does not appear to be overly diverse, but Thon sees it a little differently. “I meet so many different kinds of people here,” Thon said. “I get to interact with students from Asia, Europe, Africa; all over the world. I’ve even learned words in Chinese and a couple other languages, so I can interact with everybody.” Next time you see Thon take your ID card and swipe it for a meal, remember that he is also a hard-working, tired student. You’ll appreciate that big smile of his all that much more.
HARACTERS
story by JEREMY ALDERBERG and JESSICA MATTES | Staff Writers photos by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
FEATURES
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
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From far away, hopes to stay First-year Eduardo Tamez originates from a fascinating background of fame by JACKIE WALLENTIN News Editor tdnews@drake.edu
Eight months ago, first-year Eduardo Tamez packed his entire life in a box and traveled 1,166 miles to Drake University. Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Tamez left home for the first time in August. He knew the United States would provide opportunities his mother country could not. “My mom always instilled in my sisters and I the want to study abroad to receive a first-class education,” Tamez said. “There are good universities in Mexico, really, but you can just get a better education here.” In Mexico, his mother is famous. Throughout her 30-year career, she held three prominent occupations as the host of a radio show, a late night celebrity talk show and a nightly news program. “She even ran for governor in my state this past summer, but she didn’t win,” Tamez said. Tamez was inspired to strive for success after observing the determination and attitude of his mother. “It’s really unbelievable how much she has done for us,” Tamez said. “She’s taught me how determined and passionate you should be.” Tamez sees himself as a future sports writer, producing articles and columns daily that revolves around the love of his life. “I love basketball; you don’t even know,” Ta-
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mez said. After graduation, the journalistic road is likely to lead Tamez to Texas, where his aunt and uncle live. Although his mother is a journalism pro, she did not initially approve of Tamez’s intended career path. “My mom did not want me to be a journalist. She always tells me that journalism is an ungrateful profession,” Tamez said. However, his sports dream may soon be cut short. Without more financial aid, Tamez will most likely return to Mexico next semester due to high tuition costs and vast differences between the dollar and the peso. Associate professor of journalism Lee Jolliffe is both Tamez’s academic advisor and educator. Jolliffe has made it her – LEE JOLLIFFE personal goal to keep Tamez here at Drake by researching scholarships, keeping in communication with the financial aid office and e-mailing local journalists for sponsorships. “I stepped out for Tamez because not only is he an excellent student, but a person of good character,” Jolliffe said. “It is important to me that we do everything we can to keep Tamez, and people like him, here with us.” Jolliffe believes international students like Tamez are vital to the excellent atmosphere on Drake’s campus. “International students are important to us,” Jolliffe said. “They bring even more and new cultural perspectives to campus.” Tamez attended the American School Foun-
It is important to me that we do everything we can to keep Tamez, and people like him here with us.
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Eduardo Tamez is from Monterrey, Mexico, about 1,666 miles away from Drake University. GOOGLE MAPS
photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
EDUARDO TAMEZ came from Mexico to Drake to study journalism after being inspired by his famous mother, a journalist, former celebrity talk show host and political candidate. dation of Monterrey, which taught all classes in English. This early fostering of English and the close proximity of Monterrey to the United States’ border allowed Tamez to adapt to the American language and culture easily. This is not a privilege all international students have. Although the language barrier is not present, Tamez still feels a separation from his American counterparts. “My family is very unique; we’re passionate, emotional, loud,” Tamez said. “You would have to be there to understand, but I know that our family is not common. It is just a completely different dynamic.” At 10 months old, Tamez’s parents separated, leaving his mother the sole provider for him and his two sisters. His grandmother and grandfather also lived with the family, creating the unique dynamic Tamez feels is only found in Mexico. “My grandfather was the wisest person I have ever known. He was always calm, and he never judged anyone,” Tamez said. At the end of seventh grade, his grandfather passed away. Tamez and his sister then moved in with his grandmother, who was suffering from both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
“It was a really tough situation watching her deteriorate,” Tamez said. “Sometimes you just have to make the most out of situations.” Tamez’s time spent in America now is the most important to him no matter what the future may hold. He is ready to make the most of any situation that faces him. If he is still a Drake student in the fall, Tamez plans to continue his career and possibly even add another concentration. Tamez envisions living out his basketball dream as a member of the Drake men’s starting lineup. “I actually talked to the coach here in the beginning of the year, but the team was full,” Tamez said. “That would be an incredible dream come true if I could play Division I ball here.” Hopefully, the next time Tamez packs his box, the distance will not be far from Des Moines. And maybe a pair of basketball shoes will even be included. Eduardo has applied to the University of Texas at Austin and to the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City for next year as well. Depending on the financial aid packages granted, he will decide whether Des Moines will be his home, or another city for the duration of his college career. n
photo by MATT NELSON | Assistant Relays Editor
JASON MILLER, a first-year student, cleans keyboards in Meredith as part of a work-study program. Miller discovered the program through the Drake service, Career bluePrint.
Campus provides unique jobs for work-study students by BIANCA OLVERA LOPEZ Staff Writer bianca.olveralopez@drake.edu
Did you know .. .
a BN’79, GR’73, is Larry Zimpleman, nd oard of Trustees a B ’s ke ra D f o er b mem ncial Group, na Fi l a p ci in Pr f o is also CEO t employer. Des Moines’ larges
The Drake Fund
Some students have a lot more going on in their schedules than attending and studying for classes; they’re also working on campus. The program is called Federal Work-Study and yes, there are more jobs outside of Hubbell and Terrace Court. The work-study students also enjoy their jobs. First-year Shannon Kerr works as a lifeguard at the Bell Center. For Kerr, becoming a Drake lifeguard was not difficult because she already had her Lifeguard Certification, CPR Certification and over three years of experience. Kerr was also on her high school’s varsity swim team for four years and has been swimming since she was eight years old. “I like sports,” Kerr said. “I like athletics and I’ve done this before. It’s just nice to relax and it is a nice break from studying. It’s easy.” She doesn’t mind the $8.25 per hour going into her pocket either. Senior technical design major Michael Draheim is one of seven technical assistants and a House Sound Manager in the theatre shop in the Fine Arts Center. Draheim’s job assignments change depending on what shows or projects they have coming up. This job goes along with what he is learning in his area of study, so not only does he get a hands-on experience, but he also gets paid for it. “Even though times can get really stressful,
it is really not that bad,” Draheim said. “It’s a pretty relaxed place to be. It’s a lot of fun and very rewarding. I love my job.” Approximately 1,000 time sheets are submitted every month, which means on average there are 1,000 students working on campus. Students can also have multiple jobs, so there is no limitation. On average, students work 10 to 15 hours per week. “Students have to plan ahead. One nice benefit of working on campus is it’s right here, and there is more flexibility and more understanding,” said Debra Wiley, assistant director at human resources. “A common misconception is that work-study does not mean studying at work. This is a job. It’s a great opportunity and a great learning experience.” The work-study students get to work in different areas all over campus, from Office of Admissions representatives to the Olmsted Coffee Shop as baristas to the recreation services as lifeguards, like Kerr. The Office of Student Financial Planning makes the decision of who is eligible for work-study. Eligibility is determined by need and income from the FAFSA. Students are notified on their eligibility for work-study when they receive their financial aid award letter before each semester. The majority of the positions pay minimum wage, which is $7.25 per hour, and jobs that are available are posted online at drake.edu/hr in the “Students” link. Students can also apply for jobs during orientation. n
FEATURES
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
Hubb-tasty story and photos by JARED HANEL | Staff Writer
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
Tired of the same options at Hubbell? Trying to think of how to better your experience and bring food to life? Students decide each day where to eat. Next time, let your imagination roam. Try our vamped up Hubbell menu and make your campus dining an exquisite experience.
Apples Dipped in Caramel
Banana Split • Grab an apple from the salad bar. • Slice with knife into wedges. • Pick up a small bowl from the soup bar. • Caramel is located next to the ice cream.
• Slice a banana down the middle. • Put servings of each ice cream between slices. • Top chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup and the twist ice cream with caramel. • Go to the waffle bar and top vanilla ice cream with strawberries. Add whipped cream and enjoy.
Waffle Sandwich
Chilled Hot Chocolate • Slice a Belgian waffle in half. • Spread peanut butter on one half of the waffle and whipped topping on the other half and add syrup. • Combine halves to form your sandwich, and add a dollop of whipped topping on the side and some strawberries.
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PAGE 7D
• Take a cup over to the ice cream station. • Fill halfway with twist ice cream. • Take cup to hot chocolate machine and fill to top (pull cup away from machine before plain water starts coming out, or the beverage may get watered down). • Take contents to waffle bar and add a dollop of whipped topping. • Sprinkle cinnamon/sugar from the toast bar over top.
FEATURES
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
Student capstone grows into business
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
by LIZZIE PINE
Managing Editor tdeditorials@drake.edu
For Andy Brooks and Sean Kitts, the homework doesn’t end with graduation. The two 22-year-old Drake University seniors have started Peak Organics after creating a business plan in their entrepreneurial management capstone class, Creating a Company. “It started from a project for a class, that turned into an idea, then we decided we had to do it immediately to get what we wanted out of it,” Kitts said. Peak Organics is a business-to-business distributor of organic supplies, focusing on lawn care treatment, water treatment and home cleaning supplies. Brooks and Kitts went to Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo., and played football together there. They both ended up playing football at Drake and were roommates their freshman and sophomore years. Since then, they have lived within 20 feet of each other at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house. Both had separate lawn-mowing companies in Kansas. Brooks sold his, but Kitts has a partner back in Kansas, David Brinker, and was able to keep the business running while in Iowa. They used this as base material for their capstone class. After several ideas on how to make the lawn and landscape company better, they thought of organic fertilizer for their own company, then they had the idea of branching out to the whole Midwest. Tom Swartwood, adjunct professor of entrepreneurship, said Kitts has a well-established business with a solid customer base, but the duo needed to expand from that. “I pushed them to do something innovative, because the key today—in this economic environment, in this business world and in this entrepreneurship program — is to come up with something different,” Swartwood said. “Every business has to differentiate itself.” So Brooks and Kitts found a gap in the market to sell organic liquid fertilizers, one of their many products. Businesses already have large trucks with fertilizer tanks on them, Brooks said, but they use them for regular liquid fertilizers, not organic. Brooks and Kitts make organic liquid fertilizer available to use on a larger scale, in these trucks, instead of using the granular organic fertilizers, which are more expensive. “As far as I know, there’s only two distributorships (that sell liquid organic fertilizer),” Kitts said. One is on the East Coast and one in Florida. “We’re the first one in the Midwest, just for this specific type of company.” Swartwood said he didn’t believe that the students had found this prospect. “He told me they would be the first,” Swartwood said. “It’s still somewhat unbelievable that this opportunity is out there.” Without the capstone class even finished, the two, along with Brinker, started the business. They found they could start the business with a smaller amount of money than imagined, Brooks said. “In the first year, we knew that in Sean’s company, we could fertilize some of his customers so that minimized our risk,” Brooks said. “We could, in a sense, come into the market and figure out where our place was in the market,
“
PAGE 8D
figure out how successful we could be—we still don’t know. We have no idea. Maybe we’ll be out of business in six months or so. We decided to take this year with a small amount of risk, with a small amount of investment, and test the market for a year.” They tested Kitts’ customers to see their response to the product. “I would say about a third of my customers switched to my organic program,” Kitts said. “I think we had 70, 75 customers; we had 25 people that agreed to do it. And out of 75, maybe only 50 fertilize. I’d say we got a pretty substantial amount of people.” Brooks and Kitts aren’t the first Drake students to start a business while still in school. Megan Fisher, another business student who graduated last December, received the John Pappajohn New Venture Business Plan Competition award of a $5,000 investment for her capstone project, Lincoln and Lexi, a line of children’s clothing. She has started this business and is working on its growth, Brooks said. “Hopefully this will be the trend: to get at least one real business going, not to be just another paper, another project,” Brooks said about the entrepreneurship program. “There’s a reason that our companies are becoming successful—because we have help. We have the business school; we have the resources. We have free resources we can use to get started, because obviously that’s the biggest step.” Swartwood agrees students have easy and cheap access to an enormous amount of expertise. Also, the class is used as a brainstorming session for students to bounce ideas off each other and receive feedback to iron out the wrinkles, he said. “They pull the trigger; they jump off that ledge,” he said. “They take advantage of the resources we have.” Brooks and Kitts are calling lawn companies to try to supply them, then they plan on reaching out ANDY BROOKS to retail stores and city municipalities, schools and anywhere there is high people or pet traffic. Also, they have an organic fertilizing plan for golf courses, which Kitts said he thinks is the first of its kind. “There’s fertilizing distributors everywhere; that’s not a new concept,” Kitts said. “There’s organic fertilizers everywhere; that’s not a new concept either. But this company provides products and programs that have never really been offered before.” This summer, they will live with their parents to save money in Kansas City, where their warehouse and office is located, Kitts said. “We try to stay as focused on school as possible,” Brooks said. “The next step would be to really invest our time and our efforts solely to the business and see if we can make something of it. We’ve taken small steps; we’ve gotten a warehouse, we’ve legally started the company, kind of set up some things and named some customers.” On April 7, Kitts won the Outstanding Entrepreneurial Management Student award from the College of Business and Public Administration. He said he is constantly talking with others and thinking of new ideas for the business. “It kind of consumes you,” Kitts said. “It becomes you.” Swartwood said he is impressed with the type of students Drake attracts. “Drake students do things; they make things happen,” he said. n
Hopefully this will be the trend: to get at least one real business going, not to be just another paper, another project.
photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
DRAKE STUDENTS ANDY BROOKS AND SEAN KITTS started their business “Peak Organics,” after they decided to take advantage of a clear opportunity provided to them.
photo by TYLER O’NEIL | Relays Editor
PEAK ORGANICS specializes in supplies including organic lawn products that provide a fresh and revitalized yard. The company also produces organic cleaning products.
5
business things to know when starting a
–
”
Tom Swartwood, adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at Drake University
1 Know accounting
Yeah, everyone but accounting majors hates accounting, but you must know the basics.
2 Know your money
Do you have any? Can you get some? Get to know a banker and people with money. You will kiss a lot of frogs.
3 Know your customers
What are they using now? Will anybody buy what you are selling? Will they pay enough for you to make money? Who will be your first customer? It will probably be a friend or family member. Who will be No. 2? It should be a referral from No. 1. If No. 3 is a “real customer,” you may have something.
4Know your pain
What need are you fulfilling, or what pain are you relieving? What bugs you? Can you fix it or make it better? If you are not fixing something or making something better, forget about it.
5 Know yourself
Identify your strengths and weaknesses. Ask teachers, employers, friends and family. Take an assessment. There is no magic formula. Play to your strengths. Find others to offset your weaknesses. Tolerate calculated risk.
scene THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
all the single
GREEK CRIBS
See and learn w hat the fraternity and sorority houses on 34th Street are all ab out. PAGE 6
SECTION E
It’s been a bad Thursday; your Monday was awful; Friday couldn’t come soon enough. You’re out with your girlfriends, sitting at the bar and the guys in the corner yelling at SportsCenter are looking more and more appealing. Why is that? Oh wait, they’re the only guys in the bar. PAGE 3
photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
PAGE 2E
SCENE
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
Clunker-mobiles
Rusty, dented hot rods need parking spaces too by HEATHER BOONE
Staff Writer heather.boone@drake.edu
A wide variety of cars fill the parking lots of Drake University. To some students, these are their most prized possessions; to others, their cars are just a means for transportation. The 2004 Honda CR-V Sport Utility, 2001 Lexus IS 300 Sedan and the 2004 Mini Cooper Coupe, according to Forbes. com, are said to be the best cars for college students. Many of
these run around $15,000, and can be more than nice enough. But, when you look past the lots full of Honda Civics, Jeep Liberties and the occasional Mustang convertible, you will see a different breed of vehicle. This class of car is not distinguished by color, make or model, but by dents, scrapes, rust and the occasional poorly tinted window. These automobiles are distinctive by nature, filled with charisma and history. On the surface some may appear worse for wear, but once you dig deep you will see a car that has lived a long and meaningful life. Check out a couple clunkers of character. n
photo by HEATHER BOONE | Staff Photographer
photo by HEATHER BOONE | Staff Photographer
Chevy Astro Carrick Rice, a first-year biology major, is the owner of such a vehicle. His not so minivan is a 2001 beige Chevy Astro with tinted back windows. This particularly disturbing van boasts a few broken locks, a sliding door that often sticks and a back door that doesn’t open at all. “It made bringing all my stuff to school a pain,” Rice said of the un-opening back door. Aside from those inconveniences, the van is reliable. With over 130,000 miles to its name, Rice’s ride has never failed him, except for the less than 10 miles per gallon it gets him on the highway. Even with all of its problems, Rice shares a unique bond with his “creeper van.” “I am very proud of my tank,” Rice said. “It’s not fast or flashy, but it’s a rock and it’ll get me from A to B. I’d like to have it as long as I can, just keep driving it forever and ever.”
Chevy Cavalier
Oldsmobile Ciera
Jessica Thing, a sophomore creative advertising major, is the owner of a self-proclaimed “ancient” car. Thing owns a 1992 white Chevy Cavalier. Despite its age, the Cavalier is in relatively good shape. It has its share of rattles, rust and holes, but Thing still claims that it is a “good college car.” Thing says that people are a little concerned about the age of her car and that “everyone is worried when they ride in it because of the rattling; but it’s a beast.”
“
photo by ROBB RIGGLE | Staff Photographer
An ugly piece of crap car that you should be embarrassed to drive.
”
Will Hanisch, a senior marketing major, is so attached to his red 1996 Oldsmobile Ciera LS, he named it Clarence. Hanish said you get a certain feel for your car and this was a good grandfather-like title. The sedan has only been in one “fender bender,” and while the other car suffered $500 in damage, Clarence nothing, “not even a chip of paint,” Hanish said of his trusty wheels. The exterior may need a face lift, but the exterior can still impress “The best feature is the interior it’s this faux suedeesque material,” Hanish said. However, Hanish said the worst part is when you’re driving at night, the dashboard lights will dim. “Sometimes you can’t see the speedometer at night, which can be kind of dangerous.”
– DEFINITION OF CLUNKER, URBAN DICTIONARY
Sharing the stage Forever friends before and after auditions by JOEY STYCH
Staff Writer joey.stych@drake.edu
photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
LAUREN KNUTSON AND BRIANA WRIGHT are both sophomore theater majors that often audition for the same roles.
Acting: it’s a hard-knock life. There are far fewer roles than there are eager, desperate hopefuls thirsting for their oh-so-sweet taste of the limelight. In Hollywood and on Broadway, your chances really are one in a million. And it’s no different at Drake. Just ask sophomores Lauren Knutson and Briana Wright, roommates with acting-based majors who are constantly competing for the same roles. For them, the chance of falling into the “starving actress” cliché is a given, especially if they aren’t cast in any shows. Knutson realizes the highly competitive nature of the craft, even in college, which is why she added a minor in advertising to her acting major. “My parents are making me keep the advertising minor,” she said. “There are lots of actors and not lots of work, but I will succeed in acting.” “Work is sparse,” Wright added. “So a lot of people have backup plans.” The lack of roles is enough to drive competition to a boiling point, even among friends. Knutson and Wright met at callbacks for the Drake production of “Urinetown.” When Wright forgot her music, she asked Knutson if they could share. “I told her, ‘No, I’m not going to help you. We’re auditioning for the same part,’” Knutson said. And that part is highly valued. The Drake University Theatre Arts Department only puts on three main-stage productions per semester. These shows are usually directed by a faculty member and have a full budget, set and wardrobe. Auditions for the shows happen over one day every semester. According to Knutson, directors usually ask that you come prepared with two contrasting monologues: one that’s comedic, and one that’s serious. If it’s a musical, you have to perform a 90-second section of a song, too.
Needless to say, the process is nerve-racking. “Auditions are scary,” Wright said. “You have to be as prepared as you can and then go with the flow.” If you’re lucky enough to get a callback, Knutson says that you’ll be asked to read cuttings from the script. “You just have to make crazy, bold choices,” Wright said. “If they like it, they like it.” When you wing it in theatre, you’ll either soar or fall flat on your face. For example, during auditions for “Habeas Corpus,” two students made out in front of the directors. Only one of them was cast. “We understand the competition, and you get good at losing,” Wright said. “You’re going to have resentment inside, but you don’t share it.” Next year, being cast in a production is going to become even harder. According to Knutson, 19 new musical theatre majors are coming to Drake next year. “I’ll encourage them,” Knutson said, “but I don’t really see them as a threat.” However, if Wright and Knutson don’t fill their resumes with roles in university productions, they’ll have no chance of getting jobs after graduation. Fighting for parts can cause some resentment within the department, but most of the friction arises from personal issues. “We just do everything together,” Knutson said. “We work together, we have rehearsal together, we have class together, we only hang out with each other. So yeah, people are going to get on your nerves.” Every semester in the theatre department is a hectic balancing act between friendships and rivalries, and even best buddies can turn against each other, especially at audition time. Knutson and Wright understand that there will always be competition, but they’re learning to deal with it. “There’s a lot of drama in the theatre department,” Wright said. “You learn how to work with other people. I mean, they’re plays; it’s what our job’s going to be.” n
GET CONNECTED Social media is a buzz word right now. From Facebook to the blogsphere to Twitter, Drake is staying connected. Check out the article to find the right web sites, tweet names and blogs for clubs, organizations and even the Drake version of My Life is Average.
@ www.timesdelphic.com
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PAGE 3E MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
FROM SINGLE LADIES PAGE 1
Looking for love?
GET THE PICK-UP
1
What it means to have an uneven number of girls to guys at Drake by MARTHA PIERCE
Staff Writer martha.pierce@drake.edu
photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
This no-men phenomenon isn’t an isolated incident at Drake and hasn’t been for quite a while. According to a student ratio released last fall, women make up 60 percent of Drake University’s campus, with men at 40 percent. The education school has the widest gap, as 179 women outnumber only 49 men. The numbers get a little more optimistic, but not by much, when you look at pharmacy and health sciences, with 550 women to 290 men. The business school boasts the highest testosterone levels of any other school at Drake; 652 full-time undergraduate men exceed the nearly 426 women in this male-dominated profession. And when a hole-in-the-wall Drake bar door opens and students file in, the numbers of men and women clamoring for a dollar beer perfectly reflect the ratio of those same, sleep-deprived students who shuffle into their 8 a.m. classes. Whether it’s a history class or an introduction to feminist studies, you can bet there’s not going to be a surplus of men there. But most men aren’t complaining. Ryan Gabriel, a first-year marketing and management double-major, said that he usually goes for women who are “adventurous and feminine.”
Drake University undergraduate entering class of Fall 2009
57.3% Female
42.7% Male
Entering first-year and full-time transfer students
“I hope I can find those types of girls here at Drake; I just have to explore and find out,” he said. He and his guy friends agree that there are a lot of “nice-looking girls” at Drake, but Gabriel isn’t exactly in a hurry to pick one. “I don’t have an expectation for meeting a girl at Drake,” he said. “I’d say it’s a possibility, but for right now, I’m happy with the friends I keep.” For Virginia Ferrer, a junior politics and rhetoric doublemajor, dating at Drake is simply a way to expand her circle of friends. She says that there is a hookup culture at Drake because of the imbalance of men and women. “It’s easier for some guys to get exactly what they want out of a relationship because there are so many girls here,” Ferrer said. Ferrer has dated at Drake, and considers herself “a connoisseur of people.” “I know a lot of different types of people and I like to keep meeting new people,” she said. “I usually just like to maintain really good friendships (with these guys). In college, it’s a lot easier for break-ups to be hard, and (here) I don’t have to have that.” Norah Carroll, a junior magazine journalism major and English minor, says that her classes contain more women. “I think the lack of men is even more obvious to me because of the majors that I chose; there are a lot more women in magazines and English classes,” she said. Carroll also says that she sees the same men involved in everything; because of this, there aren’t many opportunities for meeting new people. “I think that you have to look in places you might not think of if you’re interested in meeting new people,” she said. “A lot of times, people fly under the radar.” The bottom line for women? Look in unexpected places. Go to Mars Café and chat up the boy who’s actually studying. Befriend a boy in politics class. The options are limited, but like vintage shopping, you have to search around for a while before you spot a good catch. And for men? Let’s just say you’ve got your work cut out for you at the bar. n
With a wide gap in gender numbers the right pick-up lines can be heard echoing through popular spots around campus. If you’re going to try and use one, make sure it’s the appropriate style line for the situation.
FOR THE ATHLETE
you tired? ‘Cause you’ve “ Aren’t been running through my mind all day.”
