Viewfinder | Volume 5, Issue 4 by Viewfinder GV

VOLUME 5 | ISSUE 4

f ind o ut mo r e a bo u t

Women in...

EDUCATION POLICING WRESTLING

Taylor Thomas Editor-in-Chief

Caleb Grizzle Editor-in-Chief

Camden Blowers

Viewfinder Staff

Assignment Editor

Karleigh Halpin Assignment Editor

Letter from the Editor Taylor Thomas Editor-in-Chief

Ashlee Seaton Assignment Editor

Mayeli Jimenez Photo Editor

Erick Villar Photo Editor

Paula Borda Design Editor

Hi everyone! Welcome to the first issue of the spring semester. It means the world that you picked this one up, as every editor, reporter and photographer has poured their hearts into creating our biggest issue yet! On page 7 you’ll find a sweet treat, Sami Hallaway reviews Crumbl Cookies’ newest location. On page 9, Olympian-turned-student Ben Provisor shares his story. Caleb Grizzle is back again with a feature about the relationship between the media, athletes and sexual assault on page 13. On page 21 you’ll find a story about the women of the police force in the Des Moines Metro, and how they tackle a male-dominated field. Lastly on page 25, Mayeli Jimenez highlights the hardworking women on Grand View’s wrestling team in our first photo story. I hope you enjoy this one, and don’t forget to pick up the May issue before summer!

Erin Kim Cho Advisor

KC McGinnis

Cover Story

Advisor

Find more stories from the Viewfinder staff at viewfindergv.com Comments? viewfindergv@grandview.edu

Take a look at our Grand View Women’s Wrestling team through a gallery of photos starting on page 25. Cover photo by Mayeli Jimenez

tropical tranquility | By Taylor Thomas

Educational Battleground | By Ashley Weaver

Are You Ready to Crumbl?! | By Sami Hallaway

Ben Provisor | By Chase McLaren

Supplements | By Claire Maixner

the Hull Tavern | By Donminic Goosby

Turning a Blind Eye | By Caleb Grizzle

The Beauty of Trust | By Carly McCoy

Women in Policing | By Taylor Thomas

Womens Wrestling | By Mayeli Jimenez

Tropical Tranquility Written by Taylor Thomas|Photos by Cassie Yardley |Designed by Caleb Grizzle In August of 2021, Des Moines welcomed its very own tropical getaway, Kava DSM. A community collaboration, as their website states, Kava has partnered with several local Des Moines small businesses to create a café that includes smoothies and smoothie bowls, salads, soups, coffee and tea, gelato and even gluten-free waffles—all of which are special-diet safe. Ava Outlaw, the daughter of the owners, says that Kava’s customers really like the plants, the music and the overall vibe of the place. From floor to ceiling and everywhere in between, there are beautiful hanging and standing plants provided by a local Des Moines florist. These give the café a jungle-esque atmosphere, making it not only relaxing, but Instagram-worthy. Outlaw also mentioned that besides the atmosphere, the customers love the food. “Our food is really good, and they always come back for more,” Outlaw said. Employee Ashe Dail agrees with Outlaw that the food and atmosphere are unmatched. Dail has been an employee since October 2021, and as someone living with Celiac disease, they appreciate the accessibility to healthy, gluten-free foods. “I like that it’s kind of a niche that isn’t necessarily fulfilled on this side of town,” Dail said.

According to Dail, customers with health restrictions or special diets light up when they visit Kava. Having access to foods they normally don’t get to eat, like waffles or oat milk gelato, is something special. The customer base is not limited to those with special diets. From med students to Sunday morning sketch artists, Kava has drawn the attention of the masses. Dail mentioned that it could be because of the free wifi, but also attributed their popularity to the overall atmosphere. Susan Smith, a regular customer turned part-time employee, just started working at Kava at the end of February. She was first intrigued by Kava’s promotions as she watched the area develop. She stopped in one day, had some gelato, and the rest is history. As a customer, Smith, like Dail, was interested by the wholefoods aspect of the café. She enjoys Kava’s salads because they are fresh, organic and include nothing processed. Besides the salads, Smith has enjoyed almost everything on the menu. “They’ve got great coffee, they’ve got wonderful gelato, and they have it in the oat milk so it doesn’t have any dairy,” Smith said. Smith also mentioned that Kava’s prices are competitive with other similar spots around Des

Moines. “I find their prices to be really comparable to what I might pay somewhere else,” Smith said. Smith was in the market for part-time work, and Kava just so happened to fit the bill. “I was really wanting to be somewhere that had the same kind of values that I have, which is whole foods, more organic, not a lot of processed stuff,” Smith said. With a fully stocked menu to choose from, all three had a favorite menu item to share. Outlaw mentioned both the Choco Banana smoothie and the waffles as her favorites. Dail picked out the mushroom waffle toast—made with locally grown mushrooms, vegan cream cheese, and a special New Jersey salt to top off the savory treat. Because “all of it” wasn’t an option, Smith decided to name a few of her favorites, including the sweet potato soup, the oat milk latte, and the oat milk gelato. “Oh, and the waffles! The waffles are to die for,” Smith said. Kava DSM’s unique atmosphere and health-forward menu make it a perfect spot to grab a bite to eat or to relax in Des Moines’ version of a tropical oasis. The owners of Kava DSM could not be reached for comment.