2
FOR THE ECONOMIST
3
FOR THE TEACHER
4
need your name and number for “ Iinsurance reasons, ‘cause you just stole my heart.”
you help me with the “ Can alphabet? ‘Cause I keep putting “U” next to “I.””
FOR THE FASHIONISTA
pants; they’d look better on “ Nice my floor.”
5 FOR THE HARRY POTTER FAN like to get my basilisk in your “ I’d chamber of secrets.”
Man’s best friend How to get the paint out
Need a furry fix? Once students move off campus, the leashes come out by JARED HANEL
Staff Writer jared.hanel@drake.edu
While students on campus may be able to have aquatic pets, the types seem to be rather limited to beta fish and other small water dwelling creatures. Some students have little aquatic frogs, some have snails and some even have little sea monkeys. Off campus, some fellow students have grown passed the aquatics pets and found something with a little more personality. Some students have found little ways to sneak around the wet-pet residence hall rule by having hidden hermit crabs and a turtle or two, but the number of animals you can start bringing home when you live off campus drastically increases. La’Cee Groetken, a senior biochemistrymolecular biology and biology double-major, has two pooches, Lily and Coco, both Dober-
man Pinschers. Groetken said living in her small apartment with two large dogs can get rather hectic. “I’m just happy they are both total sweethearts and well behaved dogs,” Groetken said. She and her roommate take turns taking them out during the day. Calvin Delius, a senior English major, lives off campus with his roommate, a Drake graduate, Adam Ericksen, and his dog Nero. Nero is a crazy little pooch that stands as the current mascot for the Drake Rainbow Union and has won over the members hearts by all of the tricks he does from rolling over to speaking. But the favorite barking, wagging and drooling campus pet can be seen at sporting events. Porterhouse beat out 49 other dogs from eight states to claim the title of Drake’s “Most Beautiful Bulldog,” in 2009. Owners Kevin, a second year law school student, and Erin Bell can be seen being walked around campus by the brown-and-white mutt. n
to... s e o g d r a w ulldog a B l u if t u a e 09 B And the 20
photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
Bald from the street painting this year? Don’t make the same mistakes again.
@ www.timesdelphic.com
Courtesy of KEVIN BELL
Porterhouse 6
of his favorite things
Dessert doggie cone from Snookies Sport Frisbee—especially with students Body part tail that wags when petted Season spring and fall—not too hot so he can chill outside Toy basketballs, soccer balls, tennis balls and volleyballs Des Moines Summer Event farmers market
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THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 4E
KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA SIGMA CHI
The men of Sigma Chi moved into their current residence in 2001, after first living across the street. There are 18 men living in the Sigma Chi house. Outside the house is a white cross, which is the symbol for the Sigma Chi fraternity. Their favorite spot in the house is the upper-level, which now has new sectionals and a 50-inch television mounted to the wall.
The house of Kappa Kappa Gamma is celebrating its centennial birthday this year. The house, which is now a historic monument, still retains its original picturesque front door and the front stairs from when the house was built. To commemorate this birthday, one of the Kappa alumnae groups will be donating a solid gold key to hang over the entrance. There are 44-47 women living in the Kappa house, and they each live in unique rooms with different names.
SIGM
The men of Si fraternity aft street. Before house front, SigEp house h graduate stud Like every ot welcome brot
KAPPA ALPHA THETA
In 1974, the Kappa Alpha Theta house combined two houses to make the one they currently reside in, with 52 women and a house mom living in the house. The house retains the qualities of both the newer house and the older house, with the rooms differing on both sides. The dichotomy even affects the way the closets are set up.
GREEK STRE ET TAU KAPPA EPSILON THETA CHI
Looking at the Theta Chi house, it is clear that something doesn’t look cohesive. That’s because when Theta Chi moved to Greek Street they moved into two houses that were built together, which is made clear by the different sides of the house. In front of the house is a large rock—the Scott Branson Rock, to be exact. The rock was placed there in 2001 in memory of Scott Branson, a member of Theta Chi who was killed by a drunk driver on Forest Avenue.
After being elsewhere in the Drake neighborhood, the men of Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) settled into their current residence in the mid-1980s. The house itself was built in the 1890s and still maintains its original wood and Victorian elements. The bell outside of the TKE house is something that every chapter in the nation has, and it is tradition to ring the bell each time they get a new member. Out of the six people living in the house, there is one who isn’t like the others. Her name is Helen, and she is the ghost that is said to haunt the TKE house after the house was sold to the men. As the story goes, Helen, the previous owner of the house, stipulated in her will that the house was to never be sold to Greek life, and after it was, the seventh house mate has made her presence known.
The big yellow house on women of Alpha Phi. Th suite-style rooms. Each two bedrooms, a kitche and a bathroom. The A putting in a new fire-sa will be seeing future re
PAGE 5E
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
SCENE
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON
MA PHI EPSILON
igma Phi Epsilon have been living in their current ter moving from the big blue house down the e they tacked the skull and heart badge on the the women of Chi Omega had the house. The hosts 27 men, one Resident Scholar—a full-time dent who provides members daily peer mentor. ther SigEp house, their house has a red door to thers from everywhere.
When walking up to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) house, two gold lions greet you at the door. The lion is the SAE mascot and is symbolic of the fraternity’s virtues; every chapter house is said to have them in front of their houses. The large, white house is the oldest fraternity house on the street. The chapter acquired it upon its establishment in 1921, and after almost a century of Bulldog history, the men of SAE still occupy the house.
DELTA GAMMA The house with the anchor outside belongs to the women of Delta Gamma. There are currently 34 women living in the house. The notable anchor that is in front of the DG house is something that every Delta Gamma chapter has; it is a symbol of hope for the sorority. The women of Delta Gamma rent this anchor for $0.01 each year from the United States Navy. This year, Delta Gamma has implemented a new recycling program to go green.
T CRI BS
PI KAPPA ALPHA The men of Pi Kappa Alpha live in the tan-colored house, marking the end of the Greek houses on the street. The first known contact Pi Kappa Alpha had with Drake University originated by the local fraternity Gamma Sigma Kappa in 1927. The chapter is nicknamed “Pike.”
34th S tr Stree eet, often referr t,” ho u ed to ses 11 soror as “Gr o ities. E f Drak eek ach ho e’s 13 size a fr u nd loc ation se is unique aternities a and e ach h in architec nd elp ide ture, n t i fy the by A NDI ir andr Staff SUMME ea. Wr RS sum
mers iter @dra k
e.ed
ALPHA PHI
u
n 34th Street belongs to the here are 52 women living in h four-person suite contains en, a living room, a desk area Alpha Phi house is currently afety system, and the women enovations to their kitchens.
FIJI
When FIJI colonized in 1993 they were able to obtain the house that they are still residing in. After acquiring the house 17 years ago, the men of FIJI are reinvesting and making improvements. Recently, they have seen major changes to their house that includes redoing the central air system and renovating bathrooms on the second and third floors. There are also plans to renovate the first floor by expanding outward. FIJI is the only fraternity on the street that has a cook, with their meal plan including three meals fondly cooked by “Mama Carol.” While the house is improving and expanding, the favorite spot for the men of FIJI is still their front porch.
illustration by MOLLY CHRICTON | Staff Artist photos by CARTER OSWOOD | Staff Photographer
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THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 6E
Brown squirrel, brown squirrel, what do you see? by CORI CLARK
Staff Writer corrine.clark@drake.edu
The squirrels may have taken residence on Drake University’s campus a long time ago, but they’ve recently found a new home: the hearts of Drake students. A Facebook page dedicated to the furry creatures appeared last fall, where fans of the critters have posted photos and homemade videos of the animals. The page currently has 773 fans, in comparison to the 753 fans of The Times-Delphic. “I have to admit that I am a little bit obsessed with the Drake squirrels,” said Claire Williamson, a sophomore psychology major and a Drake squirrel fanatic. “They crack me up every time I am walking to class, whether they are digging through garbage cans or chasing each other around.” Junior education major David Dubczak views them as a cheap form of entertainment. “I like them,” Dubczak said. “They run around and make me laugh, but stay out of my way and don’t bite me and give me rabies or anything.”
It is actually a myth that squirrels can give you rabies. According to a 2008 report from the Centers for Disease Control, squirrels, rats and mice are rarely infected with rabies and have not been known to transmit rabies to humans. Since students are not allowed to have pets on campus, special connections can be shared with the bushy-tailed rodents. “I love when the baby squirrels come out,” Williamson said. “They are so cute and harmless. I had an encounter with a baby squirrel last semester. The same one would always sit by the same tree every day. Finally, one day I walked over to it and started feeding it my apple. The baby squirrel ate it right out of my hand.” Dubczak occasionally delves into the art of squirrel-watching. “I did sit and watch one strip a 6-inch section of tree branch completely free of bark outside of Old Main,” Dubczak said. “I had a staring contest with one sitting in a trashcan outside (Cowles) Library.” Residents of Stalnaker Residence Hall unofficially adopted the animal as its mascot and put an image of one on this year’s hall’s shirts. Not all students wanted to adopt the squirrels. Williamson said many people don’t like the squirrels because they are not shy and run in front of people’s walking path. “It depends, if said other person is in PETA, they probably think they’re all cute and adorable,” Dubczak said. “If the other person is, let’s say, a squirrel hunter, they’re probably judging the squirrel based on the size and potential for deliciousness.” The Drake squirrels appear more orange than other grey tree squirrels in the Midwest. “I never really thought about why they are orange,” Williamson said. “I am glad they are orange, because if they were black or grey, it just wouldn’t be the same.”
Words to live, love and laugh by Motivation can be found in the simplest statements by BRYN GOLDBERG
Staff Writer bryn.goldberg@drake.edu
When parents want their children to do something, they give them some sort of motivation, such as a gold star for doing chores. It is because of such simple reinforcements that children accomplish things. The same is true for college students. Students need some sort of motivation to accomplish things, such as studying hard in order to receive a desired grade on a test or in the class. Some people think that certain motivational tactics, like giving a child food every time they do something correct, are bribery. However, motivation is something that everyone, regardless of age, needs in order to accomplish tasks. According to most motivation theorists, motivation is a desire or want that energizes and directs goal-oriented behavior. They have also
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found that motivation is involved in all learned responses, which means a learned behavior will not occur unless it is energized somehow. That energizer is the motivation. John Arnold, the author of many renowned psychology-based books, says that there are three components of motivation: direction, effort and persistence. Direction is what a person is trying to do, such as do well on a test; effort is how hard a person is trying to accomplish this - HOWARD THURMAN goal, such as studying more than the night before; and persistence is how long a person keeps on trying after doing not-so-well on a test. Typically, college students look for the smallest motivations so that they can accomplish goals. This is not because they are procrastinators and feel that they need a reason to do something by a certain time or in a certain way, it is because they are human and need a motivation to do everything. n
Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
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WORDS OF WISDOM Name: Neil Erbes Position at Drake: Sophomore music and business major Inspirational Quote: “Whether you think you can or think you can’t,
you’re right,” by Henry Ford Meaning of Quote: The only thing that can stop you from doing something is you telling yourself you can’t do it. If you think you can do it, then you should have the ability to succeed.
Name: Kathleen Richardson Position at Drake: Director of the School of Journalism and Mass
Communication
Inspirational Quote:“I have no illusion that the press is popular. The idea that telling the truth will make you popular is inconceivable to me. That isn’t the way life works,” by David Halberstam Meaning of Quote: I think this means that doing your job as a journalist can sometimes be difficult, and it takes courage.
Name: Katie Richardson Position at Drake: First-year pre-pharmacy major Inspirational Quote: “No one can make you feel inferior without
your consent,” by Eleanor Roosevelt. Meaning of Quote: I believe that you are your greatest critic, you shouldn’t let what others say about you affect you.
Name: Adam Gallenberg Position at Drake: Junior psychology major Inspirational Quote: “Do something today that makes you
better tomorrow,” by anonymous.
Meaning of Quote: I just think of the people who influence me on a daily basis. I watch them work hard and it just pushes me to reach my full potential. If you keep reaching for something that doesn’t have limits, you’ll constantly be at your full potential.
photo by MATT NELSON | Assistant Relays Editor
To non-Drake students, Dubczak describes the squirrels as “passive squirrels—they’ll let you stand right next to them or pick them up, unlike urban squirrels.” Look to the trash cans near Hubbell or the trees in front of Jewett Hall to see the squirrels. If you have not had the pleasure of interacting with one of these bushy-tailed critters, get out there and meet one! n
Longboard Crossing campus on four wheels photo by TYLER O’NEIL | Relays Editor
by SKYLAR BERGL
Staff Writer skylar.bergl@drake.edu
Reminiscent of summer days on the West Coast, surfing and the beach, longboards have been popping up all across the nation. No longer are the smooth concrete waves relegated just to those who surf or live out in California. It’s made its way all the way to Iowa, in fact. Here in Des Moines and at Drake, longboarding has caught on as an alternate mode of transportation, but more importantly, as a fun and refreshing hobby for those who take part. Occasionally venturing off of Drake’s campus to get a lay of the land in the downtown district of Des Moines, longboarders push back and forth across their boards to pick up speed as they fly down any street they can. The loose trucks (that hold the wheels) combined with the surfboard-inspired shape brings about the obvious image of concrete surfing. Sophomore Ryan Swanson is a regular longboarder at Drake who got into the hobby on a whim. “One of my friends just mentioned one time that he was going longboarding and I started to get into it,” Swanson said. “I used to skateboard so I figured that I’d give longboarding a shot.” With a much longer board, swerving in and out through the streets is smooth and effortless once you get the hang it. The thin board is almost springy in the middle and the shape of the board means you don’t have to move your feet much to keep going. “I’d say it’s easier than a regular skateboard,” Swanson said. “And to be honest, it’s great if you’re lazy because you can take a few kicks and just build up speed and keep going for a long time.” Around Des Moines a lot of the longboarders take advantage of their surroundings, as
limited as they may be. With a relatively small metropolitan area it can be difficult to find the terrain that suits the longboard style of long, uninterrupted cruising. But there are still places they can go. “We’ve gone downtown a few times to cruise around,” Swanson said. “We like going into the big parking garages because they wind in a spiral all the way down so you can go for as long as you want. Luckily on the weekends, they’re not too full.” When they do head downtown to carve around the streets and parking garages, security doesn’t hesitate to get involved. But rather than reinforce the typical stereotype of delinquent skateboarders, they do what they can to redefine it. “The cops really don’t care that we’re there, to be honest,” Jon McDonald, a sophomore marketing and advertising management major, said. “So when the security guards do end up coming up to us, we cooperate and then end up coming back a little bit later.” This is more than just a hobby; longboarding often turns into an alternate form of transportation. Rather than walk everywhere, why not take a few kicks and cruise the entire rest of the way? When the weather is nice enough, it provides a great means of getting from point A to point B. “I’ve got 9:30 a.m. class and I leave at 9:28 a.m. and can be at FAC on time,” McDonald said. “My board is a little smaller, easier to carry and basically turns on a dime, so a lot of times I use it to get to classes.” So whether or not they’re using it just to cruise around the city or as a functional means of transportation around campus, longboarding offers a different experience from the usual skateboard experience. More of a surfing or snowboarding simulator, longboarding is a niche that almost everyone can enjoy. n
FEATURES
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
hey there
good
PAGE 7E
SPRING TREND The flower headlines is the fastest way to throw some Spring into your wardrobe! At any price, these headbands are worth it.
LOOKIN’ As temperatures rise and more students step outside out in their shorts and sundresses, the weather lets students sport some of the runway’s latest trends. Time for some styling in the sunshine.
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photos by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
? Y D N E R T IT S E K A M WHAT by HEATHER BOONE
Staff Writer heather.boone@drake.edu
ASYMMETRICAL TANK
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The unequal length in fabric of the asymmetrical tank top will catch attention, as it’s that extra touch beyond the normal tank. The shirt is one of 13 main seasonal fashions. Trending from previous seasons and the 80s, the one shoulder neckline is still visible. Rethink the need for symmetry with brands like Banana Republic, Shoshanna for Neiman Marcus and Black Halo for Saks Fifth Avenue. One of the best features of the top? Shoulders can be a body’s highlight at every age and are meant to be shown off. This summer’s fresh take on the style also means the top can be unequal either left-to-right or front-to-back, with the hem slightly higher in the front. Just make sure not to take the uneven pattern too far with accessories —take a cue from actresses like Rihanna and leave the neckline bare.
JEAN SHORTS
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Jean shorts may be a staple, but the runways are laying down some extra rules for showing off the legs. According to “Elle” magazine, carpenter, frayed hotpant and cuffed shorts are all go’s. Dolce & Gabbana run their stretch denim around $200, but you can find Roxy brand shorts at Nordstrom for under $50. If your thighs need a little more coverage take cues from H&M’s spring magazine and order some paint-splattered boyfriend shorts. They’re shorter than bermudas and perfect for getting some sun on those pale, wintered legs.
WRAP-AROUND ANKLE SANDAL
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Dark neutral tones and suede fabric of spring’s wrap-around ankle sandal can be a complimentary contrast to lighter, brighter spring colors and patterns. Zippers, studs and sequins can all be seen on the new sandal and will be a welcome addition to the summer sandal line-up.
CROSS-BODY BAG
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Last season’s popular cross-body bag is back with new tones, “straight from the crayon box.” This spring’s new colors are classic and not too bright, like aurora, yellow, teal and tomato red. The splash of color adds some much needed fun to functionality while allowing the wearer to pair it with any of the other spring trends. The bags work well for toting books without looking bulky with a backpack.
BLING RING
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Spring’s version of the chunky ring is floral rather than geometric. Embrace the beauty of nature and wear it as an accessory. “Seventeen” magazine’s April issue claims spring jewelry colors should be more muted than bright: pastel purple, rose-colored pinks and mint. Continuing with the magazine’s advice: Don’t forget the sparkle! Glitz and glitter are a floral ring essential. But beware, there’s a fine line between blingtastic and bling disaster.
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
SCENE
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 8E
sports THE TIMES-DELPHIC
DRAKE RELAYS
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
LACROSSE CLU
The new club on B campus has brought the orig inally East Coast sport to D rake after three years of pr eparation.
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SECTION F
TRACK & FIELD
Relays go downtown with Grand Blue Mile by DAVID JOHNSON
Staff Writer david.e.johnson@drake.edu
Elite athletes, novice racers and people just wanting to jog for fun will overrun West Locust Street on Tuesday. This year will mark the first running of the Grand Blue Mile in downtown Des Moines. The race will begin at the intersection of 17th Street and Locust and finish at 3rd Street and Locust. The route will have a scenic view of downtown Des Moines, passing the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, the downtown Des Moines Public Library, The Des Moines Register building and the Nollen Plaza. The run will replace the pole-vaulting competition as the event away from Drake Stadium. The last two years, a special pole-vaulting competition was held inside the Jordan Creek Town Center in addition to the pole vaulting held at Drake Stadium. The competition will still be held at Drake Stadium and only women’s pole-vaulting will be returning to Jordan Creek this year. “We did high jump downtown for two years, then pole vaulting out at Jordan Creek for two years; this year it will be the Grand Blue Mile,” said Director of Drake Relays Brian Brown. “We wanted to try something new and fresh.” The downtown street run is open for runners at any level, from beginners to professionals. “Street runs are going up in popularity,” Brown said. “Literally anyone can get involved.” There will be an open community division, a wheelchair or handcycle division, an open division for men and women who can run a sub-nine–minute mile, and a men’s and women’s invitational championship. In addition, there will be a 1/4-mile run for kids in the Iowa Kidstrong program. The street-mile run is different than the 1,500-meter race because it is one straight mile instead of turns, and there is a slight elevation change throughout the race. Don’t know how to train for a running event? No problem. Olympians Suzy Favor Hamilton and Steve Scott provide training tips on the Grand Blue Mile Web site at grandbluemile.com. Scott won the U.S. men’s 1,500-meter title six times and holds the U.S. Outdoor mile record with a time of 3:47.69. Favor Hamilton competed in the Olympic Games in 1992, 1996 and 2000. She was the 2000 U.S.A. Track and Field Distance Runner of the Year. These tips include a running program, nutrition schedule and a video on choosing the right shoes for your feet. “Exercise is the best way to achieve health and fitness,” Scott said in a video on the Web site. “It’s like that perfect distance; anybody can run a mile.” If not competing in the race, fans and supporters can line the streets to cheer and encourage the athletes. “I think people are going to really enjoy the event,” Brown said. “The Relays have an overall world-class group of competitors this year.” The event is being presented by the Drake Relays along with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Asics and Powerade. The official start time for tomorrow is 5:30 p.m. With the Kidstrong Run and the last race, the men’s invitational championship is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. n
photo by SARAH ANDREWS| Photo/Design Editor
JUNIOR ARI CURTIS practices running hurdles on the track inside Drake Stadium where, just weeks ago, she set a record for the 400 hurdles. It was her first time running the race. Curtis also broke the school record for the heptathlon at the KU Relays last Wednesday.
Beginner’s luck Curtis breaks hurdle record in first-ever try by JACK THUMSER
Staff Writer john.thumser@drake.edu
Last year junior Ari Curtis mentioned to her coaches that she wanted to try the 400-meter hurdles. But due to her already full schedule, they advised her to focus on her other events. Well, everyone makes mistakes, right? This year in her first career 400-meter hurdles heat at the Tom Botts Invitational in Columbia, Mo., she broke Julie Head’s 10-yearold school record in the event. Curtis ran an even 1:00.00, breaking the record by six-tenths of a second. Just a week later she lowered her record time, running the first sub-minute 400-meter hurdles time in Drake history. “I found a new confidence I didn’t have in recent years,” Curtis said. “The team believed in me, and that helped me believe in myself.” Curtis’ record-setting spring was not limited to the 400-meter hurdles, however. Curtis showed her versatility Wednesday and Thursday when she set the Drake record in the heptathlon by scoring 4,998 points at the Kansas Relays, good enough for third place in the event. Laura Borland was the previous record holder with 4,923 points, set in 2000. The record was the second set by Curtis in less than a week. She was also awarded the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week on April 8
for her accomplishments. Head Coach Natasha Brown said that she sees a connection between Curtis’ heptathlon skills and her newfound success in the 400-meter hurdles. “Her ability in the (400-meter) hurdles is truly amazing,” Brown said. “She learned to run hurdles when competing in the hurdles in the indoor heptathlon, but those are shorter hurdles. It’s not totally a surprise, but I’ve really been impressed by her ability to adapt.” Curtis’ momentum is timed perfectly with the arrival of the Drake Relays this weekend. Brown said that Curtis could run any event she wanted, but probably will not compete in the heptathlon because it is not usually run on back-to-back weeks. “She can run anything up to the mile,” Brown said. “We don’t want to wear her out, but I think she’ll run in the 400-hurdles, the shuttle hurdles and maybe the 4x800-meter relay, 4x200-meter relay or the distance medley.” Much of Drake’s Relays lineup is still undetermined due to a busy weekend that saw athletes at three different events. Senior distance runners Jeff Grassmeyer and Nicole Braunsdorf and junior distance runner Casey McDermott travelled to the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. for their final warm-up before Relays. The rest of the team went to Iowa City for the Iowa Invitational. Brown anticipates a strong end to the season, citing many strong individual performances in recent meets. She particularly mentioned sophomore Shaun James, who has consistently finished in the top-five in both the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints. “We’re limited on numbers, so depth isn’t something we have,” Brown said. “But we have a lot of individuals doing well and potentially moving on to regionals and nationals, and that’s more important to us than a high team finish.” The Bulldogs will be back in action when the 101st Drake Relays kickoff this Wednesday. n
DES MOINES RUNS Three upcoming races in case the Grand Blue Mile doesn’t fit the schedule
1 ON-THE-ROADS 8K & HALF MARATHON Date: April 24 at 8 a.m. Fee: $25 for the 8K, $30 for the 1/2 marathon Deadline: April 21 Start: Drake Stadium Cause: Drake Relays
2 Date: May 1 at 8 a.m. C.A.R.E. 5K & 10K
Fee: $20 for either event Deadline: 30 minutes before start time Start: Waukee, Iowa Cause: Organ, eye and tissue donation awareness
TIME KLOMPEN CLASSIC 5K 3 TULIP Date: May 5 at 7 p.m. Fee: $20 prior to race day, $25 for day-of registration Deadline: 15 minutes before start time Start: Pella, Iowa Cause: Crossroads of Pella
MEN’S TENNIS
Young team carries on tradition by DOMINIC JOHNSON Staff Writer dominic.johnson@drake.edu
In a span of four years, the Drake men’s tennis team went to the NCAA tournament three times and reached a No. 33 ranking in the nation. The Bulldogs dominated the Missouri Valley Conference for those four years under Head Coach Chase Hodges. After last season, Hodges left and Maor Zirkin, Drake’s all-time wins leader, finished his four years of college tennis. A golden age of Drake tennis had ended, but a young team filled with talent would begin its own legacy in 2010. Replacing Hodges was Jimmy Borendame, an assistant coach from Virginia Tech, who was entering into his first head-coaching job. At a time when nobody believed in them, Borendame urged his team members to believe in their talents and each other. Now, as the Missouri Valley Conference tournament approaches, the Bulldogs have proved their doubters wrong and are entering the tournament as a likely No. 3 seed with a winning 13-7 record. Drake began its spring campaign with the MVC Individuals Tournament, where each player competed with the best from other schools to capture individual titles. In the past, the Bulldogs had won numerous titles, but the 2010 team managed only to capture two. Not the perfect start to the season, but the Bulldogs learned
SEE MEN’S TENNIS, PAGE 2
photo by DOMINIC JOHNSON| Staff Photographer
SOPHOMORE RYAN KING contributed to the Bulldogs’ win over Saint Louis with a victory in the No. 6 slot April 9.