Educational Battleground

Provided Photos

By Ashley Weaver | Photographs by Ashley Weaver and Provided Photos | Designed by Erick Villar [Author’s note: All views expressed by Brigid Ernst in this article are hers and hers alone and are not representative of the views of the Southeast Polk School Board.] Politics and schools have a complicated relationship to say the least. Whether it is on the issue of racial segregation (Brown v. Board of Education, 1954), or teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT) in 2022, politics and education are intertwined. However, for newly elected Southeast Polk School District board member Brigid Ernst, the hope is to create a school environment focused less on politics and partisanship, and more on acceptance and education. Ernst’s resume in education is quite impressive. Beyond her new position as a board member, she has worked as a completion coach at Grand View University, a substitute teacher, and a long time member of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Through the years, she has cultivated many relationships that cross the political aisle in the name of better resources and opportunities for students. While KCCI reports that Ernst won her seat on the board with mostly democratic support, Ernst herself feels as though this is misleading and a misrepresentation of the many independent voters in the Des Moines Metro area. “There are lots of people from the area who would consider themselves more independent than one party or another,” Ernst said. “ I know they don’t necessarily always vote the same way but because of the years that I established relationships and trust that I was able to get that crossover.” Her coworker at GV, Dani Gronek, reiterated the sentiment that Ernst has done well at remaining neutral. “I think everything is politically charged right now, which can be a challenge, but she’s handled it gracefully and has her views on things but still tries to remain neutral in the sense of serving the community,” Gronek said. “But she’s also

not afraid to speak out on things if that’s what she thinks is right.” While no stranger to politics, Ernst put an emphasis on pushing past the distractions of partisanship in order to build relationships and focus on issues that meet common goals and put the student first. “She is super personable, she is super caring for all of her students; always putting the students first before anyone else,” Gronek said. Ernst’s job as a board member is to govern and oversee the big picture. “I feel like the overall goal of students being successful, increasing graduation rates and academic achievement, increasing the metrics that we have; that should be the goal of anyone, that should really be the goal of the board,” Ernst said. While it may seem as though Ernst is taking a relatively hands-off approach, she makes it clear that she sees issues such as CRT to be both relevant to discuss, but also an issue which overall is more distracting than not. “I think having that [the role of the board], when people come forward with social issues, I feel like it’s distracting to the overall goal, and they are not necessarily where the board’s focus should be,” Ernst said. One of the most pressing issues in recent times due to the pandemic has been mental health; an issue on which Ernst put a key focus on during her campaign. According to a study done by Holly Wilcox, PHD, MA, professor of mental health at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and her team, during the COVID-19 pandemic over 50% of teenagers have reported an either great or moderate increase in changes, stress, and problems. Additionally, the study returned results that a subset of participants experienced either a “great deal (19%)” or “moderate (17%)” increase in depression. This comes alongside large numbers of students reporting changes in eating habits and sleep behavior. Ernst

made it clear that the issue is one that is at the forefront of her mind and does not have a one-size-fits-all solution. “That’s the big question and that’s my background educationally. My bachelors is in Psychology, I went to Drake University and I’ve always had a bend towards mental health and counseling. I wanted to make sure I was advocating for that [mental health issues] in the schools. Do I have a great answer? No, but I do know it’s on the radar everywhere and we have great resources and they [Southeast Polk County Schools] have increased a lot of their teacher development,” Ernst said. “Mental health first aid is a course being offered for professional development. I think that’s not something there’s a magic answer or a set of solutions to. I think there’s a set of a lot of solutions; we have to keep looking at it carefully and taking it seriously.” However, students are not the only ones facing mental health issues. Ernst, a long time parent and teacher, spoke at length about some of the struggles facing teachers these last few years. With an increase in parent involvement in the education system, something Ernst greatly encourages, she quotes teachers as feeling “demoralized” and longtime parent members of the PTA being “frustrated” with the actions and agendas of some of the new parents joining the PTA. According to Ernst, teachers want parents to understand that they are on the same team and both want what is best for their students. Ernst understands that politics, partisanship, and COVID-19 related issues are all a part of the education system as it currently stands. However, she firmly believes that with teamwork and proper resources, Southeast Polk has the staff and students to affect change, improve mental health, and create a safe learning environment for everyone.

Are You Ready to

Crumbl?!