SPORTS
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 2F
WOMEN’S GOLF
Senior work ethic guides team First recruiting class wraps up Drake career with winning mentality by SKYLAR BERGL
Staff Writer skylar.bergl@drake.edu
The 2010 Drake women’s golf team has shown that having experience is definitely a plus. Of the nine members on the team, five are seniors, and all of them have at least two years of varsity experience. This maturity and experience has echoed throughout this season, proven by the many strong individual and team finishes that the team has posted thus far. One of these standout seniors has been Olivia Lansing. In her past four tournaments, Lansing has been lighting up the podium with low scores and accolades. Lansing has led the way to sucess for the Bulldogs by placing first, second, first and first overall in the past four tournaments. “Other girls have stepped up more than Olivia, but she’s certainly been playing well,” Head Coach Scott Bohlender said. “It’s been that way for the past two or three years. She’s mature and her golfing gets better all the time. Her mental game is really good, and she keeps herself in a positive mood all the time.” Bohlender is quick to point out other seniors such as Elena Vukmir, who took eighth, 12th and 16th in her last three tournaments. In stiffly competitive tournaments, however, it’s clear she’s becoming a steadier player. “Last fall and into last year, Elena was a little bit inconsistent,” Bohlender said. “She’d shoot a solid round, but come back and shoot badly. But in these past few tournaments, she’s posted a bunch of rounds under par which contributed to the team’s 24-stroke victory at Bradley on Tuesday.” Vukmir noted that her game has progressed. “In previous years, I think I let a lot of external factors and worries cloud my mental game,” Vukmir said. “This year, however, my team and I have our eye on the prize, a Missouri Valley Conference championship, and nothing is distracting us from that. In addition, I think my mental approach has matured tremendously.” As the senior Bulldogs come into their final season, one might think their work ethic would change. Bohlender has seen the opposite. “The work ethic of the seniors definitely rubs off on the younger players,” Bohlender said. “We only started the program four years ago, so these seniors were the first recruiting class. They’ve really learned how to manage their time well between school and golf. And I think it really helps the younger kids get the hang of it, too.” Vukmir saw more improvement coming into the season than ever before. “My philosophy going into each tournament this year was to play with a purpose,” Vukmir said. “I knew I had played great this summer and thought it was time for it to all come together. With a seasoned team, I really thought we’d have a solid year.” With her final season coming to a close, Vukmir said she is ready to put the pedal down in order to achieve that final goal of winning the Missouri Valley. “Going into conference, we have one goal left—to win and get a bid to regionals,” Vukmir said. “I think in the end, it’s going to boil down to who is playing best in two weeks. There are some very good teams vying for the same title, and we can only hope our hard work throughout the season will pay off in the end.” n
BEST OF THE BEST
photo courtesy of ELENA VUKMIR
SENIOR ELENA VUKMIR finished in the top three scores for Drake with a score of 228. Vukmir’s fifth-place finish in the tournament helped bring the Bulldogs to a score of 895, defending last year’s win on the par-72 course.
Bulldogs first in Grand Prairie Collegiate Classic by MATT MORAN
Copy Editor matthew.moran@drake.edu
In light of the Masters Golf Tournament, senior Olivia Lansing is doing her best Tiger Woods impression. On the golf course, that is. Lansing was named the Missouri Valley Conference women’s golfer of the week for the week of April 7. It was the fourth straight week Lansing was named player of the week, and a league record ninth time in her career. Lansing won the Hotels at Grand Prairie Collegiate Classic in Peoria, Ill., on April 5 and 6, with a three-round score of 216.
Drake won the event finishing with a team score of 895, which thrashed second-place Bradley who had 919. Junior Michelle Mathwick and senior Elena Vukmir finished in fourth and fifth, respectively. The Bulldogs defeated two Valley opponents in the meet, defeating Bradley and third-place Northern Iowa. In Drake’s previous meet at the Saluki Invitational at Carbondale, Ill., the Bulldogs finished one point off of a first-place finish with a two-round team score of 618. Indiana State won the meet with a 617. In that event, Drake defeated Southern Illinois, Creighton, Bradley and Evansville. Lansing finished first overall with a final score of 145. The significance of these meets and opponents is the final tournament of the season, which is the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship in Evansville, Ind., this Monday and Tuesday. In golf, Drake can only see Valley opponents at other tournaments around the country, so the meet is a winner-take-all atmosphere. n
The top 3 golfers’ season statistics
1 OLIVIA LANSING
Four weeks straight as Missouri Valley Conference woman’s player of the week recently won Hotels at Grand Prairie Collegiate Classic with a three-round score of 216
2 MICHELLE MATHWICK
4th place at Monterey Invitational with three-round score of 229 and 4th place at Hotels at Grand Prairie Collegiate classic with a 226
3 ELENA VUKMIR
16th at Jackrabbit Invitational with a score of 226 and tied Mathwick for 12th at Saluki Invitational with a two-day score of 157
MEN’S GOLF
MEN’S TENNIS
Drake drives for title
Drake shifts focus to Valley tournament
Bulldogs fight to level play with Valley leaders by DOMINIC JOHNSON Staff Writer dominic.johnson@drake.edu
Coming into the final stretch of the spring season, the men’s golf team has been pushing its hardest to improve for its final tournament of the season. Although the competition looks to be pretty steep, the team is aiming to take home the championship at the State Farm MVC tournament next Monday. Throughout the season, the Bulldogs have had their ups and their downs. The first tournament of the year saw the Bulldogs take third at the Big Four Invitational with Northern Iowa, Drake, Iowa and Iowa State facing off. After losing in the first round to the Hawkeyes, the Bulldogs proceeded to sweep UNI and hold on to third place. The Carlton Oaks Invitational saw a different story play out as the Bulldogs shot tremendously through the three rounds and led the field after the first day of play. While they continued their strong performance, Point Loma Nazarene shot a final round of 297 to take the tournament by just four strokes. Senior Luke Joy tied for second overall in that tournament; he has been the consistent pacemaker for the Bulldogs all season. “Luke has been our low guy for most of the season,” Head Coach Scott Bohlender said. “He hasn’t been shooting as well as he would like to be, but he has been maintaining a consistent stroke average in the 70s. He’s been breaking out of his winter shell lately.” Junior Cody Schweinefus, who spent most of last
year sitting out with an injury, has been doing his best to get back to form. He has been keeping his score hovering around 235 for the past few tournaments. “Cody’s been getting back,” Bohlender said. “Historically, he doesn’t play as well in the spring as he does in the fall, but he’s moving a little quicker this time around. When he got back from the injury last year, he didn’t play in our top five players. But this year I expect him to.” Within league play, the stakes are a little bit different. The teams don’t play each other as much as in other sports, but in the end they all compete at the conference tournament. If the Bulldogs win that, they move on to the NCAA Regional tournament. Right now, the Missouri Valley looks like a jumbled mess. Bohlender points out that it’s not easy to tell who’s going to have a good season at the start of things. “We beat Illinois State at the very beginning of the season, but they’ve gone on to have a better campaign than us,” Bohlender said. “So in these next three weeks leading up to the conference tournament, Wichita State and ISU look to be head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. But after that, it’s a jumble.” There have been bright spots for the Bulldogs, however. In a triangular tournament against Creighton and North Dakota State, the Bulldogs cleaned up and won by a total of 23 strokes. Led by medalist Joy, who shot a 79-74-70=233, the team’s first round score propelled them to victory. They led by 15 strokes after the first day. With the MVC tournament coming next Monday, the Bulldogs are looking to take the conference crown with them. But they have to work on their missteps first. “We’ve got to look at the things we’re not doing particularly well and improve upon them in the coming weeks,” Bohlender said. “We look to be conference champions, but right now we’re not playing as well as others. We’ve got to figure out what we need to do in order to catch up.” n
FROM MEN’S TENNIS, PAGE 1 from their mistakes. “Drake has won a lot more in the past at individuals, so from there we saw that we needed to step it up a gear,” freshman Jean Erasmus said, “and as a team we’ve grown match by match since then.” Drake started off the dual-match season with one of the most important wins of their season. With a 1-0 record, the Bulldogs faced their first quality opponent in the Memphis Tigers. Halfway through the contest, the Tigers tied the score at two all, but the young Bulldog squad proved that they could play. Winning the next three matches boosted the team to a 5-2 victory and an early wave of confidence to fuel the team. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, their next home match was characterized by the opposite emotion: heartbreak. In late February, the stage was set for an epic in-state battle with the No. 55 Iowa Hawkeyes. On a cold Wednesday night the Bulldogs packed the Roger Knapp Tennis Center to witness the finest college tennis Iowa had to offer. The Bulldogs would lose the doubles point, but sophomore Mauricio Ballivian as well as freshman James McKie and sophomore Jonathan Hadash would battle back for the Bulldogs to bring the team three points; just one short of victory. “Iowa was the toughest loss of the season because we were prepared and we just couldn’t capitalize at all the right times,” Borendame said. In what became a defining characteristic of the team, the Bulldogs came back even stronger. Three days later, Drake faced the DePaul Blue Demons, a team that beat them the previous season. Fueled by the loss to Iowa, Drake came out playing some of the best tennis of the season. A 6-1 victory over the Blue Demons lit the fire under the squad’s feet; they went on to win 10 of their next 13 matches. “The DePaul match meant a lot to the guys because last year they beat us,” Borendame said. As of April 16 the Bulldogs are 2-1 in conference play, but are confident in their ability to win conference this year, which takes place in Wichita, Kan., this weekend. “The key is that we peak when it matters,” Borendame said, “and that will be during the tournament.” Zirkin, now an assistant coach, said that hopefully the team’s biggest win is still in front of them. n
SPORTS
PAGE 3F MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
CREW
DRAKE RELAYS
Relay down memory lane Olympian recounts fondness for Relays by JOEY STYCH
Staff Writer joseph.stych@drake.edu
photo by KYLE GLASER | Digital Editor
SENIOR CHELSEA SMITH (far left) sits in the stroke seat in a race this fall. The stroke seat is the position in the boat that carries the most responsibility, as she sets the rhythm and rate of the boat and communicates with the coxswain.
Training for Olympic trials Smith powers through for preparation for two-person sculling team competition by DAVID JOHNSON
Staff Writer david.e.johnson@drake.edu
Muhammad Ali once said, “Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them—a desire, a dream, a vision.” The dream is to make the Olympics as a member of the U.S. rowing team. The athlete is Drake women’s crew member Chelsea Smith. The desire to accomplish her dreams gets Smith up before sunrise for team workouts. Smith moved one step closer to achieving this vision when she was chosen as a Resident Athlete of U.S. Rowing for 2010. She will finish her Drake crew career, graduate and then begin training at the Oklahoma City National High Performance Center. The Oklahoma City National High Performance Center is a rower’s dream. It is a 33,000 square foot facility with an indoor propulsion rowing tank, a hypoxic room, a cutting edge weight facility and multiple pieces of cross training equipment, according to the center’s Web site. Physically, Smith was not meant to be a rower. She wasn’t given an overly large wingspan, which would be helpful. She will instead be com-
peting in the lightweight division after school. “I was never naturally good,” Smith said. “After extra workouts, I started to come towards the top.” These workouts begin at 5:30 a.m., a time when most college students are fast asleep. The workout consists of getting out on the Des Moines River in boats, except when the water levels are dangerously high, or workouts that consist of machines with the rest of the Drake crew team. Then there is lifting until about 9:30 a.m., shower, get food and start classes for the day. During the afternoon comes workout number two. These usually consist of endurance training, interval training or long distance rowing on machines. Then comes homework, eating, sleep—then repeat. “What has set her apart from a lot of other athletes is the will to be the best in rowing,” Head Coach Charlie DiSilvestro said. “Very few want to go on or put in the extra work that is required.” Upon graduation, Smith will begin training to reach the Olympic team as a member of a two-person sculling team. She has yet to be paired with a partner, but when she is, they will begin training to win the Olympic trials. Smith isn’t looking ahead; instead, she is focusing on having a successful spring season at Drake and aiming to win a championship. Drake crew is competing in the MAAC conference for the first time this season. “I have a really good team that supports me and a great Drake athletic staff around me,” Smith said. Until she is a champion, Smith will stick with combining inner desire with hard work in the gym and on the water. “It all starts with hard work and belief in yourself, and then that work snowballs and you begin to see results,” Smith said. “If she sticks with it and with the right coaches, she has what it takes to make the team,” DiSilvestro said. n
DRAKE ATHLETICS
Drake teams compete in various athletic conferences by JACK THUMSER
Staff Writer john.thumser@drake.edu
The Drake women’s crew team made a huge leap forward when they competed in the Sacred Heart Invitational this March. The competition marked their first regatta in team history as a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) since they joined officially in the summer of 2009. Led by Head Coach Charlie DiSilvestro—who has coached the team since 1993—the crew team has been in search of a conference for nearly five years. The choice of joining the MAAC was based on Drake’s similarity to other schools in the conference. “When I first got here four years ago, finding a conference was the next step for the rowing team,” Athletic Director Sandy Hatfield Clubb said. “The schools in the conference are private, have good academics and have a similar focus.” The crew team joining the MAAC is a reminder that not all of Drake’s teams are in the Missouri Valley Conference. While the MVC fits the school’s vision of a good conference for most sports, Drake is unwilling to simply check all-of-the-above when it comes to selecting competition. Founded in 1907, the MVC is the second oldest Division I conference in the country. Drake’s basketball, cross-country, track and field, golf, tennis, soccer and volleyball teams all compete in the Valley. Crew is not the only Drake sport to compete outside the Valley. The football team was a member of the MVC until 1985, but then the team became independent after the conference disbanded to form the separate Missouri Valley Football Conference. The new conference no longer fit Drake anymore, so the university decided to go a different direction. In 1993, the team finally found an answer in the Pioneer Football League, the only Division I conference in the nation that does not allow
CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN
athletic scholarships. Head Football Coach Chris Creighton says that there are many advantages to having a non-scholarship program. “We don’t have a single player that is getting up at five in the morning just because he has to,” Creighton said. “Nobody is being paid to play.” Hatfield Clubb also noted that not only are the football players participating for their love of the game, but many are also on academic scholarships. In fact, 42 players on Drake’s roster were named to the PFL’s 2009 Fall Academic Honor Roll. “What a beautiful thing,” Hatfield Clubb said. “Our football team’s GPA is above 3.0.” Both Hatfield Clubb and Creighton are also quick to point out that being non-scholarship doesn’t mean the football quality suffers. “The very best players in our league sign NFL contracts,” Creighton said. “That speaks volumes about the competition.” One of the most recent examples of this is former Drake kicker Billy Cundiff. After going undrafted in the 2002 NFL Draft, Cundiff was signed by the Dallas Cowboys and has played stints with nine different teams in his NFL career. Just this March, scouts from the Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings paid Drake a visit to take a look at junior defensive linemen Andrew Asbell and Dain Taylor. The PFL not only has the competition level that Drake was looking for, but also has schools similar to Drake in academics and mission. “The PFL is a perfect alliance to us,” Hatfield Clubb said. “PFL schools are all high academic private schools and we see them as peers rather than rivals.” She specifically said that Butler was similar to Drake because of their pharmacy program and goals in both football and basketball. Whether it’s the MAAC or the PFL, Drake is committed to finding competition that is rewarding on and off the field. But while doing so, the level of play is something the university makes sure it does not sacrifice. “The greatest challenge is to value what we’re doing,” Hatfield Clubb said. “We’re looking for integrity and a league we can be competitive in.” n
Looking back on his career, distance runner and 1968 U.S. Olympian Van Nelson remembers the Drake Relays fondly. He remembers jogging in the chilling Des Moines rain on days that were far too cold for April. He remembers warming up in the musty field house next to the track, and the sharp smell of analgesic balm. He remembers being near the fans, burning up the track and shattering his own records. “It was always home,” Nelson said. “They always invited me to go to the Florida Relays and the Penn Relays, but I wouldn’t go. I always went back to Drake.” Nelson ran the Relays in 1966, ’67 and ’68 for St. Cloud (Minn.) State College, and remembers every race that propelled him to Olympic fame. It began when Nelson was a junior at Washburn High School in Minneapolis. In 1962, he decided to go out for the cross-country team, which led him to run track in the spring. After setting state records at Washburn and being ranked as the sixth-best outdoor track distance runner in the nation, he caught the eye of St. Cloud State track coach Bob Tracy. Nelson accepted a full-ride scholarship to St. Cloud State and continued to leave everyone in the dust. In 1966, his team made the trip to Des Moines for the Relays. Nelson was entered in the three-mile and six-mile runs. “No one had ever heard of me because I didn’t go to the national AAU meets,” Nelson said. “In the three-mile they thought this other guy was winning, but I was in the front.” Nelson set new Relays records that year in the three-mile run with a time of 13 minutes, 29.2 seconds and the six-mile run with a time of 28:48.6. After breaking his own records in the same events at the ’67 and ’68 meets, Nelson became the first of two athletes in Drake Relays history to hold the title for two different events over three consecutive years. He went home as the Drake Relays Outstanding Athlete in ’66 and ’68, and was inducted into the Drake Relays Hall of Fame in 1973.
“
They always invited me to go to the Florida Relays and the Penn Relays, but I wouldn’t go. I always went back to Drake.
“They don’t just put anybody in the Hall of Fame,” Nelson said. “A lot of schools do, but it’s a pretty select group at Drake, so it’s a real honor to get in there.” Nelson’s Olympic experience wasn’t as glamorous as the rest of his career. As part of the 1968 U.S. team, he competed in Mexico City, a place that Nelson described as crime-ridden and overrun with dogs. Nelson found it hard to practice, and didn’t adjust well to the change in altitude and humidity. While he only placed 29th in the men’s 10,000-meter run, he is still proud to have represented his country. “Once you’re an Olympian, you’re always an Olympian,” Nelson said, “and nobody can take it away from you.” Eight years ago, Nelson went back to the Relays as a spectator. He was sitting in the general admission section when a small-town Iowa coach recognized his name in the program. “He said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me. You won a lot of races,’” Nelson said. “He asked me to sign an autograph, and then he all of a sudden disappeared.” That’s when Nelson heard an announcement over the loudspeaker. “They introduced me, and it was really exciting. I stood up, and the whole stadium applauded,” he said. His voice was faint as subtle tears slid slowly down his cheeks, weathered from years of training. “I’ll never forget it. It was very emotional, but it always felt like home at Drake. I miss those times.” In 1970, Nelson ruptured the L5 vertebra in his lower back while laying sod at a construction site, leaving his right leg 18 percent disabled. “It just slowly gets worse, and I can’t run,” Nelson said. After finishing a final mile time of 4:28 with a handicap, Nelson left the sport for good at age 42. “I wasn’t up to my old self,” he said. Today, Nelson teaches health education at South View Middle School in Edina, Minn., where he’s been for almost 40 years. He returns to the Relays when his schedule allows it, and plans to make the trip this year. Although he may never run at full strength again, one thing is certain; Van Nelson will always be a welcome face at the Drake Relays. n
Nelson Relays Timeline 1966 3-mile Relays record 13:29.2
1967 and 1968 broke own 3-mile record
1968 Missouri Valley Conference
Pioneer Football League
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Founded in 1907 Drake joined in 1907
Founded in 1993 Drake joined in 1993
Founded in 1980 Drake joined in 2010
”
– VAN NELSON, Olympian
Olympic team
1973
Relays Hall of Fame
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
SPORTS
LACROSSE
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 4F
ULTIMATE FRISBEE
photo by SARAH ANDREWS| Photo/Design Editor
JUNIOR TAYLOR THIEWES scrimmages at the intramural fields to the east of the Roger Knapp Tennis Center. The team spent the winter scrimmaging area teams, such as Valley High School and Iowa State’s club team.
SENIOR TOM RAPP goes up for a catch with a Drake Ultimat Commons. Rapp founded the club during his first year at the u
Drake athletes kick off a Lacrosse club delivers after long-awaited arrival by TAD UNRUH
Staff Writer tad.unruh@drake.edu
In the United States, it is safe to say that for a substantial amount of the population, sports are everything. They bring people together and keep people in shape while also feeding the hunger for competition. One such sport is making its way across the country—lacrosse. The sport has become extremely popular on the East Coast and has made its way to most parts of the Midwest. One of those places is Drake University. After several years of trying to gather enough players to become a recognized club on campus, lacrosse is finally recognized at Drake. The founders of the club finally formed an official lacrosse team that can receive funding from student activity fees. Lacrosse is a unique sport that combines the stick play of hockey, the endurance of soccer and the physicality of football. It has a truly alternate appeal compared to the big four sports. Drake first-year Pat Bradley has played lacrosse since his freshman year of high school and is optimistic about its future here at Drake. “The game is always improving and the equipment is always getting better,” Bradley said. “It is interesting to see the game constantly progress across the country while becoming more popular.” Although lacrosse is on the rise, it still has room to grow. It was a long time coming for the club to be formed and officially recognized at Drake. Junior Ben Shoff has spearheaded the efforts for official recognition with several others since coming onto campus his freshman year.
“The main thing is that we never really had enough guys to field an entire team,” Shoff said. “This year, we finally got enough interest in the program to get a club.” Team members remained devoted, even before the club became official through Student Senate. They played in an indoor league to stay in shape and keep their skills sharp in the long Iowa winter. They played the local Valley High School lacrosse team and the Iowa State club lacrosse team at The Soccer House, an indoor soccer field located about 15 minutes south of Drake’s campus, off I-35. After obtaining official club status on the Thursday before Spring Break, the lacrosse team hit the ground running and none of the members has looked back. On Easter weekend, the team traveled to Chicago to play Western Illinois and Southern Illinois. While the team was not able to notch victories in those contests, it was great experience for the players. “You really need game experience in a sport like this, and it really showed how good we are as a team where we played two of the best teams in the Great Lakes Lacrosse League and played them tough,” Bradley said. After testing the waters in Illinois, the team is constantly looking for more competition. Playing the game is the most essential part of getting better. “We know that lacrosse is a sport that not everyone is quite familiar with, so we are really open to some chill guys to join and learn the sticking and how to play,” Schoff said. Bradley agreed, noting the significance of leaving a sports legacy at the university. “It’s an awesome thing to be a part of the first-ever Drake lacrosse team in history,” Bradley said. “We just hope the tradition continues down the line.” n
Pocket—The head of the stick in which the ball is held and carried. The pocket is strung with leather or mesh netting. In order to be legal, the top of a ball cannot be seen when looking at the pocket from the side. EMO (aka Man Up or Extra Man)—Describes the team at a player advantage in a penalty situation. Opposite of man down. Poke Check—A defender jabs his stick at the exposed stick end or hands of an opposing ball carrier in an effort to jar the ball loose. These checks are very effective in that the checking player stays in balance and keeps a cushion of space between himself and the ball carrier.
Words to know: LAX jargon
Ultimate club comrades soar by SKYLAR BERGL
Staff Writer skylar.bergl@drake.edu
Around many high schools and colleges, students are outside enjoying the sunshine, warm weather and copious space that the campus has to offer them. Some take the chance to do their homework outside. Others do something different. A growing trend on campuses across America, Ultimate Frisbee is athletic, fun and competitive—so much so that four years ago, Drake started its own Ultimate Frisbee Club, known as DUC (Drake Ultimate Club). The club has grown over the four years of its existence with the efforts of senior and three-year captain, Tom Rapp. The club competes nearly year round in tournaments across the Midwest. Rapp got his first experience with Ultimate in high school, and wanted to continue the sport in college. Drake didn’t have a club, so he started it himself. “This past fall, we competed in three different tournaments, one at Nebraska-Lincoln, one at Grinnell and another at Winona State,” Rapp said. “We’re a bit of an up-and-coming program so at Winona State we competed in the B Bracket to face off against other programs at our level.” At other tournaments, the team works on acclimating their newer members to the competitive level of Ultimate by sending them with some more veteran players to compete. Rapp is quick to point out that Ultimate is a little bit different than the typical team sport. “It’s similar, but different,” Rapp said. “One of the more important things is one of the rules called ‘the spirit of competition.’ The mindset is different than usual. When you’re com-
Whenever possible, catches should be attempt with palms facing each other.
Forehand throws will usually fade to the right, w throws will usually fade to the left.
On defense, you should remain face-to-face w until a teammate yells to get your attention that coming.
To vary speed on your throws, vary the emphas motion. The more wrist motion you use, the slo
Ultimate Frisbee tips
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 5F
SPORTS
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
TRIATHALON
photo by SARAH ANDREWS| Photo/Design Editor
te Club teammate during a casual practice in Helmick university.
file photo by TYLER O’NEIL| Relays Editor
JUNIOR JIM DAVIS, a cofounder of this year’s new triathalon club, bikes on Drake’s campus. The team has competed in area triathlons all year long and trains with Zoom Performance in Des Moines.
alternative sports clubs
r throughout another year peting, it’s more out of friendship than it is out of rivalry. You don’t hate your rival. It’s encouraged you hang out with them.” The schedule is rigorous. In the offseason, the team puts together practice times and running schedules. Some players participate on the Des Moines Ultimate Club. They do their best to work through the frigid winter months to stay on top of their game for when the spring season rolls around. “I stepped down from being captain this year to focus on my school work, but the three others have been working to keep it going,” Rapp said. “We didn’t get as much time indoors to practice at the field house as we would have liked, but a lot of people have been working on their own.” The interest in the sport, especially at Drake, has also been rising. When Rapp was captain, he was on the receiving end of multiple e-mails from prospective students inquiring about the club when they would come to Drake. Team member Ryan Swanson never played the sport in high school, but wanted to try it out when he came to Drake. “I was really looking for something that would help me stay in shape,” Swanson said. “With the running, jumping and throwing, I figured I’d give it a shot.” With the sectionals meet coming up Friday at Iowa State, getting the fundamentals back after the long winter is the primary goal for the team. With matches against other programs like Iowa State and Iowa, getting back into the swing of things is key. “Now that the weather is nice, we can get more practice in outside,” Swanson said. “Being inside in a gym doesn’t work as well, so we’re trying to get more throwing practice in.” If the team places in the top five at sectionals, they’ll head to Madison, Wis. for regionals and if they place in the top three there, it’s off to nationals. n
ted two-handed
while backhand
with your man t the disk is
sis on your wrist ower the throw.
Triathlon club founders foster love for competition by MATT NELSON
Assistant Relays Editor matthew.nelson@drake.edu
Anybody can do the Ironman Triathlon. Anyone that’s willing to train for three years, that is. That’s how long it takes to train for the three-part event, according to junior Ben Cooper, cofounder of the Drake University Triathlon Club. In an Ironman Triathlon, athletes swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and cap it off with a 26.2-mile marathon. “It depends on what kind of triathlon you’re doing; there are different kinds,” Cooper said. “Most people know about Ironman; those are the monsters. Before I die, I want to complete one.” Cooper brought his passion for triathlons to Drake when he and junior Jim Davis started the Drake Triathlon Club during their freshman year. The club brings together people of various athletic ability and skill and gives them the chance to hone their abilities in a friendly, and sometimes professional, environment. The club is paired with Zoom Performance in Des Moines, a professional endurance training company that specializes in triathlon training. Throughout the year, Drake athletes are given the chance to train with professional athletes at the Bell Center. Cooper was 18 when he performed his first triathlon; since then, he has competed in a total of 10 races. He has traveled around the country, including to Florida and Texas, to compete in races. Karen Lichty, a sophomore secondary education in math major at Drake, joined the team to avoid the “freshman 15.” “I figured I probably never do any triathlons,” Lichty said. “I just wanted to keep in shape when I came to college.” Since then, Lichty has run three full-length triathlons and the bike leg of a fourth. “It’s really fun because we’re a laid-back group, but we do get
professional coaching time,” Lichty said. “It’s different than just any group that says, ‘Hey, let’s get together,’ because we actually have coaching and compete together.” She remembers her first marathon as a positive experience, although she said she couldn’t feel her feet because of the cold water. Cooper said his biggest accomplishment so far has been finishing an Olympic Triathlon. “I loved Olympic distance,” Cooper said. “It’s much more of a challenge, but the sense of accomplishment when you cross the finish line; it’s unreal. You can’t put it into words.” Cooper pointed out that members of the club need skills other than athletics; if an accident should happen while on a practice run or race, competitors need to know how to respond. “If you blow a tire on the race, not only will that cost you significant time, you have to know how to change a tire,” Cooper said. “God forbid, you’re alone on a 50-mile plus bike-run.” Athletes usually bring a small kit capable of handing most repairs. Cooper hasn’t blown a tire, but he has had a chain break during a race. Cooper said there is a fourth element to the race: transitions between the events. Cooper wears special shoes that lock into the pedals on his bike, allowing him to easily dismount from the vehicle and immediately begin running. Competing in triathlons is not cheap; Cooper estimated that he’s spent somewhere between $4,000 and $5,000 on all of his equipment, which includes a carbon-fiber bike rather than steel specially made to be light on the road. Lichty said the best thing about being in the Drake Triathlon Club is getting a training schedule from the pros. “The best thing; I actually know how to train for it,” Lichty said. “How often I should run, how often I should bike; I always feel like I’m very well prepared in comparison to other college students.” Lichty also hopes to do an Ironman some day. n
Sprint or Mini-Triathlon: Among the three categories, Sprint or Mini-Triathlons are the shortest.The swim distance is under one mile, the bike less than 15 miles and the run is less than five miles. Olympic or International Triathlon: The distance for the swim is .93 miles, the bike is 24.8 miles and the run is 6.2 miles. Half Ironman: This is half the distance of a full Ironman. It consists of 1.2 miles of swimming, 56 miles of biking and 13 miles of running. Ironman: The famous test of endurance, the swim is 2.4 miles, the bike is 112 miles and the run is 26.2 miles (one full marathon).
Different types of triathlons
SPORTS
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
SOFTBALL
GAME RECAP
Pitching duo dazzles Valley Bulldogs hope to reach next level by MATT MORAN
Copy Editor matthew.moran@drake.edu
Excellent pitching and timely offense has been the key to success for Drake softball this year. The Bulldogs boast a 26-11 record and 7-4 record in Missouri Valley play heading into last weekend. The Bulldogs garnered their two biggest wins of the season last Thursday. Traveling to Bloomington, Ill., to take on first-place Illinois State, Drake swept a doubleheader to make the Valley a wide open race. The Bulldogs won 8-6 in game one, and outlasted the Redbirds with a 5-1 victory in eight innings in the nightcap. Drake is led by the one-two punch of ju-
nior pitching aces, Jenna DeLong and Brynne Dordel. Dordel has been on a hot streak as of late, being named the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week from April 5-11. She went 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 22 innings of work in three games against state rivals Iowa State and Northern Iowa. DeLong has her share of hardware, winning pitcher-of-the-week honors twice this season. The most recent came during the week of March 8-14, when she pitched 15 shut-out innings in two wins. Overall this season, 11 of Drake’s 24 wins have been shut outs. They are 8-2 when giving up only one run, and 2-8 when opponents score three or more. Dordel is 12-4 with a 1.00 ERA in 119 innings pitched this season. DeLong is 12-6 with a 1.86 ERA in 116.2 innings pitched. DeLong leads the team with 14 complete games and 145 strikeouts. Drake has had a balance attack on offense, with seven different players with double-digit RBIs. Junior catcher Erin Mollohan has had
PLAYER PROFILE
a stellar season, leading the team with a .358 batting average, 13 doubles and 20 RBIs. She is the only hitter above .300. Senior Elena Leon has been a main-stay at the top of the Drake line-up her whole career, and this year is no different. She leads the team with nine home runs and 16 stolen bases. Freshman Lindsey Vande Wall has been a pleasant surprise, contributing seven home runs, 18 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. She is also batting .357 with 10 RBIs with runners in scoring position and two outs. Drake is hoping to get back into the Valley race as the season comes to a close. The Bulldogs sit in third place right now, trailing first-place Southern Illinois, who is 12-1 in the conference, and Illinois State, who is 10-2 after the losses to Drake and dropped to second place. The Bulldogs look to do some damage before closing the season with a three game set at home against the Salukis. Head Coach Rich Calvert was unavailable for comment. n
PAGE 6F
Illinois State highlights In game one, freshman Lindsey Vande Wall hit a home run to give Drake a 5–2 lead. Senior Bridget Shields launched a two–run shot in the fifth to go up 7–2. Junior Jenna DeLong relieved junior Brynne Dordel with one out in the seventh to halt a Redbird rally and earn an 8–6 win. In game two, DeLong delivered a masterpiece on the mound, but Drake still trailed 1–0. Sophomore Torey Craddock launched a solo shot to tie the game. In the top of the eighth, the Bulldogs pushed across four runs including two on a single by freshman Macie Silliman. Drake closed out the game to earn a 5–1 win.
Leon leads off with historic blast Drake’s home run leader provides power at top spot by MATT MORAN
Copy Editor matthew.moran@drake.edu
photo by SARAH ANDREWS| Photo/Design Editor
SENIOR ELENA LEON has started off the final year of her career with game-changing and record-breaking plays for the Bulldogs.
Elena Leon isn’t your typical lead-off hitter. A blast against Boston College on March 13 established the senior infielder as the Drake career home run leader. That shot was the 26th round tripper of her career. Leon said that batting first does not cause her to change her approach at the plate. She has always been a patient hitter but does not think that being a power threat influences her role in the lead-off spot. “I don’t really think about it,” she said. “I have a plan at the plate. I’m not that aggressive of a hitter, and I get deep into the count. I would have the same mentality if I bat third or fourth.” Leon said that her record-breaking home run was not typical of her hitting style.
“It was an inside pitch, and I tend to shy away from those,” she said. “I hit it to left field, and that wasn’t what I was expecting. Most of my home runs are to center or right field.” Leon played softball at Valley High School in West Des Moines, where she won two state championships. She says that she likes being close to home because people from her community who watched her play in high school are still following her college career. “It’s nice to have a fan base,” she said. “My family, friends and high school coaches come to games.” Not only did Leon star in softball at Valley, but she also qualified for the Drake Relays as a senior in the discus throw. “I didn’t fare too well,” Leon said with a laugh. Leon said she has played softball since she was little, and her dad was a major contributor to her success. Even though he never officially coached her, he has been with her every step of the way. She says that before the season he works with her in a “spring training routine.” Leon believes what has made her successful has been coming to practice with the mentality of doing anything she can to help the team. She has always been a hard worker and pays attention to her coaches in great detail.
One quality she believes can make any player better is having confidence. “Having confidence goes a long way,” she said. “Being confident can make you a successful player.” Another reason Leon bats lead-off for the Bulldogs is due to her ability to see many pitches. In addition to her home run record, she also is the record holder for career base on balls. She says that her patience as a hitter developed because she is comfortable hitting with two strikes. “I know what I can hit; if it’s not a pitch I want, then I don’t swing,” she said. “I think it’s sometimes easier to hit with two strikes because you have to swing if its close.” Upon graduation, Leon plans to take a year off and apply to physical therapy schools. She also plans to travel out west and to Europe. Playing sports her entire life has taken its toll, and she looks forward to her time off. “I played sports all through high school,” she said. “In college, it is like a full-time job.” Despite the time commitment, Leon said she knows she will miss softball when she graduates. She added that her favorite softball memory was winning the Valley tournament title in 2008 and earning a trip to the NCAA tournament. n
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MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
SPORTS
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
COACHING SPOTLIGHT
Coaches continue the legacy
Borendame guides team with steadfast work ethic, attitude by DOMINIC JOHNSON Staff Writer dominic.johnson@drake.edu
Drake University’s men’s tennis coach hates losing. Twenty years ago, Jimmy Borendame picked up a tennis racquet for the first time not because he wanted to learn how to play the game, but because he refused to lose. “My sister Taryn took tennis lessons and one day she came home and said she could beat me,” Borendame said. “I couldn’t lose to her, so I picked up a racquet and started hitting.” Borendame was in his teenage years when he first played—and beat—his sister. He picked up the game quickly and fell in love with the sport even faster. Rising up through the ranks in Illinois high school tennis, he looked to continue his tennis career in college. “I actually looked at Drake for tennis, but the coach didn’t want me,” Borendame said with a laugh. Borendame made his way to Indiana to play tennis for Butler University. There he would meet his doubles partner and best friend, Brandon Currie. With Currie, he would reach as high as No. 33 in the national rankings for doubles. “Currie was 6-foot-6, a huge guy and a great player,” Borendame said. “He’s the head coach for (Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis) now, too.” Immediately after a successful college career and a bachelor’s degree in finance, Borendame traveled to West Virginia, attending West Virginia University to get a master’s degree in sports management. “I wanted to explore the sports management industry but also try my hand at coaching tennis,” he said. In West Virginia, he traveled back to Illinois to become an intern for the Chicago Bulls. There, he realized sports management wasn;t his calling, but coaching the highest-level players at the best colleges in the nation would be where he would make a name for himself. “I quit with the Bulls because I was miserable being inside for so long,” Borendame said. “At four o’clock every day I would go to the bathroom just to change into my tennis clothes then rush back home on the train to get time to
photo by DOMINIC JOHNSON| Staff Photographer
HEAD COACH JIMMY BORENDAME directs freshman Ryan Drake during a match earlier this spring. Borendame recruited Drake from Hilton Head Island, S.C., after he earned a top-five ranking in his state. hit before night came.” Just as Borendame quit with the Bulls, a coaching opportunity emerged at The College of William & Mary. The assistant coach there dropped mid-season, leaving the head coach desperately searching for a partner to lead the team. Borendame was there to answer the call. “There was no interview after I gave him a call,” he said. “He said if I drove down there and didn’t like it he would pay for gas to send me back home.” William & Mary’s head coach was able to keep his gas money. As assistant coach, Borendame worked with the top player there, teaching him the intricacies of the game. In 2004, Borendame went with his top player to the NCAA Individual Championships. At the championships, the head coach of Virginia Tech spotted Borendame and approached him with an assistant coaching job back in Virginia.
“Me and the coach hit it off right away,” said Borendame, “and he really convinced me to go there and coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).” At Virginia Tech, Borendame met his future wife, Genny McNeill. “We actually met in human resources,” she said, smiling. “He interrupted my interview.” McNeill would continue her relationship with Borendame in Virginia, where they eventually married. McNeill is not only a wife, but also a confidant and resource for Borendame due to her years coaching the swim team at Virginia Tech. “Jimmy always talks stuff out with me before he talks to his guys,” she said. “I’ve seen more than anyone how intense a person he is, and how much he cares about his players and his team.” After five years of coaching players at Vir-
ginia Tech, Borendame got a call from Sandy Hatfield Clubb, the athletic director at Drake. Ready to make the transition to a head coaching position, Borendame packed up his bags once again to head to Des Moines, Iowa. Borendame has nothing but good things to say about his decision so far. “I love the family atmosphere here at Drake,” he said. “The other day two of my players had dinner with President Maxwell and today I visited Hubbell Dining Hall and people were talking about how they knew my players and were coming to the Iowa game.” Borendame believes that Drake is the perfect place for tennis players to become great individuals. “He always takes the opportunity to make his players better themselves,” McNeill said, “whether that’s as athletes, students or just as human beings.” n
Tennis great stays with Drake staff by DOMINIC JOHNSON Staff Writer dominic.johnson@drake.edu
After three years of serving in the Israeli Defense Forces, Maor Zirkin had to make one of the most important decisions of his life. At a time when many of his friends and colleagues were either attending college or becoming pro tennis players, Zirkin, who is now the Drake assistant men’s tennis coach, found himself at a crossroads. The decision he made next would define not only his career, but the man he would become. As a teenager, Zirkin was an elite junior tennis player in his home country of Israel, where he had won the national junior championship. He was ranked as high as No. 120 in juniors. Many expected him to break through on the pro circuit after his time in the military was finished. “I had tried to go pro before, but it was a hard life,” Zirkin said. “You had to have a big budget to back you; you had to stay without injury, so many things.” Instead, he decided to head to America to pursue his degree in business. Zirkin reached out to one of his fellow tennis players and friends, Jonathan Tishler, to help him in his quest for the right school. Tishler was a senior at Drake University. At the time, Tishler told the head coach, Chase Hodges, about recruiting one of the top Israeli players to come and play at Drake. Hodges made the call within days. “Chase gave me a call, and on the first call, I instinctively said yes,” said Zirkin. “I figured if I went there and didn’t like it, I could transfer.” Zirkin first set foot on Drake’s campus in the fall of 2005. He quickly fell in love with Drake. Playing at the No. 2 slot in his first year was a great achievement, but Zirkin didn’t stop there. In the fall campaign, he knocked off numerous nationally ranked players. At many schools, Zirkin would have been a shoe-in for the first position, but Drake had the spot already filled by the powerful senior Sergi Vila. As the season continued, the Bulldogs soared. With a 16-1 record, the team seemed unstoppable. As the season was coming to a close, Drake’s top player Vila felt the toll of the rigorous season. Vila was no longer able to play at the first slot, so Zirkin moved up. Many wondered if Zirkin had the ability to play at the team’s highest spot as a freshman. Luckily for the Bulldogs, Zirkin showed that he was a fierce competitor. Not only did he step up, but he also began winning as convincingly at the No. 1 slot as he had at No. 2. The Bulldogs entered the Missouri Valley Conference tournament as the No. 2 seed, and all pistons were firing. The feeling of destiny was in the air. Zirkin led the talented Drake squad to the Missouri Valley Championship match against Illinois State; the Redbirds were one of the few teams to defeat the Bulldogs during the regular season. For most of the championship, the Bulldogs led the Redbirds, but the final two matches were Zirkin’s and fellow freshman Ivan Men-
doza’s. Zirkin finished off his opponent, and joined his teammates to cheer on Mendoza in the deciding match. “Mendoza won his match and we all rushed onto the court,” Zirkin said with a smile. “Out of all my years, that is still the best moment.” Many players would have been thrilled to be part of such a fantastic season capped off by a fantastic win. But Zirkin was hungry for more. During his sophomore and junior years he kept playing high-level tennis, and he kept winning. Upon entering his final season at Drake, Zirkin was 16 wins shy of tying the all-time wins record, held by Robert Novotny and friend and doubles partner, Dado Pavic. Once again, Zirkin wasn’t satisfied, but by the season’s end, Zirkin was the all-time wins leader. As Zirkin entered his fifth year at Drake to finish his degree, Hodges was leaving the program. Despite losing his mentor and friend, Zirkin was still committed to the team he had worked so hard for. An assistant coach from Virgina Tech, Jimmy Borendame, was to be the new head coach for a team that would be without its staple player for the first time in four years. “I was working in New York that summer, and Chase gave me Jimmy’s number,” he said. “I gave Jimmy a call and told him I would help with the team this year.” There was no questioning, no pleading and no convincing to be done. Zirkin made a statement, and Borendame was glad to comply. Zirkin found the change from player to assistant coach odd at first. He recognized players from opposing teams, yet now he was facing them from the other side of the net. Drake’s fiercest competitor was now on the sidelines, but he began to find how valuable he could be to the young squad. “I can’t tell you how valuable Maor has been this year,” Borendame said. “I have enjoyed every minute with Maor this season.” Borendame says that Zirkin has become absolutely essential to the team this year, as he has been able to provide expertise in scouting, tactics and, most importantly, working with the younger players on the team. “When I was in doubt of my capability as a player or even as a person, Maor always got the best out of me,” freshman standout Jean Erasmus said. “He made me confident again, being the best I could be at that time.” As Zirkin graduates this fall, he hopes to continue his life in tennis. Currently, he is working with Pavic. Zirkin is serving as Pavic’s coach as he prepares for the U.S. Open Midwest qualifying tournament, which grants the winner a wildcard entry into the Grand Slam’s qualifying draw. “Maor has made me realize my potential, and is a big reason why I am in the qualifying for the U.S. Open,” Pavic said. No matter the outcome, Pavic says that he will always trust his friend and former teammate. “I trusted Maor so much that one time I
photo by DOMINIC JOHNSON| Staff Photographer
ASSISTANT COACH MAOR ZIRKIN has trained current Bulldog tennis players and has assisted in recruiting new talent, helping to build the program. followed him around the wrong floor at a hotel because I believed he was leading me to my room,” Pavic said. “He soon turned around and started laughing and said that I trust him too much.” Zirkin said that he will always be there to help Pavic, and that if he dedicates himself to the pro tour, he will be there to help him. Zir-
kin’s dream job isn’t in the pro circuit, though. He said he hopes to one day coach high-level juniors looking to play college tennis. In typical Zirkin fashion, he won’t be leaving the Drake program entirely. “Hopefully I will be able to send some players back to Drake,” Zirkin said, as a smile spread from ear to ear. n
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
SPORTS
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 8F
DRAKE RELAYS SCHEDULE Wednesday & Thursday, April 21–22 WEDNESDAY 12 p.m. 12:30 p.m. THURSDAY 9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m. 3:15 p.m. 4:20 p.m. 4:35 p.m. 4:47 p.m. 5:10 p.m. 6:15 p.m.
Heptathlon Decathlon
Decathlon – Final Heptathlon – Final 10,000-Meter Women – Final 10,000-Meter Men – Final 3000-Meter Steeplechase, UD/CD Women – Final 3000-Meter Steeplechase, UD/CD Men – Final 5000-Meter Women – Final 5000-Meter Men – Final Hall of Fame Program Begins (Sheslow Auditorium, Old Main)
Friday, April 23 10:05 a.m. 10:55 a.m. 11:50 a.m. 12:15 p.m. 1:15 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:32 p.m. 1:40 p.m. 1:54 p.m. 2:20 p.m. 4:25 p.m.
FIELD EVENTS 10 a.m. 10:45 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 1p.m. 1:15 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 2 p.m. 2 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 7:55 p.m. 8:55 p.m.
Distance Medley Relay, CD Women –Final 4x800-Meter Relay, CD Women – Final Opening Ceremonies 4x1600-Meter Relay ,UD/CD Men – Final Distance Medley Relay, UD Women – Final Drake Relays 101 Special Recognition Men’s Masters 800 – Final 4x200-Meter Relay, CD Women – Final 4x200-Meter Relay, CD Men – Final 800-Meter, UD/CD Women – Final Clear Stadium
Pole Vault, UD/CD Women – Final Javelin, UD/CD Men – Final Shot Put, UD/CD Women – Final High Jump, UD/CD Women – Final Pole Vault, UD/CD Men – Final Long Jump, UD/CD Men – Final Javelin, UD/CD Women – Final Discus, UD/CD Women – Final Shot Put, UD/CD Men – Final 4x200-Meter Relay UD Women – Final 4x800-Meter Relay, UD Men – Final FIREWORKS
Saturday, April 24 9:03 a.m. 9:19 a.m. 9:34 a.m. 9:54 a.m. 10:15 a.m. 10:35 a.m. 11:20 a.m. 11:50 a.m. 12:15 p.m. 12:20 p.m. 12:56 p.m. 1:04 p.m. 1:11 p.m. 1:39 p.m. 1:49 p.m. 2 p.m. 2:07 p.m. 2:29 p.m. 2:31 p.m. 2:37 p.m. 2:46 p.m. 2:56 p.m. 3:05 p.m. 3:13 p.m. 3:22 p.m. 3:29 p.m. 3:38 p.m. 3:49 p.m. 3:56 p.m. 4:06 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 4:25 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 4:50 p.m. 4:55 p.m. 5 p.m. 5:06 p.m. 5:12 p.m. 5:18 p.m. 5:25 p.m. 5:33 p.m. 5:57 p.m. 6:05 p.m. 6:10 p.m.