By Sami Hallaway | Photos by Danielle Castillo Designed by Caleb Grizzle Chocolate chip cookies have been a staple in American culture since their creation nearly a century ago. While there is still much debate over who makes the best version of this classic sweet treat, many today say the owner of that title is Crumbl Cookies. As the sole menu item at the first Crumbl Cookies bakery, chocolate chip cookies might just be the heart of the company. However, this once-small bakery from Logan, Utah has quickly become an internet sensation and a nationwide franchise. Since its opening in 2017, Crumbl Cookies has rapidly grown to have 367 bakeries across the United States. Crumbl is now bringing their sweet treats to the Des Moines Metro, with their newest franchise location in Ankeny, Iowa, whose residents appear to be welcoming it with open arms. The business has been booming at the Ankeny location since its opening in mid-January, with lines outside the door and customers waiting up to two hours for a cookie. “It has been absolutely humbling the amount of business that’s coming through the door,” Ty Andersen, the son of the franchise co-owner Rhett Andersen, said. Working over 50 hours a week, Andersen has invested sweat and tears into the operation of highly successful franchise. “We’ve had to hire almost two to three times the employees that we originally anticipated and we’re still going,” Andersen said. Perhaps it’s the rotating weekly cookie menu that has caught the public’s eye. The Milk Chocolate Chip and Vanilla

Sugar cookies are the two cookie options that are available week to week. The others are chosen from a selection of over 170 cookie recipes in rotation. Therefore, each week there are new flavors to fall in love with. For those who prefer a cold treat, Crumbl Cookies also serves a variety of Crumbl Cream. This ice cream has flavors including brownie fudge, cookie dough crunch, peanut butter brittle, raspberry cheesecake, snickerdoodle and vanilla bean which makes Crumbl Cookies a destination where there is something for everyone. Grand View University freshman, Jersey Bender, first learned about Crumbl Cookies years ago when one of their videos appeared on her TikTok. However, it was not until she tried one of their cookies this fall in Vermillion, South Dakota, that she became a true fan. After hearing Crumbl Cookies was opening in Ankeny, Bender was thrilled. “I was so excited. I knew I was going to go every week and I do. There hasn’t been a week that I haven’t gone,” Bender said. Her favorite cookie flavor was the cinnamon roll cookie with a cream cheese frosting on top. However, the classic sugar cookie and milk chocolate chip are always a great choice on the weeks with less appealing options. So, with her recommendations in mind, I decided to try the cookies for myself. As I walked in, I was greeted by a group of cheerful employees saying, “Welcome to Crumbl!” The bakery had three tablets available for customers to order their baked goods. After placing my order, I was able to stand back and

watch the cookies being made right in front of my eyes. The location’s open floor plan allows customers to watch the entire baking process from mixing, to the time in the oven, to decorating and being placed in the iconic pale pink box. “The fact that we make everything fresh, that we serve everything fresh, we use real ingredients and of course the Crumbl secret ingredient. It all adds up,” Andersen said. During the week of February 21st, the rotating flavors included Cornbread, Blue Monster ft. Chips Ahoy, Peanut Butter ft. Reece’s Pieces and German Chocolate Cake. I was especially interested in the Cornbread cookie. This 480-calorie cookie had a cornmeal texture, honey butter glaze, honey buttercream frosting, honey drizzle and was absolutely delicious. The cookie that surprised me the most was the German Chocolate Cake. As someone who does not like rich chocolate flavors, I was very hesitant to try it. However, the 600-calorie chocolate cookie with a layer of melted chocolate and topped with coconut pecan was a perfect balance of rich chocolate and light coconut. My personal favorite is the classic Milk Chocolate Chip cookie. This 550-calorie cookie baked with semisweet chocolate chips might just be the best chocolate chip cookie I have ever had. However, at $4 a cookie, it will have to stay a sweet treat. Nonetheless, Crumbl Cookies is definitely deserving of all of the attention its receiving and I am excited to see what new flavors the coming weeks will bring.

Ben Provisor

By Chase McLaren |Photos by Mike Knox |Designed by Caleb Grizzle Grand View University’s wrestling program has had a track record of great success. Led by Coach Nick Mitchell, the Vikings won the team National Championship nine years in a row from 2012-2020. Many National Champions and All-Americans have come and gone through the GV practice room. But in the summer of 2021, GV added a man to their team who could change the direction of the program forever. His name is Ben Provisor. Provisor’s list of accolades suggests he is one of the best Greco-Roman wrestlers in the world. He has qualified for two Olympic Games and multiple World Championships. Greco-Roman is a style of wrestling in which the athletes are not allowed to touch their opponents’ legs. This makes it tough to score points and requires an incredible amount of upper body strength. College wrestlers use folkstyle wrestling, in which wrestlers can attack their opponent’s’ legs. So how did the coaches pull off recruiting Provisor? “I am good friends with one of the assistant coaches, Grant Turner,” Provisor said. “When I found out I had eligibility, I came for a visit. It was a very natural fit

and had similar attitudes as the coaches and the team atmosphere was very welcoming.” He committed to attending GV a couple of weeks after the visit. Fresh out of high school, Provisor was already one of the best Greco-Roman wrestlers in the country. He decided to focus on Greco-Roman instead of going to college and competing in folkstyle. He trained at multiple different regional training centers all across the country as he worked to perfect his craft. At the age of 21, he won the 2012 Olympic trials, which meant he would represent the United States in the Olympics. He also won the trials in 2016, making him a back-to-back Olympian. Provisor is a three-time U.S. Open champion and a three-time Pan Am champion. Now at the age of 31, he is still looking to add more awards to his already impressive resume. “My goal here is to help this team win national titles for years to come while also getting my coaching degree,” Provisor said. His Greco career is not over; he just plans to wrestle Folkstyle as well. He will still compete in future Greco Tournaments with goals of

“

becoming a World and Olympic champion. As the oldest athlete on the team, Provisor has already taken a big leadership role. “I want to be a great example for these young kids and become a better wrestler, coach, and student each day I’m here,” Provisor said. Provisor is always trying his best to help his teammates improve. One of these teammates is Justin McCun, who also competed in Greco-Roman in the spring and summer. “Having someone that high level to wrestle with has gotten me better, especially at Greco. He’s a teammate but also a coach and breaks down everything we work on so that I can gain a deeper understanding,” McCun said. “Between him and Miljan I have two of the best Greco minds in the country in the room all the time to learn from.” GV has other wrestlers who have seen success in Greco-Roman, including McCun, freshman Gabe Lewis, and sophomore Jack Eirvin. These young wrestlers practice with Provisor when he is preparing for a Greco tournament, and he is working to help them accomplish their own goals.

pre workout:

''The reason it's not fda-approved'' By Claire Maixner | Photos by Ashley Weaver | Designed by Erick Villar Pre-workout has become a popular way to resolve a lack of physical motivation to workout despite the questions and uncertainty surrounding the product. The increasing popularity is mostly due to current marketing strategies promoted by fitness. It is common for body builders to say that they use a certain brand which helps market certain products; however, those pre-workout products are not the reason the body builders look the way they do. The main concern with current pre-workout products is that they might contain dangerous ingredients or stimulants. While this is true for many products there are still some options regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Despite this, the FDA has minimal control over supplements like pre-workout. In other words, the companies selling those products do not have to prove that they are safe, effective or high quality before they can be sold in stores. The FDA also has no power to remove the products from the shelves until they are given good reason to do so. The main danger surrounding pre-workout products today is how little we know about their ingredients. Proprietary blends are the most popular form of pre-workout. They are mixtures of multiple ingredients that do not always disclose exactly how much of each ingredient it contains. They do, however, include the names of the ingredients. By doing this, companies can advertise the good ingredients in their product despite there being very little of that ingredient involved. Although it is rare, this tactic can also be used to cover up dangerous ingredients in a product such as extremely large amounts of caffeine. How can someone know if certain products are safe to consume? This answer lies in the list of ingredients. According to LifeVault.com, “the most dangerous pre-workout ingredients are typically stimulants which are not FDA-approved”. Some of these ingredients are even banned in certain sports federations. Dangerous ingredients include DMAA, DMHA, DMBA, ephedrine, phenethylamines and 2-aminoisoheptane. DMAA is a stimulant sold in the United States, however it is banned in most sports and

is not intended for human consumption. DMAA can also constrict blood vessels and cause high blood pressure. Similarly, DMHA is banned in most sports federations and is also not intended for human consumption. Although it is not as common anymore, ephedrine is an appetite suppressant and is also found in asthma medications. Some good and safe ingredients include caffeine, creatine, beta-alanine, citrulline malate, BCAA betaine, L-theanine, L-tyrosine and taurine. Caffeine, creatine and beta-alanine are safe to a certain extent. A product should contain no more than five grams of creatine, three to four grams of beta-alanine, and 400mg of caffeine. Because of the large amounts of caffeine associated with most pre-workouts, people can form some form of addiction to it. However, it is not always the product that people get addicted to. It is the feeling of having a great workout and the feeling of having the energy to work out for longer periods of time. “That feeling can be addictive and make you think that you need it in order to have a productive workout”, said Mitch Pomeroy, exercise science student studying at Dubuque University. The placebo effect may also play a role here. People may often think that if they do not take pre-workout prior to a workout that they will not perform as well. This negative mindset will then often lead to them having a bad workout; however, the lack of pre-workout will take the blame. “I just feel like taking in all of that caffeine and other chemicals just offsets my work out because I’m taking in stuff I’m trying to burn off,” said Pomeroy. Overall, pre-workout has many positives and negatives. It all comes down to what the product is made of and how much of it is consumed. There are many pre-workout products that have great ingredients and are intended to boost performance during a workout, they just take some time to find.