4x800-Meter Relay, CD Women – Final Distance Medley Relay, CD Men – Final Sprint Medley Relay, CD Women – Final Sprint Medley Relay, CD Men – Final Sprint Medley Relay, UD Women – Final Sprint Medley Relay, UD Men – Final 4x1,600-Meter Relay, UD/CD Women – Final Opening Ceremonies Drake Relays Hall of Fame Recognition Parade of Officials Shuttle Hurdle Relay, UD/CD Women – Final Shuttle Hurdle Relay, UD/CD Men – Final Distance Medley, UD Men – Final 400-Meter Hurdles, UD/CD Women – Final 400-Meter Hurdles, UD/CD Men – Final 400-Meter Hurdles, Special Invitational Women – Final 400-Meter Hurdles, Special Invitational Men – Final Beautiful Bulldog Winner Recognition 100-Meter Dash, UD/CD Women – Final 100-Meter Dash, UD/CD Men – Final 100-Meter Dash, Special Invitational Women – Final 100-Meter Hurdles, UD/CD Women – Final 100-Meter Hurdles, Special Invitational Women – Final 110-Meter Hurdles, UD/CD Men – Final 110-Meter Hurdles, Special Invitational Men – Final Grand Blue Mile Corporate Challenge, Women – Final 1500-Meter Run, Special Invitational Women – Final 200-Meter Dash, Special Invitational Men – Final Grand Blue Mile Corporate Challenge, Men – Final Mile Run, Special Invitational, Men – Final 400-Meter Run, Special Invitational Women – Final 400-Meter Run, Special Invitational Men – Final 4x100-Meter Relay, CD Women – Final 4x100-Meter Relay, CD Men – Final 4x100-Meter Relay, UD Women – Final 4x100-Meter Relay, UD Men – Final 800-Meter Run, UD/CD Men – Final 1500-Meter Run, UD/CD Women – Final 1500-Meter Run, UD/CD Men – Final 4x400-Meter Relay, CD Women – Final 4x400-Meter Relay, CD Men – Final 4x400-Meter Relay, UD Women – Final 4x400-Meter Relay, UD Men – Final Drake Relays Ends
FIELD EVENTS 9:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 10 p.m. 10 p.m. 11 p.m. 11:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 1:15 p.m. 2:15 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:45 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.
Hammer, UD/CD Women – Final Long Jump, UD/CD Women – Final Discus, UD/CD Men – Final High Jump, UD/CD Men – Final Pole Vault, Special Invitational Women – Final Shot Put, Special Invitational Women – Final Triple Jump, UD/CD Women – Final High Jump, Special Invitational Women – Final Hammer, UD/CD Men – Final Discus, Special Invitational Women – Final Pole Vault, Special Invitational Men – Final Shot Put, Special Invitational Men – Final High Jump, Special Invitational Men – Final Triple Jump, UD/CD Men – Final
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For a complete Relays schedule and further coverage, check out timesdelphic.com.
photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
buzzer THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
It’s been a long time coming for the Drake men’s soccer team. From preseason national rankings to a run to the Elite Eight, the Bulldogs were led by eight standout seniors and a game-changing coach. PAGES 4&5
HISTORICAL
SEAS
ON A review of the team’s MVC tournament play in its most successful seas on since 1998 PAGE 2
SECTION G
worth the
WORK
photo by SARAH ANDREWS| Photo/Design Editor
BUZZER
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 2G
VOLLEYBALL
DRAKE ATHLETICS
Bulldogs believe in the win
Recruiters hunt for athletes to carry on wins
McDaniel shifts focus to victory
by DOMINIC JOHNSON
by EDUARDO ZAMARRIPA
Staff Writer dominic.johnson@drake.edu
Staff Writer eduardo.tamezzamarripa@drake.edu
The Drake volleyball team had not played in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament since 1998. They were coming off a 12-20 campaign that had been their highest win total again since they won 13 games that year. But in his second season at the helm, Head Coach Phil McDaniel delivered one of the best seasons in Drake volleyball history. The Bulldogs posted an impressive 2211 overall mark, as well as a 10-8 record in conference play that earned them the right to play in the MVC tournament. “It was good for us.” McDaniel said. “It was good to have those seniors lead us to the conference tournament. They worked so hard to get us there and then to have their leadership take us to the MVC tournament.” Unfortunately, the Bulldogs’ successful season came to an end after dropping a 3-0 match to Creighton. However, the experience the squad has gained in this dramatic turnaround should pay dividends in years to come. “They got a little taste of the conference and now I think they want to make sure we take the next step,” McDaniel said. “And the next step now is to go to the NCAA tournament.” Drake has never participated in the NCAA tournament, but the way things have been going, there is a confident belief in the locker room that the Bulldogs can take that next step forward. “Last season, we were expecting to do well,” senior Chelsea Lauersdorf said. “It wasn’t really a surprise, we knew what we had.” When McDaniel came in two years ago, he was handed a volleyball program in rebuilding mode. His toughest task was bringing the winning mentality back to the locker room. “For me, it was getting them to believe that they could win,” McDaniel said. “I think that the team had struggled for a little bit. It was hard for them mentally to get back into that winning feeling.” Lauersdorf agreed with McDaniel and also discussed the tough transition from high school to college. “It’s very hard to change mentally,” Lauersdorf said. “When you come in as a freshman, we’re all used to winning in high school and I don’t know exactly how we did it.” McDaniel always trusted in the energy and dedication that his players were putting in and never doubted the type of success they could reach. “I never questioned their work ethic; they came in and they worked hard,” McDaniel said. “We got better on the defensive side of the ball which made things a lot easier for us to go attack the ball.” And so the Bulldogs began gaining more and more confidence. Halfway through the
photo by SARAH ANDREWS| Photo/Design Editor
SENIOR EMILY MADDEN gets some air in a game against Missouri State. This fall, Madden became the fifth player in Drake history to reach 1,000 career digs. season they realized that they could compete with anyone in the conference, and that changed everything. “Halfway through our conference season we realized we had only three losses and we realized we were right there,” Lauersdorf said. “It was a huge confidence builder.” After a successful 2009 season it’s hard to argue against what the volleyball squad has accomplished. They relied on intensity and trust to build a winning foundation in Drake once again. “He brought his confidence with him, his energy and enthusiasm,” Lauersdorf said. “He believed we could do it.” The Bulldogs, led by three seniors, displayed maturity throughout the season and were able to get better with each win. “We knew it wasn’t going to be handed to us and in order to get better you have to work hard in practice,” Lauersdorf said. The volleyball squad will graduate three seniors that will be missed. Susan Clausen, Caitlin Johnson and Lauersdorf are going to
be tough to replace. “We miss their leadership and their energy in the gym,” McDaniel said. “What that does is leave a void of leadership; it allows some of the younger players to step into that void.” Five new freshmen will be coming in and are expected to contribute to a rising volleyball program. “Several of them have a chance to contribute early on,” McDaniel said. “A couple of them might need a year to get acclimated to college and to the speed of the game, but all of them are going to be very valuable to us.” As for being the best volleyball squad ever, McDaniel wants to make the saying a yearly tradition. “I’m just proud of all the efforts that they’ve put in on and off the court, and it takes a whole group to get us there,” McDaniel said. “I hope that next season we will be able to have that same comment being said about our season; it’s the best one ever.” n
SEASON MILESTONES MCDANIEL’S CAREER WINS
WITTENBERG’S DIGS
LAUERSDORF’S ASSISTS
Head Coach Phil McDaniel has a 34-32 career record that places him third all-time on the Bulldogs’ coaches list. He only needs 18 more wins to become the all-time winning coach.
Junior Alana Wittenberg broke the all-time career dig record last season, as well as the season dig record. She managed 1,659 digs in 96 matches.
Senior Chelsea Lauersdorf became only the third player in Bulldog history to reach 3,000 assists last season. She averaged 7.42 assists per game and 928 for the season.
From the men’s soccer team’s Elite Eight run to top tennis players brought back from the MVC individual championships to the volleyball team’s historical Valley tournament berth—this year has been one of the most sucessful Drake has seen in years, and it all started with successful recruiting. Scholarships help transform top high school athletes into Drake Bulldogs. The volleyball team awards 12 scholarships a year, while the men’s tennis and soccer teams have a large sum of scholarship money that is split up between incoming recruits, leaving varying awards for each athlete. “For the past 10 years our average GPA coming in has been above 3.6 and an ACT of 24 or higher,” said Sean Holmes, the men’s head soccer coach. These bright scholar-athletes are not recruited strictly from Iowa, but Holmes said that he and his staff recruit primarily from the Midwest. “I went to admissions with a map of the major cities in the Midwest and drew a big circle around Iowa and said, ‘That’s where we will recruit,’” Holmes said. Phil McDaniel, the women’s head volleyball coach, and assistant Erin Hirsch also recruit from the Midwest, but pursue players from farther away if they express interest. The tennis program bucks this trend. Although Head Coach Jimmy Borendame begins his search for players in Iowa, he often uses his contacts abroad to reach players. In his first season, Borendame recruited from Tunisia, Namibia and Israel. Tennis recruiting at Drake doesn’t rely solely on selling the athlete on the school, but on networking with other tennis coaches around the world to bring players to Des Moines. “I heard about Jean (Erasmus) from a coach in South Africa I was in contact with,” Borendame said. “Jean was the biggest risk I have ever taken in recruiting; I had never even watched him play, but Jean is doing amazing now.” One problem that arises during the recruiting process for all teams is that high school seasons are often held during the same time as college seasons, making it hard for assistant coaches and head coaches to scout new recruits. In the case of soccer and volleyball, both Holmes and McDaniel focus on club teams that play in the offseason. Whereas during the high school season each player is split up amongst schools, club teams in both soccer and volleyball allow the best athletes in a region to be on the same team. All teams must abide by NCAA rules for recruiting, as no coach can contact a player before their junior year in high school. Once the player is a junior, they can be e-mailed by coaches, but not until their senior year that coaches can call the players themselves. At any time the players can initiate contact with the coaches though. Both McDaniel and Holmes have found that their recent success has led to more interest in both programs. Holmes said he found a lot more players showed interest once Drake reached the NCAA tournament last year. Nearly all recruiting efforts for next year’s class were done after the fall season. He said he hopes it will continue in the future so he can bring in players that are, as one club coach said, “Drake kind of guys.” “When I was recruiting Kevin Shrout, his club coach told me he was a Drake kind of guy,” Holmes said. “He was talking about a good player, a good student and just a good guy.” McDaniel found that, as his team improved their record in the last two years, more players are getting in contact with him. Despite the fact that Drake scouts many of the same players as Northern Iowa and Creighton, they often end up signing their top choices. “Each team has seniors graduating at different times, so we are all looking for different things,” McDaniel said. Each team is bringing in highly touted recruits for the next season due to their improving play in conference and in the nation—each team has started to truly build a winning legacy. n
AREA SPORTS
Des Moines Rugby Club bonds area athletes by TIM WEIDEMAN
Staff Writer tim.weideman@drake.edu
Smash-mouth action that brings all the nicks, cuts and bruises one can possibly stand is certainly part of the game, but for members of the Des Moines Rugby Club, it’s more about camaraderie. Sure, said Head Coach Tim Bauer, there are the bruisers that focus more on winning and dealing damage to opponents, but for most clubs, Des Moines included, it’s about the “kindred spirit” of the game. “The big, big majority of people appreciate the fact that you’re going out of your way to join a club,” Bauer said. “You’re paying dues, you have to carpool to travel, you’ve got to work out all year round and it’s a sacrifice, even to your family life.” Des Moines travels to neighboring states, competing in the Midwest Rugby Football Union’s Division II level. The club competes in the fall and spring. The spring season concludes in May. Formed in 1979, the club now boasts one of the top facilities in Iowa, thanks to donations from former members. Located in suburban West Des Moines, Windsor Hall, the clubhouse and two pitches offer a place to practice, compete and create a family-like environment for its members. Men with a variety of backgrounds—including several former and current Drake students— find themselves a part of the sport, which Bauer said tends to focus more on camaraderie than many other sports. He also said the club’s members juggle rugby with other responsibilities, like work and school. “We had a kid that was from Drake that
was playing but he missed a lot of training and some games because of his fraternity,” Bauer said. “We were giving him a hard time. It’s like, ‘What bigger fraternity can you have?’” Bauer said club members look out for one another and treat each other like family. They also provide invaluable connections, he said. “We can have all walks of life,” Bauer said. “We’ve had lawyers, doctors. There’s construction workers, IT people, business salesmen—we have all different aspects. You get really good contacts and people bend over backwards for fellow players.” Drake junior Alejandro Muñoz de la Cruz’s favorite aspect of rugby is the companionship. He is now close friends with three other current Drake students in the club. The marketing and advertising double major had been participating in the sport for much of his life after his family moved from Mexico. “Long story short, I moved to Argentina when I was little, in fourth grade,” Muñoz said. “When I got there, we had a choice as students for my school. It was either volleyball or rugby.” For Muñoz, a muscular, burly man, the choice was easy: rugby. “I didn’t know anything about it,” Muñoz said. “I just played along.” Muñoz later moved with his family to Switzerland where he played rugby in high school. Muñoz’s father works for Pioneer in the international sector, which leads to frequent transfers. Many of his father’s colleagues told Muñoz that Drake was a good school, having gotten their master’s degrees from Drake. Muñoz agreed and enrolled as an international student. By then an avid “rugger,” Muñoz arrived at Drake only to be disappointed that rugby was not an offered sport. So, he played football instead, but soon left the team during his second
photo courtesy of DES MOINES RUGBY CLUB
MEMBERS OF THE DES MOINES RUGBY CLUB in West Des Moines after a tie match. Junior Alejandro Muñoz de la Cruz is pictured bottom row, fifth from right. semester of freshman year. “Even though football was fun, that was not what I really liked,” Muñoz said. After having met a friend at Drake who had also played rugby before coming to Des Moines, the two joined the Des Moines club. Muñoz was one of few in the club to have received such a head start in the sport. Club President Nick Heeran said many people toying with the idea of joining don’t have an extensive background in rugby, or even a base knowledge of the sport. That can discourage some from joining, he said. “The hardest part is taking that first step, be-
cause a lot of people don’t know anything about rugby,” Heeran said. Heeran, like many of the club’s members, began playing rugby at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa until he graduated in 2004. He added any student wanting to join now wouldn’t be “much farther behind the learning curve.” “We’re very happy to see new players,” Heeran said. “A lot of the coaching and teaching comes from the players.” Students wishing to learn more about the club can visit its Web site: desmoinesrugby.com. The club also has a women’s team. n
BUZZER
PAGE 3G MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
FOOTBALL
photo by SARAH ANDREWS| Photo/Design Editor
SENIOR PATRICK CASHMORE rushes for yards in the Bulldogs’ final game last season against Butler in Indianapolis, Ind. This season in the Pioneer Football League, Drake succeeded by both competing for the league title against Butler and Dayton, and by landing 42 players on the PFL’s academic honor roll.
Drake delivers on, off the field Bulldogs kick off spring season with youth day by DAVID JOHNSON
Staff Writer david.e.johnson@drake.edu
Members of the Drake football team may appear big, intimidating and even scary to its opposition on an autumn Saturday afternoon. To local children, players still may be big, but more importantly, they are friends and role models. For the Drake football players, being part of the team is more than the effort put in during the offseason, the success achieved between the sidelines and the joy of reaching pay dirt. The team is known for both its on-field success and their positive impact in the Des Moines community. Last Friday, Drake Stadium was filled with local elementary students as the Drake football players, along with the cheerleaders, hosted Drake Football Youth Day. The day gave the children the opportunity to run through drills on the Drake Stadium turf, receive the players’ autographs and be a member of the team by wearing a player’s uniform, which looked more like a dress when it was dragging along the turf. “The expressions on the kids’ faces and the fun they have makes it all worth it,” sophomore linebacker Cam Good said, who was in charge of organizing the event for the players. The same players that deliver gut-wrenching hits, make anklebreaking cuts and often finish a game bloody and sore are connecting with local elementary students during book readings and offer a helping hand by moving furniture at the Ronald McDonald House to prepare for its remodeling. The seniors on the team set a goal for every player to attend three community service events. When each member of the
110-player roster is involved in three events, that leads to major team involvement in the community. The Drake football team is one of few organizations given the opportunity to visit with the kids at Blank Children’s Hospital. Junior offensive lineman Avery Fuhs tries to put together a group of guys to visit every Friday. When they visit, they bring team posters and offer words of encouragement to the patients. “We try to have groups that the patients can identify with,” Julie Pedigo, supervisor of the Child Life Department at Blank’s Children Hospital, said. “It is a nice thing for kids to look up to others, especially a football player and college student.” The team is also involved in the Boys and Girls Club and helped in Meals for the Heartland this past year. “It’s amazing how much stuff our guys do in the community,” Head Coach Chris Creighton said. “We want to be a source of pride for Drake.” The team is not only a source of pride when it comes to community involvement, but also in the classroom. This past fall the team had 13 players earn a 4.0 GPA. The players went from Friday’s youth day into Saturday’s spring game to give the community a chance to see the progress made so far during the spring workouts. Each football program across the nation is allowed to hold 15 practices during the spring semester. Though the team lost key members from last season’s 8-3 squad, many key players will be returning along with players looking to fill the open spots. The Bulldogs will be returning two defensive linemen, Dain Taylor and Andrew Asbell, who were scouted by the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys earlier this spring. “The best players in the Pioneer Football League have been signing NFL contracts after graduation,” Creighton said. “The NFL is very thorough in their scouting; if a player is good enough they are going to find them.” The defense will be joined by other award winners from last season including linebacker Ben Morrison, defensive back Tyler Moorehead and defensive tackle David Witkiewicz. The offense will be returning last year’s team MVP in running
photo by CONNER MCCOURTNEY| Staff Photographer
SOPHOMORE HANS BROMAN helps a youth day participant with his spiral Friday at Drake Stadium. back Steve Platek, and All-Pioneer Football League honorable mention in right tackle Evan Lawrence. The on-field success for the Bulldogs last year ended with disappointment by missing out on a chance for the conference title in the final four seconds against Butler to finish last season. “Our expectations will be sky high,” Creighton said. “We want to reach our full potential, and I believe our full potential as a team will be good enough to be competing for a championship.” n
AREA SPORTS
Ryne “Ryno” Sandberg takes a gander at managing Iowa Cubs by MATT MORAN
Copy Editor matthew.moran@drake.edu
photo courtesy of IOWA CUBS
IOWA CUBS MANAGER RYNE SANDBERG dons his new team’s gear in his first months as manager. The I-Cubs will face the Round Rock Express at Principal Park this Friday.
A hall of famer has made his way to Des Moines, and he will guide the Iowa Cubs during the 2010 baseball season. Chicago Cub hero Ryne “Ryno” Sandberg opened as the manager to the Triple A affiliate on April 8. “I’ve had 30 years of opening days, so I’ve been dealing with this for quite a while,” Sandberg said. Sandberg played second base for the Cubs from 1982-1997, also filling in at third and shortstop. Sandberg’s scrappy play was admired by fans and players alike, and led to him being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. Now Sandberg has taken on managing. He was hired by the Cubs and spent his first two years with the Peoria Chiefs, the Single-A minor league club. After one year with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, he was promoted to Triple A Iowa. “You learn something new every day,” Sandberg said about managing. “In 2007, I was a fish out of water for a month and a half (in Peoria).” Outfielder Micah Hoffpauir said that the Hall of Fame experience Sandberg brings is invaluable.
“There are a lot of those guys (Hall of Famers) around in Chicago,” Hoffpauir said. “We get the opportunity to pick his brain a bit.” Sandberg was a fan favorite and one of the best second baseman to ever play the game. He won the 1982 Rookie of the Year award and the 1984 National League MVP. He hit .314 with 19 home runs and 84 RBI in that season, and led the league with 114 runs scored and 19 triples. He also stole 32 bases to help lead the Cubs to the division crown. Sandberg was named to 10 All-Star teams and won nine Gold Gloves during his illustrious career. Still, he says, there is no other day in the year that measures up to Opening Day. “There’s something about the field ready to go, untouched,” he said. “It’s always an exciting time of year for me.” For now, Sandberg is focusing on managing and continuing his climb to the big leagues. “I want to get to the Major Leagues and (manage) at that level also, just like these guys,” he said. Among the many baseball memories involving Sandberg, perhaps the most memorable occurred on June 23, 1984. The Cubs were facing the Saint Louis Cardinals, sitting a game and a half out of first place.
Trailing 9-8 in the ninth inning, the Cubs were facing defeat against Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter. Sandberg stepped to the plate and launched a home run, sending the game into extra innings. The Cardinals added two more in the 10th, and Sandberg again launched a two-run home run off Sutter to extend the game. The Cubs won the game in the 11th. In the game, Sandberg went five-for-six with seven RBIs to go with his two clutch home runs. It is now simply referred to as “The Sandberg Game.” “I’ve been there, now I’m trying to get back,” Sandberg said. Sandberg said that the main difference between managing at the Triple-A level has been the players. The players are older and have more experience in the game, and he believes that will benefit during the season. He says baseball is such a complicated game that maturity and experience make a huge difference in terms of intangibles. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the maturity of the guys,” he said. Although the goal is to reach the major leagues, Sandberg said he is going to cherish his time in Des Moines and do his best to make the Iowa Cubs a contender. “I’m excited about being here this year,” he said. n
BUZZER
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 4G
LIVING LEGACY IN E First Drake soccer team to ever go to Elite Eight becomes legendary squad by SKYLAR BERGL
Staff Writer skylar.bergl@drake.edu
All-Americans, Elite Eights, national rankings, conference championships—so much happened for the 2009 Bulldogs, it’s clear that this was one of the best seasons ever for Drake athletic teams. Senior leadership set this team apart. With eight seniors, it’s no wonder they made a run to the Elite Eight. Whether their influence came through goals, assists or simply minutes played, these seniors led the Bulldogs to a run typically only seen in the NCAA tournament. For them, this Elite Eight run has been a work in progress for the past three years. The Bulldogs shored up their NCAA tournament bid by defeating bitter rival Creighton in the second round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, 3-1, and beating a surprise Evansville team in the championship, 2-1. This marked the first time in Drake’s history that the soccer team won the MVC tournament, and with that, an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. “Over the three years, it felt like we were building up,” midfielder Kevin Shrout said. “I think with our first NCAA tournament appearance last year, our goals this year were kind of modest. So we had to modify our goals this time around and aimed to win a game in the NCAA tournament, which we did.” Following their first round victory over Western Illinois, they faced off against the No. 4 seed Ohio State Buckeyes. “Playing against Ohio State felt like we were dragging because of our travel schedule,” Head Coach Sean Holmes said. “No one expected us to win, so we figured that we might as well go for it. We had the mindset that anything after this would be a bonus. Stories like our run are what make sports great. Kind of like the Butler – Duke (NCAA basketball championship) game.” At the OSU game, the Drake soccer team was two kinds of canine—Bulldogs and underdogs.
The team gave the Buckeyes all they could handle through regulation. Going into overtime, the score was tied at 1-1. That was when the tournament run came to fruition. “Through the second half, we were all pretty dead tired, but everyone was on the same page and just thought, ‘We could do this,’” Shrout said. “So when (Thomas) Ostrander beat a guy and sent in a cross, a scramble broke out and [Luke] Gorczyca ended up getting the final touch on the ball. I was standing on the goal line and saw the ball trickle into the net, and it was in slow motion.” The Bulldogs had shocked the Buckeye nation and earned their way into the third round, where they took on the Golden Eagles of Boston College. “It was the highest scoring game in 25 years,” Holmes said. “And the first goal didn’t even come till the 20th minute, and the last goal in the 69th; so all ten goals came within 60 minutes. With the NCAA official ball and the strange artificial turf that they play on, the whole game just kept getting weirder and weirder.” Instead of being walked over, the Bulldogs answered with two goals in response to a 2-0 deficit going into the half, tying the game at 2-2. Coming out firing, the Bulldogs added a quick goal in the second half to take the lead. “That whole game is a blur to be honest,” Shrout said. “It was so up and down and an emotional rollercoaster. I can honestly say that it was the craziest game I’ve ever been a part of.” The 6-4 victory over Boston College pushed the Bulldogs beyond their wildest dreams. While the magical run finally ended in their Elite Eight matchup against perennial powerhouse North Carolina, the run made for the best story since Drake made the Final Four in basketball in 1969. The Boston College game garnered game of the year honors and the Bulldogs earned the team of the ear title from the Des Moines Area Sports Commission. “Now we got our own trophy case in the ticket office at the Knapp Center,” Holmes said. “They’ve got the team of the year
award there, and the final season rankings list there too. And when you see our name up there with the BCS schools, and you know it’s not a fluke. It’s great. I guess that must be how Boise State feels.” While the accolades numbered many, Garrett Webb was the “big name” this season. Webb, a senior, led the team in goals (13), points (31) and game winners (3). He was also a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy, considered the highest individual honor in intercollegiate soccer, as well as named to the NSCAA Second Team AllAmerican and College Soccer News Third Team All-American Teams. With that honor, he became only the second player in Drake soccer history to be named an All-American. (The first was Ezra Hendrickson–’93). “As a senior, we honestly couldn’t ask for anything more,” Shrout said. “It’s incredibly special to go through four years with this group of guys and totally exceed our own expectations. I’ll never forget it.” Holmes is quick to point out the seven losses. He wonders how they even had that many. “It’s great that we won that many games, but there were so many games where we outplayed the opponent and lost,” Holmes said. “I see these games and wonder, ‘How did we not win 21 games instead?’ I think the only game we didn’t actually deserve to win was the UNC game, and that was because we ran out of gas.” But for Holmes, it’s more about being good at a sport with the quality of athletes than winning. For instance, Matt Kuhn, a captain next year, was just named the Undergraduate Student of the Year by the College of Business and Public Administration. “Obviously, the goal of any program is to be good,” Holmes said. “But it’s more about being good with the kind of students you have on your team. It’s under-appreciated. A lot of people watch the Rose Bowl and don’t care how good of students those guys are, but this is what it should be.” n
Never a doubt: by EDUARDO ZAMARRIPA
Staff Writer eduardo.tamezzamarripa@drake.edu
photo by SARAH ANDREWS| Photo/Design Editor
HEAD COACH SEAN HOLMES emphasized both scholarship and involvement while the Bulldogs battled through the season.