The Hull T A V E R N

By Donminic Goosby | Photos by Erick Villar | Designed by Erick Villar Iowa has five bars that are still in business today since the Prohibition Act. Hull Tavern here in Des Moines is one of them. Jason Allan Boggs is the current owner of the Hull Tavern. He was enrolled at Grand View University in the Fall of 1993 as an art major and studied communications. “I’m kind of a lifelong GV student,” Boggs said. Hull Tavern opened in 1910 and has been on Hull Ave. since then. At first, the tavern was a local bar that only served beer. “There was a coal mine maybe 20 yards away from the back door so they would walk out of the coal mines come here and drink cold beer,” Boggs said. Todd Bailey, a GV Alumni and current marketing specialist for GV’s marketing department, said that the tavern only served beer as most bars did around that time. “You couldn’t get liquor,” Bailey said, “the only thing you could get was beer.” Over the years, Hull Tavern has expanded and added more entertainment and events but has always remained a go-to hangout spot. “I just try to expand upon the

things that Hull Avenue Tavern has done in the past and just tried to make it better,” Boggs said. His vision for the Tavern is to make the bar feel more welcoming on the inside as well as the outside. Boggs talked about making the outside of the bar more appealing to the public to drive people in. The history between GV and Hull Tavern goes back to the first days of the bar. “[Hull Tavern] has been serving Grand View since 1910,” Boggs said. He went to school in the 90s and remembers going down to the bar with friends to grab a drink. Ryan Greiner, a trap shooter at GV, has been to Hull Tavern a couple of times with his friends over the past two years. Greiner described the bar as “lowkey.” “It reminds me of the small bars back home,” Greiner said. When Bailey was a student at GV, he described the ambiance of the tavern as having a more relaxed dive bar feel. “You’d just hang out and have a beer with your friends,” Bailey said, “If you didn’t want to have a beer you didn’t have a beer, you’d just hang out and talk to people.” Boggs is aiming to make the

tavern into the “neighborhood bar it’s meant to be,” by adding new events throughout the week to try and draw more attention. According to Bailey, Hull Tavern didn’t hold events like it does today when he was a student. “There definitely wasn’t any karaoke happening,” Bailey said, “It was just like jukebox music and there was a pool table.” Events include bingo night, happy hour for the GV staff, live music and karaoke nights. “The first night was very successful and brought a lot of people out,” Boggs said. The Tavern seems to be at the right spot because they do special drinks for GV students all the time, any time. Bryce Dean, a hall director at GV, attended one of the Tavern’s karaoke nights. He described the night as packed full of GV students. “There were people on the stage singing all night,” Dean said. Hull Tavern is a great local spot for GV students and staff looking for a fun place to socialize. The events and nostalgic atmosphere make it a perfect place to relax with friends or reminisce about the good old days at GV.

Turning a Blind Eye By Caleb Grizzle |Photos provided by KA Sports | Designed by Caleb Grizzle

A headline from ESPN read, “Miami Dolphins won’t make trade for Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson.” This simple headline signified the buzz of the National Football League (NFL) trade deadline week and a premier star possibly on the move. However, a quick rewind of the tape and a short scroll through ESPN’s stories caused readers to bump into the buried lede of the article. The real story remains, the 22 active lawsuits against Watson alleging sexual assault or inappropriate behavior during massages. These lawsuits have not deterred teams from inquiring about trading for Watson and acquiring his elite football skills. This persistence of teams to attempt to play Deshaun Watson at quarterback may unearth a bigger issue, what should professional sports leagues and the media’s

response be to active investigations into assault or sexual harassment charges? TURNING BACK THE CLOCK In 1997, three National Basketball Association (NBA) players, Antoine Walker, Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer were entangled in an assault case. These three young athletes were in the middle of a court case: Jane Doe v. Ronald Mercer, Michael Irvin, Chauncey Billups, and Antoine Walker. The case documents were open to the public after its proceedings and its eventual dismissal for each defendant. This 1997 case has resurfaced in 2021 because of the Portland Trail Blazers hiring of Chauncey Billups as their head coach. Billups was one of two coaches hired in the offseason who have had assault cases in their past,

the other being Jason Kidd. Kidd, who pleaded guilty to spousal abuse among other charges, was hired by the Dallas Mavericks in 2021. Kidd was hired during the Mavericks own internal investigations, because of a sexist work culture and unsafe work environment that ranged from complaints of sexual harassment and domestic violence. Both of these coaches were hired over Becky Hammon, a head coach candidate and former assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs. Hammon, if hired as an NBA head coach, would become the first ever female NBA coach. Hammon eventually was hired to a record setting deal with the Las Vegas Aces of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). These two hirings and past controversy sparked the resurfacing of Billups’

settlement of his 1997 sexual assault case. The Trail Blazers defended their new head coach, releasing a statement and addressing the issue during Billups’ introductory press conference. Neil Olshey, Portland’s president of basketball operations was quoted in Oregon Public Broadcasting’s article saying, “You’re just going to have to take our word that we hired an experienced firm that ran an investigation that gave us the results we’ve already discussed.” Olshey was referencing their investigation that cleared up the matter as completely in the past. In the same article from Oregon Public Broadcasting, one of the original prosecuting attorneys shared that they were never contacted by the Portland Trail Blazers for information about the case.

The attorney, Margaret A. Burnham, said that she stands by the allegations from 1997. In late 2021, Olshey was fired, just months after the interview that has been previously quoted. He was fired for alleged toxic and profane workplace behavior. LOOKING AHEAD This variety of cases does not deem all athletes accused of assault or violence against women guilty; however, the consistency of abuse or assault cases within professional sports provides opportunities for the leagues and media to respond in an ethically responsible way. Diana Moskovitz, Investigative Editor and Co-Owner of Defector Media and former journalist at the Miami Herald, had the opportunity to investigate Chauncey Billups’ case from 1997. Moskovitz shared that, “There’s still so much more that can be done,” when referring to the media’s response to sensitive cases. “I do feel like reporters, like any beat or any job, you have a responsibility to educate yourself,” Moskovitz said. She continued on sharing the importance of educating oneself and approaching a topic head on even though it may be uncomfortable to whoever has to cover it. One area of concern that she stressed was the fact that the media at times can feed into the fears victims of abuse might have. She referenced hesitations that victims have expressed about going public with claims of abuse and it being overlooked or not newsworthy. Therefore, Moskovitz said again that it is very important not to brush over allegations or claims when it is a public figure, like a star athlete, because it can enforce those fears of speaking up. Moskovitz taking on the challenge of covering an uncomfortable topic is an example of an ethical, important step that journalists can make. Moskovitz utilized resources that are available to the everyday citizen. She called the national archives and retrieved thousands of pages of court documents that were easily emailed to her for a small fee. This intricate, dedicated investigative work laid the foundation for her feature length work that delved deep into the murky details of the Billups case. A telling excerpt from her feature posed an important question, “How could

so little be known about a case that involved three NBA players, and two accused of sexual assault? At first I thought it must have been because the documents were squirreled away, hidden from public view. But that wasn’t the case at all. It was just because a woman saying she was sexually assaulted by famous men wasn’t deemed terribly important news.” This excerpt provides a clear picture of the daunting but important task that journalists face, to bring stories to light that need to be told. Moskovitz shared that through her time utilizing the Nexis database and uncovering old articles from the time of the original case, that many headlines were about the athletes’ names being harmed. One headline from the Globe read that, “Celtics’ Walker: Accuser Sought Money.” Instances of athletes abusing, assaulting or harassing women off the court may pop up on headlines often, but their feats of heroism on the field and court can overshadow any errors off of it. Professor Guy Cunningham of Grand View University shed light on the topic of heroism and toxic masculinity that directly influences the ethical tension that exists with athletes and criminal cases. Cunningham said in the context of cases of abuse that, “What you see with male athletes typically is because of their embodiment of masculinity, a sort of masculine heroics, is that they tend to get more of an excuse.” Cunningham went on to say that athletes are “viewed as heroes probably more than anyone else.” This heroism can often cloud how the public perceives any wrongdoing and like Moskovitz clearly emphasized, an assault case involving famous men is not really newsworthy. This lack of newsworthiness is problematic, and it seems endemic to athletics more than any other sect of fame or power. When comparing the public’s response to other public figure abuse or assault cases, Cunningham said that, “Athletes get the pass forever, clergymen tend not to.” A main theme of Cunningham’s point of emphasis and concern is that toxic masculinity and heroic virtues of a warrior are known elements in an historical context that are very difficult to remove or tear down. He recalled primitive stories in mythology of heroes being heralded for

their accomplishments in spite of their destructive actions or faults in character. The most telling thing that Cunningham was able to share was that in his experience within the context of treatment group settings with clergymen and athletes, athletes had an “insulating” and “god-like” quality about them in comparison to the irredeemable view of the clergymen. This insulating and godlike perspective of athletes can seep out into the public’s eye through the media. LOCAL IMPACT In Iowa there might not be as many large name cases with professional athletes but there are still a variety of abuse cases intertwined with public figures that impact many lives. Kirsten Faisal, director of training and technical assistance at the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, (ICADV) helps advocate for victims of abuse with different mediums of help. Faisal, when sharing about the reality that victims of public figures might face, said that, “(They) certainly (will) not find justice in terms of the criminal system, that’s probably not going to happen, so instead thinking about what they need to heal.” Faisal’s main focus on providing healing for those that have been abused by a public figure brings to light a glaring issue with how these cases are viewed, she said, “Putting it bluntly, those victims are screwed.” This reality for abuse victims of public figures is in desperate need for a change. There needs to be an avenue for hope for victims like, Jane Doe in 1997 or those that have come forward in the Watson cases. Thankfully, until then, organizations like Faisal’s exist to provide support for victims when healing from the criminal justice system is not a feasible option. One avenue of change is within how the media responds and covers each story of abuse that comes to light with any celebrity. The media has an opportunity to boldly present facts within a case, celebrate victims bravely speaking out and give the public a chance to support victims. Providing hope for any victims in the future takes small, simple changes. For the media, turning a blind eye to abuse is no longer an option.