Nobody seemed to expect Drake’s sucess this season— nobody but Head Coach Sean Holmes. “He never was surprised. He always acted like we deserved to be there, like we should be there,” senior midfielder Kevin Shrout said. Shrout also commented on the relationship he has been able to develop with Holmes. “He’s a good guy, you just got to talk to him,” Shrout said. “I’ve built a pretty good relationship with him and I know I’ll have a pretty good relationship with him for the rest of my life.” It certainly was a season of accomplishments. Drake won its first ever MVC tournament and made the NCAA tournament for the second time and for the second consecutive year. It’s hard to overlook the soccer program’s cosmic ascension during Holmes’ tenure. Even more so after the jaw-dropping results that 12 years of hard work and determination have produced at Drake. “He has been instrumental in turning Drake’s soccer program around,” Assistant Coach Joe Burger said. “It took some time, but he believed in his vision.” Holmes is a simple man, a man that believes in hard work and dedication and stresses the importance of nurturing well-rounded individuals. “He impacts everybody differently,” Burger said. “He always stresses the importance of the entire college experience.” Holmes, who has a political science degree from the University of Kansas, always makes sure to be a good role model for his players. He makes sure they understand the importance of leading a balanced life. “Coach Holmes goes about creating a holistic environment that players carry for a lifetime,” Burger said. “He preaches commitment to school, to soccer and to the community.” Last season, the soccer team proved to have a resilient and tough-minded attitude that propelled them to their magical run. Of course, a team’s personality is defined through its coach.
Holmes’ belief in players pays off
“We all knew we had something special going and didn’t want it to end,” Shrout said. “He helped us by keeping us grounded and keeping us calm and preparing us for every game.” While many picked perennial soccer powerhouse Creighton to win the MVC, Drake responded by defeating the Bluejays in the semi-final before holding off Evansville to capture the championship. “My most memorable experience with Coach Holmes I think has to be the day we won the MVC tournament,” Burger said. “To achieve something he had never achieved, you could see the relief and the joy in his face.” But the Bulldogs and Holmes did not stop there. Drake hosted their first ever NCAA tournament game and went on to defeat Western Illinois 2-1. Afterwards, Drake traveled to No. 13 Ohio State and won on the road in overtime, 2-1. Shortly after, in the Sweet 16, the Bulldogs rallied from a deficit to defeat Boston College 6-4 and advance to the Elite Eight. “We were playing bonus soccer,” Burger said. “We were playing like our heads were on fire and we had nothing to lose.” Burger believes that the team’s success has a lot to do with the confidence Holmes instilled in his players. “Coach believed in his heart that this was a special group,” Burger said. “He wasn’t surprised because he understood what they could be; he understood how talented they could be.” While Burger accentuates the value of Holmes’ leadership with his players, he is also quick to mention the type of impact Holmes has had on his coaching career and in his life. “He’s been a great influence on me, on how I go about my life,” Burger said. “He tells me to not sweat the little things, and he opened my eyes to teaching.” As long as Holmes is at the helm, the future looks bright for the Bulldogs as they continue to make a name for themselves nationally as a respected soccer program. “Most times in sports you end with disappointment,” Burger said. “But to see them reach their potential was very rewarding.” After a trip to the Elite Eight and a MVC championship, we can only expect that Holmes will continue with the work and preparation that has made him so successful. n
PAGE 5G
BUZZER
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
photos by SARAH
ANDREWS| Photo
/Design Editor
ELITE EIGHT SQUAD Edwards, Webb tryout for USL, MLS teams
me up—they’re a big part,” Edwards said. Garrett Webb, from Prairie Village, Kan., was named as a semifinalist for the 2009 Hermann Trophy in his senior year. The award is considered the highest individual honor in intercollegiate soccer. The Drake men’s 2009 soccer season was record- Webb was also named second-team All-American breaking, jumping onto the national stage by reach- and the Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Soccer ing the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament. Drake Player of the Year. turned coaches’ and fans’ heads all over the country Following the 2009 season, Webb has traveled to with their performance. San Jose, Calif., for a tryout with the San Jose EarthWith 29 players, eight seniors said their goodbyes quakes of the MLS, competed alongside Edwards in to the program in December. With the spotlight on Charleston, S.C., for the USL combine and traveled those eight, there is the nagging question of who will to Blain, Minn., for a tryout with the USL team NSC continue playing soccer. Defender Julien Edwards Stars. and forward Garrett Webb are both looking to ex“I’ll take away more experience, being exposed tend their careers. to different systems, and new coaching will add to Edwards, from Ottawa, Canada, was one of 62 skill sets and, more specifically, new ways to look at players invited to participate in the 2010 Adidas/ and play the game,” Webb said. MLS player combine last January in Fort LauderAs for his future and summer plans, he said he dale, Fla., and played regulation games for roughly has a tryout lined up with a team in Minnesota, but five days. if nothing were to come out of that, he plans to go “It gave me confidence that I can play at the level, overseas to Europe or Japan. like I belong there,” EdThere is a trend of wards said. “Critics say many U.S. players headit’s the top players in ing overseas to play with the nation. And bringEuropean teams. Webb ing those guys together said he believes that is creates a higher level of the result of the overplay.” whelming popularity Immediately after of the game in foreign the combine, Edwards countries. was asked to spend the “The passion you see following week in a Fort from fans of teams in the Lauderdale-based trainEPL (English Premier ing camp with the unLeague) can’t be duplider-23 Canadian Olym– COACH SEAN HOLMES cated anywhere in the pic team to prepare for MLS,” he said. the 2012 Olympics. EdWebb credits his famwards will not, however, be able to pursue an oppor- ily as the biggest support group. tunity to play with this team in the 2012 Olympics Drake Head Coach Sean Holmes said he believes because his birthday is two days before the cut-off both Edwards and Webb will succeed at the next date. level. “In the end, this was a great experience because “They’re both athletic enough, skillful enough I’ve been seen at the national level,” Edwards said. and technical enough,” he said. “It will be a chal“It’s good contact, good on your resume and down lenge mentally; they will need to be persistent and the line, I may get looked at to play with the real na- durable and grind it out until their opportunity artional team.” rives.” Since January, Edwards has participated in the Holmes said he stressed the importance of being United Soccer League (USL) combine in Charleston, coachable and the even bigger importance of looking S.C. The USL is a semi-professional league, sitting after one’s health. right under the Major League Soccer (MLS). Look“The most interesting thing is to see those guys ing to the future, Edwards’ summer plans include a grow intellectually and on the field,” Holmes said. two-week trial with Toronto FC, an MLS team. “They grew into All-Americans. I don’t think anyone Edwards also hopes to get the chance to tryout thought when they arrived in August 2005 they’d be overseas in Australia and England, but if neither the cornerstone of the Elite Eight squad. They never those nor Toronto FC work out, he will continue heard of each other prior to August 2005, and now practicing in Ottawa during the fall of 2010. they are best friends for life. It’s pretty rewarding to Edwards said he’s been able to go so far because see friendships grow.” of his close-knit support system and that they prompt As Edwards and Webb continue their future sochim to keep going. cer endeavors, it’s safe to say they will continue to “My family, who is always willing to help out, and turn heads, while their 2009 record-breaking season (Drake coaches) Holmes and Joe Burger, who hype at Drake will long be remembered. n by MELANIE FIELDER
Staff Writer melanie.fielder@drake.edu
photo by SARAH ANDREWS| Photo/Design Editor
SENIOR JULIEN EDWARDS traveled to Fla., S.C. for MLS, USL tryouts.
photo by SARAH ANDREWS| Photo/Design Editor
SENIOR GARRETT WEBB tried out for the San Jose Earthquakes last winter.
ROADto
VICTORY Change for a dollar?
“
They grew into AllAmericans. I don’t think anyone thought when they arrived in August 2005 they’d be the cornerstone of the Elite Eight squad.
Overcoming outrageous odds against Ohio State wasn’t enough for the Bulldogs. The squad advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament to face Boston College. In a game where the sun was a prominent force on one side of the field, the ever-so trivial coin flip that determines which goal each team will defended for the first half became more important. Only, the head referee didn’t have a coin. “Because the ref didn’t have a coin, he decided to put a one or a two behind his back,” senior midfielder Kevin Shrout said. “I guessed two and was right, so we could choose the side not looking into the sun. But Boston College wouldn’t take the loss without
”
putting up a fight. “Then a BC player got angry and said, ‘You can’t do that. You need to do a coin flip,’ and one of the linesmen pulled out a coin,” Shrout said. “We did the flip and lost.” That was the first of three quick mini-victories for BC. “Then, 20 minutes into the half, they scored two quick goals on us,” Shrout said. “It was frustrating, and I thought we would lose based on a stupid coin.” Luckily, those two goals didn’t play too large a part in the end result, as the Bulldogs put up six of their own to Boston College’s four. This is just one of many anecdotes from such a story book-type season. n
BUZZER
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 6G
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? ADAM EMMENECKER
Former basketball great tries out German league dropped a heartbreaker 101-99 on a 3-point basket at the buzzer. Emmenecker was guarding the Hilltoppers’ Ty Rogers on that play and said that when he released the ball, he thought there was no way it was going in. “I just thought, ‘No way,’” Emmenecker said. “Then it got closer, and I
necker said. “We got beat by a buzzerbeater. What better way to go out?” After graduating, Emmenecker decided to continue his basketball It was a new experience for Adam career overseas. He signed a oneEmmenecker to witness the Missouri year contract to play for the Deutsche Valley Conference tournament from Bank Skyliners Frankfurt. a fan’s point of view, rather than as He said that overall the experience a player. was positive, but the atmosphere was “It’s definitely a much different than the different perspective game in the U.S. than as a player,” “It was more like a Emmenecker said. soccer game,” Emme“You notice some of necker said. “The fans can the different things beat drums for an entire as a fan. You notice game.” some of the atmoEmmenecker was the sphere, and really back-up point guard and soak it in.” played behind the GerEmmenecker was man national point guard the starting point Roller Pascal. He said guard on the memoplaying professionally was rable 2008 Drake basdifferent than in college ketball team that won because the talent was so both the Valley regu– ADAM EMMENECKER on the Western Kentucky deep. Teams would play lar season and tournanine or 10 players per buzzer-beater in the NCAA tournament. game, as opposed to colment titles, then went to the NCAA tournalege ball, where coaches ment. sometimes played as little Emmenecker, a former walk-on, was like, ‘Uh-oh.’ I remember Bucky as six players. rose from obscurity to lead the Bull- (forward Jonathan Cox) collapsing af“There was a lot of talent, indogs and capture the Larry Bird ter it went in. I tried to pick him up cluding a few former NBA players,” MVC Player of the Year award. but he said ‘No, just leave me here.’” Emmenecker said. “I thought I played Emmenecker said that season was Emmenecker still hasn’t seen the well. I got about 15 minutes a game.” the most memorable of his career, game in its entirety since then, but Even though the experience in and he still can’t escape how the sea- he said that the loss still hurts. But as Europe was unforgettable, nothing son ended. time has passed, he realizes that his will compare to his senior season. Drake was named a No. 5 seed in team was beat on such a memorable “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think the West region and faced No. 12 seed shot and that it could have ended about it,” he said. “We could have Western Kentucky in the first round. much worse. been playing UCLA in the Sweet In one of the most memorable games “The more you get separated from 16. Western Kentucky made a great in March Madness history, Drake it, it hurts in a different way,” Emme- run.” n by MATT MORAN
Copy Editor matthew.moran@drake.edu
“
I just thought, ‘No way.’ Then it got closer, and I was like, ‘Uhoh.’ I remember Bucky (forward Jonathan Cox) collapsing after it went in. I tried to pick him up, but he said, ‘No, just leave me here.’
photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor
ADAM EMMENECKER shoots around here in the alumni basketball game this year. He was the MVC player of the year in 2008.
JILL MARTIN
”
ZACH JOHNSON
Alumna excels in Irish, Luxembourg teams by MARY BESS BOLLING Sports Editor tdsports@drake.edu
The connection to Iowa holds strong for alumna Jill Martin. A member of the women’s basketball 2008 Missouri Valley Conference championship team, Martin went on to play professional basketball in two different European countries after graduation. Martin now lives oceans away from her free and full-service washer and dryer at her family’s home in Norwalk, Iowa, oceans away from the concrete schoolyard courts where she honed her basketball skills that have earned her spots on three foreign professional teams and oceans away in a country that has three official languages—none of which is English. “Jill attacked that challenge head on, just like she does on the court,” said senior Drake guard Jordann Plummer, Martin’s former teammate and roommate. “Her confidence is contagious.” Plummer and Martin keep in touch via Facebook and Skype, and Martin has helped counsel Plummer in her decision to play professional basketball in Europe after her graduation this spring. “I asked her if it was really for me and if she thinks I’m prepared for it,” Plummer said. “She helped me get a feel for what it’d be like.” Though Martin said she can now look back and determine what makes a player ready to play halfway across the world; her first trip abroad was not worry-free. Before she came into her current team in Luxembourg, Martin moved to Ireland to play for the national team. “I had so many apprehensions before moving to Ireland the first time, I don’t even know where to start,” Martin
said. “I just kept thinking that I’d be that far from home and everything I’d ever known.” Martin said her first year in Ireland was a great experience and she wouldn’t have traded it for anything. “The team was like a family, and I was really spoiled there,” Martin said. “I’m realizing that now.” Her realization comes after a sevenmonth stay in Luxembourg, where the language barrier has challenged Martin and taken her out of her comfort zone. “At times I feel very secluded, because most of the players will speak their own language, so I can’t relate to what they’re saying,” Martin said. But in a six-degrees-of-separationesque coincidence, Martin was able to make a connection to Luxembourg before she even booked her flight. She had dinner with Drake men’s basketball player Frank Wiseler’s family at the Drake Diner last summer before moving to Luxembourg. Since her move out to Luxembourg, she’s visited their home a few times for meals and said it helps to keep her ties to Des Moines. “It’s been a nice connection to home and they helped me feel more comfortable here right off the bat,” Martin said. Wiseler plays with Martin’s stepbrother, freshman Reece Uhlenhopp. She said she keeps up with the men’s basketball team through her conversations with Uhlenhopp, but she avidly follows the women’s team, catching the live stream of a game every chance she gets and following the standings on the Internet regularly. Martin’s initial move overseas was to Ireland, where she and former Iowa State guard Mary Fox roomed together and bonded as the only two Americans
photo courtest of JILL MARTIN
on the team. “That was a huge blessing because she knew the ropes and it was really nice to have her there to show me the lay of the land,” Martin said. Head Coach Amy Stephens also helped prepare Martin for her time abroad, using her own experience to teach her about playing professionally in Europe. Stephens made sure that Martin finished her undergraduate degree before moving overseas. Stephens said she would’ve changed one thing about her own year in the professional leagues in Germany—she would’ve finished her bachelor’s degree before going. “I made sure that she didn’t have academic responsibilities so that she had no academics hanging over her head while she was abroad,” Stephens said. Stephens also set Martin up with an agent who connected her with coaches in Ireland. “Jill has the maturity and the coping skills to adapt to any situation and overcome those challenges because of what she went through in basketball,” Stephens said. “She has what I like to call a competitive spirit.” Stephens said the adversity Martin had to overcome in her years at Drake prepared her for her time overseas. Red-shirting in her fourth year due to two major back surgeries playing for the Bulldogs, Martin stayed on the team for a fifth year—the 2007-08 season. That season, the Drake women’s basketball team won the Missouri Valley Conference championship. “She fought through those injuries, came back and won a championship the next year,” Stephens said. “Her drive is remarkable, and that’s why she’s made it for two years in the pros.” n
FILE PHOTO
JILL MARTIN with her mother in Luxembourg right before a professional game. She graduated from Drake in 2008.
Masters champion keeps ties to Drake by JACK THUMSER
Staff Writer john.thumser@drake.edu
Being an athlete from Iowa is almost synonymous with being the underdog. Just look at Kurt Warner. During his Pro Bowl seasons as the quarterback for the Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams and his resurgence with the Arizona Cardinals in the past few years, he became a media and public darling because of his rags-toriches story. So it’s not a surprise that Drake graduate and 2007 Masters champion golfer Zach Johnson is often portrayed in the same light. “Zach is a great representative of our school and state,” Athletic Director Sandy Hatfield Clubb said. “He was never the top player on his high school or college team, but he is an underdog, just like Drake.” Born in Iowa City and raised in Cedar Rapids – also Warner’s hometown, coincidently—Johnson enjoyed playing many sports and picked up golf at age 10. Success came early for Johnson when his Regis High School golf team won the class 3A Iowa High School Athletic Association state championship when he was just a sophomore. He was the No. 2 player on the squad. During his time at Drake, Johnson retained the role of No. 2 player, helping the Bulldogs win two Missouri Valley Conference championships and make three NCAA Regional tournament appearances. Although he was not the most talented player Drake had ever seen, Head Coach Scott Bohlender said it was his intangible skills that took him to the next level. “There are many players out there with Zach’s talent who we will never know,” Bohlender said. “You have to be talented, strong mentally and have everything go your way to make it to his level. You could be a fantastic golfer with a strong work ethic and play at a very high level, but never get beyond the mini tours.” After graduating from Drake in 1998, Johnson played on several small tours and eventually worked his way up the Nationwide Tour, golf ’s equivalent to minor league baseball. When he earned nearly $500,000 in 2003, he earned an automatic spot on the PGA Tour. In his first season, Johnson picked up his first tour victory at the BellSouth Classic on April 4, 2004. Although it would be his only win for three years, his performance on tour was good enough to warrant an invitation to represent the United States in the prestigious Ryder Cup in 2006. Despite his successes, Johnson was still flying under the radar going into his third season on the tour. On April 8, 2007, however, everything would change for the humble golfer. At the start of the day, Johnson sat two strokes behind the leader, Stuart Appleby, in the 2007 Masters, golf ’s most prestigious tournament. After shooting a disappointing 76 in the third round, few expected him to make a run for the title on golf ’s biggest stage, especially with Tiger Woods one stroke off the lead. Fortunately for Johnson, exceeding expectations is what he does best. Over the last six holes, he tallied three birdies to card a final round score of 69 (three under par) and beat Woods, Retief Goosen and Rory Sabbatini by two strokes to win his second PGA Tour tournament and first career Major Championship. Since then, Johnson has become one of the top 10 golfers in the world, winning again in 2007, once in 2008 and twice in 2009. His career earnings now exceed $17 million. Undoubtedly, Johnson is one of Drake’s most famous graduates, and his impact on the university has been immeasurable. “He represents all that is good about Drake University and Drake athletics,” Hatfield Clubb said. He has also been a selling point in golf recruiting. Many golfers flock to southern schools for to avoid winter conditions, but Bohlender said Johnson proves you can succeed at a cold-weather school. “It’s not where you attend college that makes you good,” Bohlender said. “It’s your love of the game, and your desire to learn all its aspects.” n
BUZZER
PAGE 7G MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
The superfans Helm and Von Ehwegen have attended every home game by MATT MORAN
Copy Editor matthew.moran@drake.edu
Although Drake may not have the crowds other Division I schools bring, it does have a couple of dedicated fans that could measure up to the best of any school. Sophomores Ben Helm and Tyler Von Ehwegen have attended every home Drake basketball game and have given 110 percent in their efforts to cheer on the Bulldogs. They always sit in the student section in the best seat available in the front three rows. The duo is easily noticed as the craziest, loudest and most annoying fans in the building. “We heckle the players,” Von Ehwegen said. “We pick out the fat guy, the one with horrible tattoos or the ones with weird last names.” Helm and Von Ehwegen said that the most enjoyment came when fans from other teams tried to get involved with them or with Drake players. Helm said in order to have a home-court advantage, the fans have to do their part. Von Ehwegen said that the most fun he had at a game this season was early in the year against Iowa State. Although the Bulldogs dropped a 90-70 decision, the most exciting moment came in the stands. “There were Iowa State fans in our section talking smack, so Ben and I had to take care of it,” Von Ehwegen said. “There was a lot of talking. When they realized they were surrounded by Drake fans, they got nervous and left.” Von Ehwegen said that the best game he witnessed this year happened to be another Drake loss. On senior day against Evansville, senior Josh Young knocked down a gametying jumper with eight seconds left. The Purple Aces responded with a 3-pointer at the buzzer to defeat the Bulldogs. “We lost, but it was a classic
game,” he said. Helm said the most memorable game was when Drake hosted Northern Iowa. The Panthers were ranked in the Associated Press poll and the atmosphere at the stadium was electric. His favorite part of the game was heckling Northern Iowa’s Lucas O’Rear, the Missouri Valley Sixth Man of the Year. “O’Rear had enormous sideburns, so Tyler and I led chants all night to frustrate him,” Helm said. Drake nearly pulled off the upset in that game, but Ali Farokhmanesh drained two long treys to put the Panthers ahead for good and hold off the Bulldogs. “I guess it was a preview for March, because he did the same thing against Kansas,” Helm said. “We were so close to the upset that night; I really thought it was going to happen.” Von Ehwegen said he was impressed with the young talent Drake had this year, but in particular admired the play of sophomore Frank Wiseler and junior Ryan Wedel. “Frank is a great player and ballhandler, and I really like Wedel’s poise,” Von Ehwegen said. Helm said that no other player can replace Young, and what he did on the court was simply remarkable. “I was always surprised by the things he did,” Helm said. “He is a reliable guy that made things happen. We looked to him for a spark and he created good looks.” Both Helm and Von Ehwegen said that they will attend basketball games with the same fire and enthusiasm next season, and continue to lead in chants, fight for their team and heckle opposing players. Both said they wished more people would share their passion for Drake basketball, and not just show up when it matters. “True fans show up and show their support every night,” Helm said. “We think our support drives (the team) to victory.” n
photo by SARAH ANDREWS| Photo/Design Editor
SOPHOMORES BEN HELM AND TYLER VON EHWEGEN can be classified as “superfans,” having gone to every Drake men’s home basketball game this year.
YESSS! Executive Assistant’s typical response after landing a job through us.
Business school offers golf class to teach life skills
AP PHOTO
ZACH JOHNSON, a Drake alumnus and 2007 Masters champion, selected Drake to receive the PGA grant to start the golf class in the business school.
PGA gave Drake a grant to start the class by DAVID JOHNSON
Staff Writer david.e.johnson@drake.edu
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Most college students’ bags are full of textbooks, notebooks and pencils. Their classrooms consist of tables, computers and chairs. Students in Lisa Murphy’s class have bags full of irons, woods, putters, drivers, tees and golf balls. A majority of the time is spent around greens, fairways and sand traps. “Golf: For Business and Life” presents an opportunity for Drake students to learn the game of golf and use it in the business world. “The course is a fun opportunity and a unique program,” Murphy said, the assistant director of recreational services, intramurals and open recreation at the Bell Center. The course is not unique to Drake University but it is only offered at a few select universities. Each member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team can donate funding to one school for the class. The Ryder Cup is a professional golf tournament played between Europe and the United States. Zach Johnson, alumnus of the Drake business school and the 2007 Masters champion, was a member of the 2006 Ryder Cup team and selected Drake to receive the grant from the PGA Foundation. The 10-week course consists of group golf
lessons, six classroom sessions and a nine-hole scramble-format golf outing at the conclusion of the course. The lessons during the spring term began in late January. Students weren’t losing their shots in the snow during February thanks to the driving range dome at Longview Golf Centre in Grimes. The dome is 40,000 square feet with two driving range levels and a putting green. The lessons are taught by LPGA pro Lori Gaffney Burmeister at the Longview Golf Centre. Gaffney Burmeister was voted to be one of the top 50 golf instructors in America by “Golf Range Magazine.” The class is geared toward beginner and novice golfers wanting to learn how to play golf. “Golf: For Business and Life” is available for juniors, seniors and graduate students. The cost of the course is only $75 thanks to the grant given by the PGA Foundation. “It is a very inexpensive way to learn golf,” Murphy said. In addition to simply learning the game, the class brings in area business leaders to discuss the business world and the importance of networking. “Golf presents you with a lot of events where you network and talk with your bosses outside of work,” graduate student Mike Scurbia said. n
>>OTHER SCHOOLS THAT OFFER THIS CLASS © OfficeTeam. A Robert Half International Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer. 0410
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BUZZER
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 8G
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speed THE TIMES-DELPHIC
FROM THE AR CHIV
ES A collection of images and stories pulled fro m old editions of The Times-D elphic enhance Drake’s story.
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
SECTION H
racing THROUGH THE DECADES Throughout the long history of Drake University, The Times-Delphic has been along for the ride. From snow-covered Relays to bombings on campus, the student newspaper has always been there, chronicling our history. This is that story.
illustration by JASON OELMANN | Photographer
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
1884 SPEED
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 2H
>>When The Times-Delphic started in 1884 the 3-year-old university was located on the very edge of Des Moines and employed eight professors.
Delphic, there from the start
AMPUS DRAKE’S C Y GROWS L S U O N I T CON
new name. It is a new magazine, Vol. I, No. I. Being very much rushed to get this issue out as soon as possible, we have not been able to make it just what we would like to have had the first number. It contains but little from the students, but hereafter we expect the list of contributors to be largely or wholly of students. The few articles prepared especially for it have been written on short notice. We shall try to make the local department well worth reading, and hope the students will inform us of whatever would be of interest in that column. In the editorial department we shall discuss subjects of interest and importance to students. In this we shall act as nearly right as we know how, always aiming to write justly and reasonably. If sometimes we fail, being but human, it will be of the head and not of the heart. In the EXCHANGE column something of what is going on in other insutions of learning may be found. The first page shall be given to the poets, and we hope to find some of natures’ make in Drake. Following the first page will be about ten pages devoted to general literature which it is hoped, will be largely or entirely supplied by students of the University. The various societies will have columns, edited by their own editors. We ask every old student to subscribe for the DELPHIC and to help us in securing other subscribers. We want and intend to make our paper better from time to time, but we can not do so without money. Money is just as indispensable in running a college paper as in the publication of any other kind of journal. Give us a large subscription list and we can give you a good paper. There will be ten numbers of volume I of the DELPHIC.
1881 Students’ Home (first classes and housing) 1883 Main Building (now Old Main) 1894 Students’ Home torn down 1900-1901 Sheslow and current entrance to Old Main built 1904 Cole Hall 1905 Memorial Hall 1908 Carnegie Hall 1909 Howard Hall 1926 Drake Stadium 1931 Morehouse (all-women’s dorm) 1939 Jewett (all-men’s dorm) 1949 Harvey Ingham Hall of Science 1949 Fitch Hall of Pharmacy 1954 Hubbell Dining Hall 1954 Charles Medbury Hall 1955 Carpenter Hall, Crawford Hall, Stalnaker Hall 1955 Oreon E. Scott Memorial Chapel 1957 Herriott Hall 1966 Hubbell Dining Hall South addition 1972 Harmon Fine Arts Center 1974 Olmsted Center 1975 Olin Hall 1976 Harold G. Cartwright Hall 1976 Bell Center 1980 Aliber Hall 1992 Roger Knapp Tennis Center 1992 Knapp Center 1993 Dwight D. Opperman Hall and Law Library 1993 Cline Pharmacy and Science Hall 1993 Renovation to Sheslow 1993 Fitch and Ingham renovation 1993 Upgrade to Cowles 1993 Wifvat Plaza 2005-2006 Drake Stadium renovation 2007- 2008 Renovated Carpenter Hall, Crawford Hall, Stalnaker Hall, Herriott Hall
This editorial was originally printed in the first edition of The Delphic, a student-driven literary magazine that has evolved into Drake’s student newspaper, The Times-Delphic. Ever since its inception, the student newspaper has been writing the first draft of Drake’s history.
Editorial To students and friends of Drake University, we beg leave to offer the DELPHIC, asking for it whatever favor it may merit. The University is rapidly coming to the front among educational institutions of the west, and needs to be represented by a first-class literary journal. We shall spare no effort to make the DELPHIC such, yet we shall fail without the co-operation of friends and student of the University. We, therefore, state briefly the object of our paper, hoping thereby to win the sympathy and patronage of our readers. The object of the DELPHIC is to cultivate the literary art in Drake University.
Drake University Since it is a new institution and unknown to many to whom this first number of the DELPHIC will go, we think it proper to give some information concerning Drake University. It was founded in 1881, its first term opening September 20th of that year. Most prominent among its founders are Chancellor Carpenter, Elder D. R. Lucas, and Gen. F.M. Drake. It is beautifully located adjoining the northwest limits of Des Moines, one of the most promising cities of the west. It could hardly be expected that so new an institution would be developed in all the departments necessary to a university; yet it has in successful operation schools of Literature
and Art, the Bible, Business, Music, Law, and Medicine. Other departments will be added from time to time, until a university in the full acceptation of that term has been built up. The success of the school so far has been even more than was anticipated by its founders. Drake University is aiming to be unsurpassed in its equipments and opportunities for study and investigation. Its trustees are men of high aims, energy, and benevolence. Its management has been unexcelled, and many wonder how so large an institution has been built up in only three years. Its faculty are experienced teachers well qualified to do their work. Ladies and gentlemen are admitted to the institution on equal terms. Both attend the same chapel, belong to the same literary societies, and abide under the same rules and regulations. Though under the management of Christian Church, the institution is, by no mean, sectarian. Yet it recognizes the Christian religion as the basis of all true education and civilization. The outlook for this university is most encouraging. It has good management, a large attendance continually increasing, a location second to none, and many friends. But, in order to accomplish all that it has in view, money needed. Considerable has already been done toward an endowment. Gen. Drake from whom the institution took its name has done more than any other one. But a very large endowment is wanted, one that will put the institution forever beyond any financial drawback. Here is an opportunity for those who have money, to lend a helping hand to a good cause and to bless coming generations. Whoever gives to Drake University will have just reason to be proud of his deed in coming years; for there can be no reasonable doubt that this institution of learning will ere long, be one of the first in the county. The DELPHIC is not the Index with a
Drake’s roots run deep in Des Moines
Many Drake students and Des Moines residents alike know tidbits of information about Drake, but most do not know the details behind its founding and inaugural classes. Why is the university named Drake? Why is it located in Des Moines? And who is with this Carpenter fellow? George Carpenter proposed the idea to change the location of Oskaloosa College, once located in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Carpenter was an educator there for nearly 20 years Carpenter when the college began to fail due to financial hardships. He, along with photo courtesy of COWLES LIBRARY most of the other professors at the college, decided to relocate the college for DRAKES’S ORIGINAL FACULTY pose with George Carpenter (center foreground). The eight a more desirable and population-dense professors taught eight classes in topics ranging from law to religion. location in an attempt to keep it afloat. Thus, the location in Des Moines, Iowa, to attend school five days a week for the dents, but all classes were taught in was chosen. Whenever the discussion of entire school year. A total of eight class- this building as well. Along with the finances came about, Carpenter decided es in science, faith, law and literature main building, now called Old Main, to turn to Francis Marion Drake for assis- were taught by the eight faculty mem- Drake University functioned with a totance. Because of the work of Carpenter bers employed at the time. Within the tal of two buildings. n and others, along with the financial as- first five years, international students sistance from his brother-in-law Drake, were allowed to attend Drake as well. By Historical documents, timelines and Drake University was founded. 1890, students from Canada, the Philip- article compiled by Amy Harren (amy. harren@drake.edu) and Eryn Swain pines, Australia, England, Drake University is (eryn.swain@drake.edu). Information China and Japan were enactually named afprovided by drakeneighborhood.org and rolled in Drake University, ter Francis Marion Cowles Library. as well as American stuDrake, who was dents. The first class the financial beneto graduate from factor of the instiDrake was a class tution, donating of 77 — 60 $20,000 to help men and 17 open its doors. women. Over Drake’s life Drake time, he donated Many of the $232,000 to the students and university and became a lifetime Board p r o f e s s o r s of Trustees member. Upon the founding lived together of the university, it was understood that in the Stuthe person making the largest contribu- dent’s Home, tion toward the school would be honored the main by having the school named after him or building on her, and Drake fit the bill. Drake was well- campus. Not known in Iowa and around the nation for only did this revising the legal code and reforming serve as the institutions within the state, during his r e s i d e n c e time as the 16th governor of Iowa. hall until Morehouse Drake University opened on May 7, and Jewett 1881, to 270 students in the Des Moines were built area for summer courses. On Sept. 20, for stu1881, the university officially opened its doors for the fall semester. The founders dared to try the radical idea that both men and women of all races would be educated together in the same classes, something many universities of the time did photo by TYLER O’NEIL | Relays Editor not risk. OLD MAIN was the primary academic building on Drake’s campus for 17 years. Professors and students lived together and held classes in the The students paid a tuition fee of $30 now nonexistent Students’ Home.
1910 SPEED
PAGE 3H MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
>>The first Drake Relays took place in a blizzard and only 100 athletes participated. The 2010 Relays will play host to more than 8,000 participants.
‘A Big Day Promised for All’ This preview ran in The Delphic immediately before the first Drake Relays, typos and all. Next Friday afternoon all classes will be dismissed and every one will have the privilege of turning out to see the home field meet. This meet will be on of the classiest that will be seen on the stadium this year. The athletes have more imducements for work than they have enjoyed in the past. The “D” club is to give medals for the first three men in each event. The medals are unique in way of construction and are to be beauties. All the races will be hotly contested, for there are a number of good men for each event. Especially will the sprints be good. It will be a battle royal between Geo. Foell and Earl Linn in the 100 yard and 220 yard dashes. The other races will be excellent too for there are enough freshmen in all of them to make the older men go their limit to win and it is a question then with some of them. It will do you good to see Captain “Bob” Thompson stretching out with his old time stride. This will be your chance to see the men in action who are going to represent Drake at Ames in the triangular meet and the Missouri Valley conference meet to be held at the stadium in June. It will cost Drake students nothing to attend this meet because every on that enrolled this spring received a ticket entitling him to admission to the numbers of the lecture course and the home meet. Bring your ticket and come to the stadium at 2:30 ‘o’ clock.
file photo by CHARLIE BARKER | Alumnus CLUB HOCKEY was a popular Drake sport in the 1980s, but it, like so many other sports at Drake, has disappeared throughout the years due to budget restraints and lack of interest.
Long-lost sports at Drake by KAILA SWAIN
Staff Writer kaila.swain@drake.edu
No Classes Next Friday Afternoon! Next Friday afternoon will be an occasion of much importance in the University life. There will be no classes on that half day and the students will turn out in gala day style to see our home field meet. No Classes Friday Night Classes will be discontinued on Friday night also, for there will be some more “Big Doings” at that time. The “D” club’s annual college night entertainment will be presetned that evening. This entertainment will consist of a band concert on the campus between the hours of seven and eight and a program of minstrel farce and burlesque acts in the auditorium after eight o’clock. No tickets will be sold or reserved in advance, but the small fee of twenty-five cents will be charged at the door. The money will be used by the “D” club to pay for the gold, silver, and bronze medals offered in the Home meet. The program will be lively and full of fun and will need a ffull house to hear it.
Imagine sitting in the bleachers, taking in the salty aroma of a ballpark hot dog. Fans cheer as the Bulldogs score another run against Missouri State. Now imagine all of this as a memory—Drake no longer has Division I baseball. Lack of funding forced the university to carry baseball solely as a club sport in 1970. Since Drake began participating in organized sports in 1893, sports teams have come and gone from the varsity roster. Two other men’s sports—wrestling, and swimming and diving—were cut from Drake’s Division I roster after the 1993 season due to Title IX. Title IX is an educational law, added in 1972, that says no person can be denied the right to participate in a federally funded activity based on his or her sex. It covers 10 areas of equality, including career education, employment and athletics. When the law was passed, 75 percent of Drake athletes were men, so a one-sided $170,000 budget
cut was made to equalize the men’s and women’s programs to comply with Title IX. The Drake University Board of Governors voted to drop men’s wrestling and swimming and diving as part of this cut. Even though these teams are no longer at Drake, it is apparent that they were major contributors to Drake University’s athletic success. Based on number of titles, the most successful of Drake’s lost sports is men’s wrestling. The team claimed 28 conference titles from 1931 to 1993. In addition, Drake men’s wrestling has 10 Big Four Series titles, and 28 postseason appearances. The team won two national titles in 1944 and 1945, but these results are not official because the NCAA did not hold a sanctioned tournament from 1943 to 1945. The baseball team advanced to six postseason games from 1947 to 1966, and claimed eight conference championships. In addition, the team won 26 Big Four Series titles during its 85-year reign at Drake. The men’s swimming and diving team also captured conference and Big Four Series titles. Swimming and diving claimed 13 conference and 22 Big Four Series titles, along with 13 postseason appearances. Drake also had a women’s swimming and diving team until 1999, when the team was cut entirely. n
Tale of two teams: ’69 and ’08 Cinderella stories a part of Drake’s basketball history by MIKE WENDLANT
Staff Writer michael.wendlandt@drake.edu
When it comes to Drake basketball, two teams have set the benchmark for expectations. Both are interchangeable in playing style and defensive ability. Both made runs into the tournament, but only one made it past the first round. While they
were 39 years apart, both captured the hearts of more than just Des Moines, Iowa. They took the nation by storm. In 1969, times were changing, but one thing was consistent; Lew Alcindor and the UCLA Bruins dominating college basketball. The Drake Bulldogs were expected to be decent, but not great under Head Coach Maury John, but they gave the Bruins the toughest run in the NCAA tournament during Alcindor’s tenure. Behind the sharpshooting of Willie McCarter and the defensive presence of Dolph Pulliam and Willie Wise, these Cinderella Bulldogs took the nation by storm reaching the Final Four, only to drop in a heartbreaker fashion to the Bruins. According to the highlight films, those three were the epitome of hustle and team chemistry as they marched through the season. Almost 40 years later in 2008, a new Bulldog dream began with the opening game and a walkon point guard in Adam Emmenecker, who became the first Drake player to win Missouri Valley Player of the Year since Lewis Lloyd in 1981. Projected to finish ninth in the conference, they dominated the Valley. The Bulldogs won 21 consecutive games, including defeating then eigth-ranked Butler on the road, which lead to a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament. Their tournament run was very different from their predecessors, as they fell behind early to Western Kentucky before mounting a furious comeback to tie with less than 10 seconds left. But Ty Rodgers broke the hearts of Drake fans everywhere by making a long 3-pointer at the buzzer, ending the game. “It was a truly heartbreaking ending to a great game and a great season,” said Athletic Director Sandy Hatfield Clubb. As far as heart-pounding moments go, very few match the ones provided by both teams. Whether it’s Rick Wannamaker blocking Alcindor for the only time in his college career or Jonathan “Bucky” Cox draining the tying 3 against Western Kentucky, Drake never failed to entertain and surprise the nation even in defeat. n
1969 record
26-5 2008 record
28-5
file photo by TYLER O’NEIL | Relays Editor ADAM EMMENECKER drives towards the basket during a 2008 home game against Creighton.
MEN’S TOP FINISHES Basketball
NCAA 3rd place 1969
Baseball
NCCA 2nd Round 1963, 1966
Cross Country
NCAA Champions 1944, 1945, 1946
Football
Bowl Champions 1946, 1949
Golf
NCAA Qualifying Team 1997, 1998
Soccer
NCAA Elite Eight 2009
Tennis
NCAA Qualifying Team 1992, 1994, 2006, 2007, 2008
Wrestling
National Champions 1944, 1945
WOMEN’S TOP FINISHES Basketball
NCAA Elite Eight 1982
Cross Country
NCAA Champions 1944, 1945, 1946
Golf
NCAA Qualifying Team 1997, 1998
Soccer
NCAA First Round 2006
Tennis
NCAA Qualifying Team 1990, 1991, 1992,1994,1999
Volleyball
NCAA 1st Round 1976, 1977,1978, 1981
Swimming and Diving
NCCA 1st Round 1980, 1982, 1994
Softball
NCAA 1st Round 1993, 1994, 2008
1922 SPEED
THE TIMES-DELPHIC
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
PAGE 4H
>>Drake University has housed 43 fraternities and sororities. Today there are eight fraternities and five sororities on campus.
Morehouse’s love of the stars, Drake changed campus by JESS WALTHER
Staff Writer jess.walther@drake.edu
Astronomer and physicist Daniel W. Morehouse was a student at Drake University in the late 1890s. In addition to being known for his work with science, he also played center on the Drake football team and even coined the “White and Blue” cheer. After he received his undergraduate degree, Morehouse went on to complete his graduate work at the University of Chicago, where he discovered the eponymous comet on Sept. 1, 1908, at the Yerkes Observatory. Now dubbed “Comet Morehouse,” it was noted for its tail’s unique, continuously changing structure. This brief ran in the 1922 homecoming edition of The Drake Delphic alongside an article about Morehouse’s presidential inauguration.
photos courtesy of COWLES LIBRARY
Did you know our cheer, “White and Blue” was the inspiration of one Daniel Morehouse when he was a student at Drake University? It was in the fall of 1898 when the Drake Bulldogs with Morehouse as one of the star players, gloriously whipped the University of Nebraska team. On the return trip the team made a stop-over at Ames. Here Delbert Lambert and Daniel Morehouse, who were roommates and pals, conceived the idea of composing a cheer for the old D.U. They sprung it on the team at the breakfast table and it was with this cheer that the team returned to Des Moines. “White and blue, white and blue, rah, rah D. U.!”
THE DRAKE MUNICIPAL OBSERVATORY (top) is located a few blocks west of campus near Waveland Golf Course. The facility is operated by both Drake University and the city of Des Moines. The observatory was one of Daniel Morehouse’s (left) greatest contributions to Drake University. Morehouse studied at Drake during his undergraduate years and he became president of the university in 1922. The observatory also acts as a burial site for Morehouse and his wife, Myrtle, who are encapsulated in the walls near the front entrance. Students have reported paranormal activity at the building, such as calculations being mysteriously corrected, and those events are often attributed to Morehouse.
Greek at the beginning
DRAKE SORORITIES
Quick Facts First sorority at Drake University: Gamma Gamma Gamma (1905) First sorority recognized by Drake University: Chi Omega (1921) First fraternity at Drake Universty: Sigma Nu (1892) First fraternity recognized by Drake Universty: Sigma Alpha Epsilon (1921) Longest-run sorority: Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta
FIJI - 1994 ΑΔΠ - 4/4/2009
2010
ΣΧ - 12/6/1980 ΑΚΑ - 6/14/1973 ΠΒΦ - 10/8/1983
1990
ΦΔΘ - 10/28/1961 ΦΣΩ - 2/26/1963 ΑΕΦ - 10/25/1952 ΑΦ - 3/1/1958 ΓΦΒ - 4/17/1968
1970
ΤΚΕ - 12/18/1932 ΑΕΠ - 2/23/1937 ΣΦΕ - 5/9/1948 ΘΧ - 4/23/1949 ΠΚΦ - 4/24/1949 ΠΚΑ - 2/25/1950 ΔΖ - 4/1/1946
Although secret societies were not recognized by the Drake University administation until 1921, fraternities and sororities have been a part of campus life for almost 120 years. Here are the start dates for every brotherhood to exist at Drake. Many have come, few have remained.
1950
1930
ΣΝ - 4/15/1891 ΓΣΚ - 10/11/1906 ΤΨ - 4/17/1907 ΓΓΓ - Dec.1905 ΩΔ - Oct. 1907 ΑΓΤ - 1/14/1908 ΚΚΥ - Fall 1909 ΖΦ - Oct. 1909
1910
1890
ΦΓΛ - 10/28/1912 DRAKE ΣΑΕ - 2/5/1921 FRATERNITIES ΘΝΕ - 1921
ΑΦΑ - 4/10/1922 ΑΤΩ - 4/28/1923 ΦΒΔ - 11/29/1924 ΚΑΨ - 11/28/1925 Square & Compass 4/30/1926 ΧΩ - 4/29/1921 ΔΓ - 4/30/1921 ΚΑΘ - 4/30/1921 ΚΚΓ - 4/30/1921 ΑΧΩ - 6/10/1921 ΑΞΔ - 10/10/1921 ΑΣΑ - 1/14/1922 ΦΜ - 10/10/1922 ΖΤΔ - 5/29/1925
“This said as much about comets as the nature of interplanetary space, since the tail responds to the radiation pressure from the sun and the solar wind,” astronomy professor Charles Nelson said. After earning his Ph.D. from the University of California, Morehouse returned to Drake to teach astronomy in 1914. He moved quickly through the university’s hierarchy, reaching the presidential position in 1922. During his presidency, Morehouse made great strides in raising funds for Cowles Library, Drake Stadium and the fieldhouse, as well for as the installation of the Drake Municipal Observatory on Nov. 5, 1921. The observatory features a rotunda depicting the solar system as it looked on that day in 1921. The observatory stands at the highest point in all of Des Moines, located at the Waveland Golf Course. The observatory is run and maintained by both the city and the university, making it the only observatory in the country with this particular arrangement, according to Nelson. “It houses an eight and a fourth-inch refracting telescope, which still gives glorious views of the planets and other celestial objects,” Nelson said. The telescope was built in 1894 and donated to the university by Francis Marion Drake. Morehouse is remembered in the Royal Astronomy Society obituary as having “deep humility and unfailing courtesy... a profound genuineness and sincerity... a great love for his family and friends, spiritual aspirations to match his great stature, with human sympathy as broad as his great shoulders, a valiant crusader for understanding and tolerance.” n
& Kappa Kappa Gamma tie at 89 years Longest-run fraternity: Sigma Alpha Epsilon with 89 years Shortest run sorority at Drake: Gamma Gamma Gamma (joined Dec. 1905, non-operating by 1906) less than a year Shortest run fraternity at Drake: Phi Sigma Omega (joined Feb. 26 1963 – left 1966) 3 years compiled by MEGAN BANNISTER (megan.bannister@drake.edu)
From unrecognized, disrespected to campus leaders Greek community's role has evolved significantly over 120 years at Drake by SAMI RICHMOND
Staff Writer samantha.richmond@drake.edu
When the first fraternity and sorority chapters were recognized on Drake University’s campus, women had just gained the right to vote. Both the Great Depression and World War II were years away. During this time in American history, members of the Greek system were slow to be recognized. Original brothers and sisters on Drake’s campus in 1921 were disrespected and looked down upon. Eighty-nine years later, that reality has changed. Student members of Greek life at Drake are actively engaged in many campus activities, gaining respect for the Greek system that once lacked it. With Drake’s fraternity and sorority system continually growing, about 30 percent of Drake students are members of Greek life today, according to Drake’s Frater-
nity and Sorority Life Web site. Members of Greek life are especially active in leadership positions on Drake’s campus. Leigh Thiedeman, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, said numerous student senators, Peer Mentor Academc Consultants (PMACs) and officers of non-Greek organizatons are members of fraternites and sororties. “We’re very proud of how involved the students are from the Greek community,” Thiedeman said. “I think there is a big correlation (between Greeks and leadership),” Tyler Boggess said. “Just at first glance, Greek students are more involved and more engaged on campus.” Boggess is a senior radio/TV production major who has been involved in a multitude of leadership groups during his time at Drake. He serves as journalism senator and works in the admissions office as a student ambassador. He has also represented his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, by serving as president for
a term earlier this school year. He believes many members of Greek chapters tend to be more involved because they have connections to organizations. “If you know someone in an organization, you go in with more confidence,” Boggess said. “Greek students take pride in being involved.” Besides being involved, Drake sorority and fraternity members also earn a higher average GPA than the all-university average. This past year, the all-Greek average GPA was 3.24, compared to an all-university average of 3.18. “When being involved in Greek life, it’s a general rule that academics come first, which is something I think is important,” first-year student Hannah Pink said. Pink is a first-year graphic design and drawing double-major, as well as a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. She recently received a PMAC position for summer 2010 and serves on Student Activity Board’s Public Relations Committee.