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THE BEAUTY OF TRUST By Carly McCoy | Photos by Mike Knox | Designed by Camden Blowers 9:30 a.m., the first class of the morning on a cold November Tuesday. Rachel Schwaller walks into an even colder Rasmussen computer lab to teach Narrative Photography, ironically known for its terrible Wi-Fi connection. In class we dig into the elements of telling photographic narratives. She prompts everyone about our purpose and struggles. Her afternoon is a whirlwind of art history, advising and lesson planning. She is constantly planning ways to shake things up. “Can we chat?” I timidly ask her after almost every class. She smiles and usually waves me to her office. We discuss projects, school, the hardships and crazy existentialism of life. Rachel is always down to talk and is too nice to remind me this time is not part of her office hours. As my favorite professor, I do not like seeing her only twice a week. A year ago, I never bothered her as much as I do now. Rachel intimidated me. She knows this; often people have said they found her intimidating until getting to know her. She is an introvert, but her energy towards art is intense. The way her eyes light up is how you know it is authentic. It is initially hard to know how to approach that excitement. Rachel’s almost 10 years of teaching

experience show she has an incredible talent for commanding the attention of a room. It is the way she incorporates humor and never takes herself too seriously. Classes with her breeze by; she makes them worthwhile by presenting content relevant to student’s lives. It is now another day; twentieth century art history happens at 1:00 p.m.Tuesday and Thursday. We sit in a plain room in Rasmussen, mostly used for math classes. Hardly a creative environment for artists, but Rachel makes it work. She takes every opportunity to make class fun, whether it is decorating cookies like famous art pieces, or today’s activity. “Today we’re having a ‘happening!’” she says excitedly. We stare in bewilderment as Rachel stretches out long rolls of brown paper and pushes the furniture out of the center of the room. There are a variety of markers and glue sticks. She sets up a record player and throws out a couple of card games amongst the chaos. “Carly, this is for you,” Rachel says with a wink, sliding a mysterious hot pink deck across the floor. It is UNO, but a Barbie themed version. Only Rachel would remember my love of nostalgia and old toys. She takes

notice of the little things you say. As she sets up, I gaze at my friend Olivia across the room, “what is Rachel up to now?” Olivia Palmer is a junior and fellow studio arts major, with a minor in theatre. We have become friends during our studies and have enjoyed Rachel’s classes. Though they do not recall their first interaction with Rachel, Olivia remembers her zest and energy for teaching. “It wasn’t until Survey of Art History that I had Rachel. She was your usual upbeat kind of self, and I thought this hopefully won’t be a boring class,” Olivia said. Rachel goes on explaining a “happening” referencing artists from the 1960s coming together to create something new. Conversation and making something new are what Rachel is all about. We sit together, sprawled out across the floor, scribbling thoughts about art onto this huge piece of paper. This is the kind of place I want to be. This is the experience students get from a Rachel Schwaller class. My classes with Rachel have always been fun. I crashed her Survey of Art History class to observe her teaching from an outside perspective. It is awkward walking into a new space, a shift from the

familiarity of my own classmates. When I asked if I could come Rachel gave me a look as if to say, ‘really? Aren’t you going to be bored?’ I could never be bored when Rachel is involved. “I’m way behind with grading,” Rachel laughs as she begins class and starts a clip from “Monty Python” with knights fighting. Always something weird, it is quintessential Rachel. I was nervous to speak in this class, no one wants to say something wrong when it comes to art. The feeling clearly does not change from year-to-year. As Rachel starts into her lecture, most of the students are quiet. “Are you guys with me today? You’re killing me,” she says half-jokingly. But she keeps reengaging, Rachel knows students are nervous to talk about art. It is an experience they must gain confidence in. She has mastered navigating awkward silences. Students get more comfortable as class goes on and discussion flows. Rachel speaks with so much confidence and clarity, she does not need to rely on anything. She prompts with questions, always rewarding any effort. Her teaching style has not only shaped students, but other professors around her.