While membership in multiple organizations can take time away from classes, both Pink and Boggess understand that students can take a break from Greek life when they need to focus on grades. “In our house, there’s a big emphasis on grades,” Boggess said. “There’s motivation to get it done, because you’re representing your house with your GPA.” For some, being a part of fraternity and sorority life goes beyond helping students at Drake. For example, Boggess will serve as a regional director for his fraternity following graduation this spring. This means he will be touring a region of the country, informing them about Sigma Phi Epsilon. Both Boggess and Pink believe being part of Greek life is a lifelong commitment. “You really want to make it something special, something you can be proud of,” Pink said. “It sets you up for different opportunities, even to be a leader if you want to be.” n
1941 SPEED
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THE TIMES-DELPHIC
>>After the U.S. entered WWII Drake adjusted the curriculum so that a man could complete his degree in two years and seven months before enlisting later.
Civilian pilots expect Uncle Sam’s call FIRST-HAND VIEW Des Moines native John Wetherell saw how World War II and subsequent conflicts changed his hometown. After graduating from Iowa State University, he served as a naval lieutenant in the Korean War. Wetherell has a unique perspective on how conflict has changed the United States. How old were you when you decided to join the military? In 1948, I started school at ISU and enrolled in ROTC navy, and that was my first connection as a freshman at ISU. Well, I had some training in San Diego at Treasure Island and then was assigned to a destroyer, whose home port was Pearl Harbor. Then I spent one navy tour in the Korean conflict. What was Des Moines like when the Korean War began? Very remote. I knew while I was at ISU that we would be called up to active duty, and get our orders for active duty after graduation. I wanted to be somewhere where something was happening rather than the Atlantic Theater. But the feeling overall was kind of remote. There was hardly any chance of being seriously hurt, wounded or killed. How do you think U.S. foreign relations have changed since the 1940s? Things weren’t nearly as complicated as they are now. We thought that when we were seeing the cut-ultimate of the U.S. in WWII and the Korean War, but we were wrong. Why is it important to talk about WWII and the Korean War today? I suppose there is a lesson to be learned. And the situation these days is really completely different. In Japan and Korea there was one enemy and now we have hundreds of enemies. Things are just different now, and we are sure who are our enemies but will most likely never use nuclear devices to punish them. Do you think U.S. pride has strengthened or weakened over the years? I think it has lessened to some extent from the aftermath of WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Vietnam was just a bad situation and I think it soured a lot of citizens. Vietnam veterans didn’t have any parades and was vilified almost. interview by EMILY LEE | Staff Writer
The bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, had a significant impact on Drake University. Many men enlisted, worrying many university officials about enrollment numbers. Specific groups at Drake were impacted more specifically, such as the students in the Civil Aeronautics Authority pilot training program. By John Brintz Drake’s CAA students seem to be united in their opinions of what role they, as aviators, will play in the present national crisis. The question asked each of the three flyers interviewed was: In what way do you believe that our present national crisis will affect you as a CAA student? ‘No Fooling Around’ Ray Jennings, C3 Des Moines: More than likely we will be taken into the army or navy. In fact, I believe most of us have looked at this Civilian Pilot Training program as a program designed to train men for the government air corps. We’re going straight through with our training. There isn’t any fooling around any longer. Loren Pollet, A4 Hammond, Ind.: There is no doubt in my mind but what the program will be extended and the training made more intensive in order to equip CPT students to enter the army or navy air corps. ‘To Extend Program’ Van Wifvat, L1 Perry: No doubt but what we will be taken later into the army and navy air corps. I don’t mind if I do have to go—I would like to hand out a few slaps at the Japs. They(the United States Government) have some 10,000 CPT pilots in the country. That
photos courtesy of THE DES MOINES REGISTER SEVERAL DRAKE STUDENTS receive flight instruction as part of the 1938 Civil Aeronautics Authority pilot training course. ought to be the basis of an air corps and air arm of unprecedented power. Dr. Paul S. Helmick, director of the CPT program at Drake: I don’t believe there will be an immediate affect on them, at least not right at the present. It is true that many of the fellows in the past who have taken CPT
have joined the army and navy air corps and I think a greater number of them will join now. I think too, that the program in general will be extended to accommodate the large number of men who will wish to be trained in the air before going into service for their country.
Fulbright offers connections in a shrinking world by TREVOR FUNK
Staff Writer trevor.funk@drake.edu
Since World War II, globalization has become a part of everyday life. Americans and the rest of the world promoting understanding was key to living peacefully with each other. In 1946, Sen. J. William Fulbright started the Fulbright program to help promote such understanding by sending American students, teachers and professionals out into the world to teach, learn, interact, and understand. Drake students are well represented in the Fulbright Program. The school has sent nine scholars in the last five years. Drake ranks No. 2 in master’s degree institutions that have sent Fulbright Scholars abroad. The university has sent students to places like South Korea, Venezuela and Azerbaijan. Many of them have taught English, but others are involved in areas such as business, politics and environmental science. Drake’s success at crafting students into global citizens can be
seen in the Fulbright Program. Fulbright was the longest-tenured chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. According to the State Department’s Web site, Fulbright “had profound influence on America’s foreign policy, and his vision for mutual understanding shaped the extraordinary exchange program bearing his name.” Fulbright started the program due to the breakout of World War II. He saw a need for better foreign relations after the war. His bill was unanimously passed and “drew strength from the U.S.’s national commitment to develop post war leadership and engage constructively with the community of nations.” The first participants in the program were sent overseas in 1948. Today, there are over 250,000 Fulbright Scholars and Alumni. Those selected by the program have the responsibility of representing the United States personally. These men and women do this in different ways. Scholars are not just responsible for academics. They participate in face-to-face dialogues with their counterparts in 155 countries around the world. They are
there to understand other cultures and to promote U.S. values. The program also brings over scholars from foreign countries to the United States. They perform similar roles. They teach classes, learn about America’s culture and values and promote understanding of their country’s culture. Musa Umar, a scholar from Nigeria, blogged about his experience. “My perspective about the United States and existing stereotypes changed during my pre-academic program,” said Umar. “As we interacted, race, color, ethnicity, language and religion became secondary. I saw people for themselves first before I saw where they came from, their colors, or beliefs.” It is not easy to get accepted into the program. Applicants go through a rigorous review and interview process. Only the best and brightest make it past the cuts and are accepted. Qualified applicants excel academically, are involved on campus or in the community, and also have experience with diversity. Those who are selected receive a grant to pay their way to their destination. n
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki THE TRAVELING EXHIBIT included drawings made by survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bomb and video testimonies of survivors. by EMILY LEE
Staff Writer emily.lee@drake.edu
In 1945, President Harry Truman made one of the most controversial decisions in American political history: To drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The effects of the decision are still present in modern politics, and Drake University revisited the physical and political fallout of the atomic blasts in a traveling exhibit Feb. 8 to March 31. “Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki” was brought to the Collier Heritage Room in Cowles Library from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Japan. The museum created a traveling exhibit to be sent to interested universities and organizations for display. Drake politics professor Mary McCarthy arranged two additional speakers to discuss related topics. McCarthy requested to host the exhibit at Drake because it complemented the course she’s teaching, “Japan in the World: Issues of War and Memory.” In class
they discuss the experiences of the Japanese theater in WWII, and the impact it has had on modern relations with the United States, China and Korea. The museum gave Drake artifacts, pictures and 15 video testimonies from survivors to put on display for the exhibit. On display were pictures of Hiroshima and Nagaskai before and after the bombing. Artifacts and sketches of Japanese citizens affected by the bombing were on display with short stories explaining them. The museum also set up a live Web conference, which featured a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing. “The museum created this exhibit now because that generation is passing away, and soon we won’t be able to hear those stories live,” McCarthy said. “(The veterans and survivors) want to tell their stories because they have moral obligations or personal reasons to tell them.” The exhibit brings attention to the Japanese perspective of the bombings, which greatly contrasts that of the American standpoint. The exhibit allowed the public to look at the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from a global perspective.
file photos by TYLER O’NEIL | Relays Editor
Drake history professor Michael Chiang also gave a lecture called “Countdown to Peace: The A-Bomb and Japan’s decision to Surrender” in conjunction with the event. The discussion explored the reasons behind the decision of the bombings and the Japanese surrender. Drake Vice Provost John Burney hosted an event where participants were given the same information as the Truman administration and asked if they would drop the bombs. “I think the exhibit was very successful, and was an excellent learning opportunity for the students,” McCarthy said. “I thought the exhibit was good because I don’t think many people actually know about the bombing,” said Jordan Murphy, a senior Drake student. She said the Drake community was able to learn and understand the impacts of the atomic bombing on the Japanese people and the government. “If we don’t understand the past, we cannot understand contemporary politics,” McCarthy said. n
1970 SPEED
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>>A dynamite bomb laid by a radical anti-war protestor damaged a large portion of Harvey Ingham Hall on June 28, 1970. No one was injured.
Senators Threatened Drake University, like much of the nation, experience some of its most turbulant times in the 1970s. Students hosted massive peaceful protests while others resorted to violence; Harvey Ingham Hall was bombed in the summer of 1970. When it came to the controversial decision to establish a university sponsered ROTC program, some tried using extortion. Two student Senators received threatening phone calls Wednesday afternoon, apparently as a result of the views on the ROTC issue before the Educational Policies Committee. Gary Fletcher, former S-FC vicepresident, received a call at approximately 3 p.m. According to Fletch, he was told, “We know how you feel about ROTC, and if vote to support the committee’s (EPC) decision, you’ll get the shit kicked out of you.” At approximately 5:50 p.m., Senator Tom Zurek received a phone call. Fletcher state that Zureck was told, “We know what you think of the ROTC issue, but think about it before you vote.” “We don’t know who made the calls,” said Vice-President of Student Life Don Adams, “but no threat upon their lives was made.” Adams also said that he couldn’t be sure from which side (pro-ROTC or anti-ROTC) the calls came. According to him, both were merely told “to watch how they vote.”
file photo by TYLER O’NEIL | Relays Editor A MASSIVE CROWD gathers near downtown Des Moines to celebrate the April 3, 2009, Iowa Supreme Court decision to allow same-sex marriage. Multiple attempts to reverse the ban have been halted by activist groups.
Fighting for equality on all fronts Racial equality
Marriage equality
THE MOVEMENT
Racial injustice in the 1970s yielded Last April, the Iowa Supreme Court by GABRIELL BUTLER intense reactions from Drake students. ruled that limiting the union of marriage to Staff Writer gabriell.butler@drake.edu Wanda Everage, the current Vice Provost of a man and a woman was unconstitutional. Drake University and a Drake alumna, reIowa became the third state in the U.S. and members the civil unrest created after the assassination of the first state in the Midwest to allow same-sex marriages. Martin Luther King, Jr. Iowa joined New Hampshire and Connecticut in legalizing When she started her freshman year at Drake in the fall same-sex marriages. Vermont and Washington, D.C., quickly of 1968, the black student organization on campus strived to followed suit. Many people thought Iowa, commonly regarded make Drake students and faculty aware of issues connected as a conservative state, would never allow same-sex marriages. with the civil rights and black power movements. But according to The Omaha World Herald, there have been “You have to be willing to be visible, take a stand and folks over 1,700 same sex marriages in the state since April 2009. know where you stand,” Everage said. Jennifer Harvey, professor of religion and ethics at Drake, Although the black power movement was often associated believes that marriage is a right that everyone deserves. with violent acts, Everage did not agree with using violence as “In terms of civic rights, marriage is a legal matter, we get a way for other people to listen. rights conferred by the state and the federal government when “Stand up for what’s right, but don’t do it in a violent man- we get married; so from that perspective, obviously I believe ner,” Everage said. “I have always been brought up to believe that everybody should have access to those rights,” Harvey that you fight ignorance with intelligence.” said. “And a certain group of people should not be discrimiRacism was one of many volatile issues student activists nated against because they have a different sexual orientation. faced during the 1970s. Although these issues still exist, Ever- If (the state) believes in equality, then that’s our commitment age said she believes that it is subtler now than before. as a society, then everyone should have access to those same “I’ve learned to respect each generation in what they are rights.” dealing with and let them handle how they want to address inHarvey has been married to her partner since 2006, but justice,” Everage said. “Part of me feels like students are more she was not legally married until after the Iowa Supreme Court passive in stepping up and speaking out against injustice.” decision. Everage said looking down on students for standing on the “When the state disallows you to get married, that doesn’t sidelines will not encourage them to participate. mean the state is right,” Harvey said. “It bothers me when my generation looks down on your It is difficult to change Iowa’s constitution, so the legalizageneration and say they don’t care, they are not as actively tion of same-sex marriage could last for a significant time in involved than we were,” Everage said. “Times are different, give Iowa. But Harvey believes that people should still stand up for them a chance.” issues that they believe in. Social networking is a sign of times changed, and she rec“People who support equality need to be vigilant and keep ognizes its efficacy as a way for students to voice their opin- advocating to the legislature,” she said. “I don’t think we can ions and thoughts. take for granted that it will stay on its own; people have to con“For this generation, social networking can be as powerful tinue fighting for it.” as standing in front of a building,” Everage said. “I think stuHarvey notes the interest that Drake students are currently dents now have more power than they imagine.” n showing about the issue of equal marriage rights. She recognizes how careful of an approach that Drake students have taken in counter-protesting anti-gay rights events. Harvey wants students to be creative and positive in what they are doing and not fall into the trap of negative shouting matches. “I’m really proud of Drake students being willing to take this on,” Harvey said of the counter protest organized in reaction to a demonstration on Drake’s campus by the Westboro Baptist Church on April 10. “I think it is important to publicly stand up for what our values are.” n
COUNTERPROTESTORS assemble across the street from members of the Westboro Baptist Church. Around 500 Drake students and Des Moines residents showed up on April 9; Drake students march along University Avenue to express their disapproval for the Gulf War in 1991; Drake students yell slogans of peace across the street at the six members of the Westboro Baptist Church who showed up to protest a law school symposium on gay marriage; A man shows a peace sign at the 1970 Day of Peace at Drake University. top left photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor left center The Times-Delphic file photo left bottom photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor right bottom The Times-Delphic file photo
1991 SPEED
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>>Thanks to Levitt’s campaigns, Drake University was able to engage in its largest construction projects since World War II.
Running made a special connection Maxwell, Drake fuse though sport by MARY HONEYMAN
Staff Writer mary.honeyman@drake.edu
Drake University President David Maxwell knows running, and not just because he’s watched the past 10 years of the Drake Relays. Running is President Maxwell’s exercise of choice, and he’s been pounding the pavement for the last 30 years. Maxwell said he was actually a baseball player, not a runner, in his youth. The running hobby started after a health check-up in Maxwell’s 30s where his doctor, a marathon runner himself, suggested Maxwell take up the sport to stay in shape. “He told me to go home, run for half an hour, and tell him how I felt afterward,” Maxwell said. “(After I finished) I just about had to crawl up my friend’s stairs—I’ve never been so tired in my life.” After that first 30–minute reality check, Maxwell got serious about his health and serious about running. A year later, he was up to six miles a day. “There was a time I was up to 60 miles a week, but these days I’m lucky if I get in 20 miles a week because of time,” Maxwell said. Maxwell says staying healthy is his main reason for continuing to run, but also loves the personal time his workouts allow him. “It’s my mini vacation,” Maxwell said. “I put my iPod on and it’s 45 minutes to an hour of va-
cation—I disappear into the music and work out.” Because he had a late start to running, Maxwell never had a chance to compete in the Drake Relays. His first Relays experience was a few months before he took over as president of the university in the spring of 1999. “Of course I had heard of the Relays, but I remember thinking, ‘Am I really going to fly to Iowa for a track meet?’” Maxwell said. He says it wasn’t until he made that trip that he realized it was a centerpiece to Drake alumni and student’s social calendars. In 2005, Maxwell said he described the Relays as “Mardi Gras in spandex.” The phrase caught on and ended up on that year’s Drake Relays T-shirts. This year, two new events were created to connect the Relays to the greater Des Moines community: Downtown Street Painting and the running of the Grand Blue Mile. “We are reconnecting and reintegrating (the Drake Relays) to Des Moines,” Maxwell said. “Des Moines has reclaimed ownership of the Relays.” n
DAVID MAXWELL runs in a 10K in Bedford, Mass., in the late ‘80s. Maxwell’s love of running has allowed him to better connect with Drake and the Des Moines community. photo courtesy of DAVID MAXWELL
Levitt’s life, campaigns changed the face of Drake by LAURA WITTREN
Staff Writer laura.wittren@drake.edu
When Madelyn Levitt died at the age of 82 in November of 2007, the campus mourned the loss of one of the campus’ most loved and respected figureheads. Although she’s gone, her legacy lives on at Drake. Levitt was the chair of the annual campaign for United Way of Central Iowa in 1985. Information provided by the Drake President’s Office said in adLevitt dition to being the first woman to chair the campaign, she also raised more money than ever. Drake President Michael R. Ferrari invited her to lunch in 1987. Following the lunch, she was named the national chair of the $115 million campaign for Drake. The chaos of street painting hasn’t changed much between the 1990s and today. By Marc Topkin I walked toward Carpenter Avenue Sunday, a little hesitant of what was ahead. A big crowd sandwiched an even larger group of people on their hands and knees on the street. As I got closer, things began to fall into place. I was about to witness, and eventually become a part of, my first Drake Relays street painting crew. Being a freshman, I had never witnessed such an event before. Sure, I had passed by the fruits of last year’s competition innumerable times but I didn’t really know what to expect. As I joined the throngs of students, I realized that the competition was based on a party atmosphere. A sound system blared all forms of music and nearly everyone carried an open can or bottle of something to drink. The weather cooperated fully, allowing people to bask in the sun as they worked. I intended just to watch, from a slight distance, a group of my friends painting their square. I managed to
The 1994 campaign was her first campaign for Drake. Under her leadership, they exceeded their goal, earning $130 million for the university. She was also recognized as the first woman in the U.S. to raise $100 million or more for a co-educational college or university. Her second campaign came in 2002. She served as national chair of “Campaign Drake,” which raised $190 million in 2002 and earned her the distinction of being the first person to chair two consecutive campaigns of $100 million or more in the same decade for a U.S. college or university. During the two campaigns, she contributed nearly $10 million of her own money and traveled 550,000 miles to meet with Drake alumni and friends across the country. In recognition of her remarkable role in the success of Drake’s campaigns, the university presented her with a set of airplane seats, called “The Maddie Levitt Endowed Chair of Fundraising.” The newly restored reception hall in Old Main was named the Madelyn Levitt Hall of Honor. May 31 was proclaimed “Maddie Levitt Day.” Drake also desig-
nated the wide sidewalk near Old Main as “Maddie Levitt Lane,” where she parked her Volkswagen Beetle. Levitt’s motto was, “there’s no fun like work”—a favorite saying of her father’s that she displayed in her Old Main office. Levitt lived up to this quote with all she’s done for Drake and other organizations, said Diane Caldbeck, associate vice president of alumni and development at Drake. “There’s a lot of truth in that saying,” said Caldbeck, who traveled extensively with Levitt. “But I’d say that there’s no fun like working with Maddie.” Levitt never passed up an opportunity to interact with students. “She loved our students,” President David Maxwell said, “and she was always at her happiest with them.” When Maddie talked to people about supporting Drake, she didn’t sound like a marketing brochure or a case statement—it came straight from her heart; it was real and everyone knew it.” In March 1995, the National Society of Fund Raising Executives recognized her as the 1995 Outstanding Philanthropist. In addition to her service to Drake,
Levitt devoted herself to many other community causes. She established a special award to recognize outstanding contributions of Drake faculty and staff to the Drake community in 1996. In her article “New Directions for Philanthropic Fundraising,” she wrote, “Never become discouraged- you win some, but you don’t lose any; you simply defer them.” Levitt ultimately donated $5 million of her own money to the first campaign. Following Levitt’s death, Iowa Gov. Chet Culver and Lt. Gov. Patty Judge said in a statement: “We were very saddened by the news of Maddie Levitt’s death. She was a kind, gentle woman known for her abundant generosity. She gave to worthy causes and encouraged others to give, but we believe she will be remembered most for her kindness. Maddie’s gentle spirit touched people from all walks of life and she will be greatly missed.” When Levitt died in 2007, Drake lost its most cheerful, enthusiastic and devoted volunteer, fundraiser and benefactor. However, Drake did not lose her legacy. n
‘I planned to watch’
do this for about 30 minutes before someone asked me to help. Before I knew it, I was a fullfledged painter working under an approaching time limit. As the deadline drew closer, I grew restless and applied some color to a fellow painter’s foot. She retaliated and soon we both had a nicesized paint splotches on our bodies. The others in the square soon picked up on our fun. In less than 30 minutes, the better part of eight bodies were covered with paint. While pouring paint on each other may have been amusing, spending the next hour in the sun with paint from head to toe wasn’t. As I strolled around, intent on checking out the other squares, I began to realize how ridiculous I must have looked. People would look up at me, look down and then look back up at me again. When it was all over and it was time to head back to the dorms, the Chemistry Club was declared the official winner. But believe a “real” participant. The true winners were everyone out there, whether they were painters, The Times-Delphic file photo designers, supervisors, spectators, or in my case, a bewildered freshman PATIENT STUDENTS carefully outline their painted square design before chaos descended on Carpenter decorated with paint. Avenue in the late 1980s.
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>>The Times-Delphic is transforming from a print-centric publication to a viable anytime news source online.
HE DWV BY T NUMBERS
In 2008, Drake University’s $37 million housing complex, Drake West Village, officially opened at 31st Street and Carpenter Avenue. The threebuilding development occupies 226,000 square feet and contains 489 apartments. A lot went into making the complex a reality: 51,000 square feet of sod – just a little under a football field (including end zones) 131 tons of structural steel and steel fabrications – approximately half the weight of the entire Drake undergraduate student body 252 tons of rock ballast on the roofs – approximately the weight of 10,000 bulldogs (bulldogs weigh about 52 pounds) 4,047 cubic yards of concrete – enough to fill approximately 1.25 Olympic-size swimming pools 1.37 million board feet of file photo by SARAH ANDREWS | Photo/Design Editor lumber – all the boards laid end to end would reach from ANNA EDWARDS smokes a cigarette immediately off of Drake’s campus. After smoking was banned on university grounds, students and employees Sioux City to Dubuque with were pushed to surrounding sidewalks. some wood to spare
High compliance rates come with ban by BIANCA OLVERA LOPEZ Staff Writer bianca.olveralopez@drake.edu
Since the Iowa Smoke-Free Air Act was passed into law in 2008, compliance rates have been extremely high. Despite initial reluctance from a handful of Drake students, the university has not seen serious problems. An Iowa Department of Public Health report indicated there were only 1,400 valid smoking complaints in the first year of the law. Polk County has had a 98 percent compliance rate. The law also meant areas such as campus grounds and the parking lots, illegal to smoke in. After almost two years, Director of Drake Security Hans Hanson said he doesn’t think smoking on campus is a big problem. Hanson explained that Drake security does not issue tickets and there is no public record of citations on campus. After almost two years of the law being in play, there have not been many complaints,
A Rainbow in the Clouds
@ Maya Angelou visits Drake
except for those that have been found off campus or within the dorms. The names of violators are then forwarded to the dean of students. Hanson said there’s a fine line between private and public property. Case in point, students can smoke on sidewalks bordering campus. Hanson says people tend to forget or don’t realize that there are legal smoking areas around campus, and falsely accuse authorities for bad regulating, even when it’s not their job. Naturally, Drake was expected to “selfregulate.” Their first initiation was to establish a method of community enforcement, meaning that smokers should be encountered by anybody who is a part of the Drake community and receive verbal warnings. Venessa Macro, director of human resources said “the smoking ban is treated just like any other policy required by state or federal law and smoking employees are regulated by individual managers, who address the issue with the employee and take the steps necessary to ensure future viola-
Staying silent, feeling alone
Examination of sexual assualt
tions do not occur.” She also said “monitoring of smoking on campus is a shared responsibility.” She assures that campus administrators, managers, security personnel and those responsible for facilities open to the public have all been informed of the law’s requirements. “We worked with these groups to provide examples of how to approach someone they might see smoking on campus,” Macro said. Drake also created signs around the campus, notifying visitors and reminding the Drake community to not smoke on campus. Smokers should be aware of the areas around campus that are legal for smoking in order to prevent encounters. These areas include the sidewalks of the perimeter of the university and the sidewalks of 27th Street near Cartwright Hall, an area often mistaken as a illegal smoking zone. For more information or to submit a complaint visit iowasmokefreeair.gov or call 1-888-944-2247. n
Suspicious pack found at Howard
Breaking campus news coverage
17,843 square yards of carpet – enough to cover approximately 3.7 acres 74,000 linear feet of wall base —approximately 14 miles or 57 laps around the Drake Stadium track
Fraternity suspended from Drake Examination of major issues
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