Aaron Tinder is head of the art department and Rachel’s closest colleague and they have known each other and worked together for 13 years. Aaron remembers meeting Rachel before teaching, as a juror for an exhibition she was part of. Her photography and work came with a wicked sense of humor, something not often seen in contemporary artwork. “I remember thinking she was a really energetic, fun seeming person. She came across very open and willing to talk,” Tinder said. The core of Rachel’s classes involves combining fun with learning. That is how she makes everything so memorable. Aaron has especially appreciated the way Rachel approaches teaching. “My teaching style has evolved and gotten better since I’ve known her, Tinder said. I respect the way she maintains rigid standards of what she expects from students without losing making things fun and doing things differently.” As class continues, someone notices the heads of human figures within a Byzantine art piece look like acorns, something Rachel came up with. “That’s not a technical term, that’s totally mine,” Rachel says with a laugh. Rachel is expressive, she talks with

her hands and moves around the room throughout class. She throws her whole self into teaching; it keeps everyone engaged. She puts an art piece on the projector, leaving these sophomores silent with how awkwardly bad it is. “You’re speechless, excellent,” she says. When Rachel teaches it feels like she is just talking to you, she knows how to be a person before a professor. I appreciate that she is so grounded. “How are you?” This is how Rachel starts every personal interaction, always sincere. I flipped the question on her. “How are you, genuinely?” I ask her. Rachel tells me she is doing ok, though mentally a little tired. We sit in her small office on campus, a colorful menagerie of art and wonderfully weird knick-knacks. Though Rachel argues her office does not allow her to feel creative, it is one of my favorite spots to talk out my thoughts. Rachel goes far beyond the traditional classroom to connect with students. There have been times where she has reached out to me, going past any obligation. It is validating to know she understands life is more than being a student. “You’re not just a number, you’re not just a person in my class that I may not

see again... I care because you’re a whole person,” Rachel said. Rachel becomes a great confidante when you realize the care she has for others. She has an incredible emotional awareness and almost-psychic ability to understand people. She is also trustworthy. I have been astounded by the things Rachel has indirectly noticed. “I think that’s one of the skills I have is being able to read a person enough to get to the root … I don’t think you’re just an artist. You’re a holistic being … your mind, body and all the parts of you work together,” she said. This skill can leave students vulnerable and catch them off guard. Rachel has thrown me many curveballs and given me a lot to reflect over. “I ask deep, very reflective questions that make people get down to the heart of who they are,” she said. She talks a lot about how these big questions can lead students to go through an “I hate Rachel” phase. I went through this last year when I took her sculpture class. It was my first experience with her classes and studios. She pushed constantly, and it frustrated me. It was the first time someone had told that I could do better. Rachel wanted me to go deeper, talk about the issues and things important to my identity. I was not ready to be vulnerable. Trust like that had to be earned. This advanced into her creative process class, a requirement for all studio arts majors. It was a rough class, a choose your own adventure, except I had no idea what the adventure was and there were no real grades till the end of the semester. It was a matter of relying on myself and ideas, a lot of independence and responsibility. Rachel never told me exactly what to do, that is not how she works. This becomes hard for students grappling with understanding validation is not everything. But Rachel was always willing to help. I sat with her over Zoom for four months during creative process, and it was anything but easy. “I feel like you always live in that state of potential. Maybe in a few years if I give you some tools you might be able to open up, you might grow,” she said. “I really look at academia in undergrad as a safe space to try and experiment because you just never quite have the same kind of experience after you get out of school.” Always kind and patient, allowing

Rachel to know me fostered a strong sense of trust. She holds no judgement and is compassionate and diligent in listening to students. Taking her photography class has allowed me to slowly open up more. Working through my initial anxieties has led me to realize how comfortable she makes you; she truly is a safe space. Olivia has felt the same sentiment. “I think people might be surprised by how personal she can be, because she has a very big personality. If they had only taken survey with her and then a studio like I did it’s like oh, you really want to get to know your students and what they want to make art about and help them improve in a way that’s specific to them,” Olivia said. Rachel is a great listener, always jotting notes down on a scratch piece of paper. She is great for generating ideas and has brilliant ways of looking at problems that I never expected. It is a skill I am envious of. “I’m a very curious person, I try to take in a lot and then I just tend to have a lot of things like, ‘you could do this, you could do that.’ Art history has been very beneficial to me because the more I’ve taught the more I know about all these other people that have done these things,” Rachel said. I have always been fascinated by Rachel’s ideas. It is inspiring as a student to see what she has achieved and relate that to the process of my own work. “I make work about the absurdity of life, in this constant need to compete, mostly with myself. Most of that work is about identity and it’s usually about the psychological and the social dynamics of oneself as in, me,” she said. Rachel’s work is witty and incredibly self-aware. We share similar ideas in terms of identity and thinking about what it means to be female. Aaron and I agree what sets her work apart is her conceptualism, it takes time to understand what she does. “If you stop and read it at that surface level, you’re really missing what it’s all about. Her work is super intelligent, and I have tons of respect for what she does,” Tinder said. “I think she’s unafraid to put herself into her work which is something that’s hard for all of us to do.” When it comes to discussing my artwork and the work of my classmates, Rachel is never one to sugarcoat. I have found her sincerity to be beneficial in

developing my projects. “I just believe in being honest, but not mean. I don’t want it to be where I’m attacking you as a person. I am here to make you as good as I can make you, I’m here to push you as hard as I can,” she said. Olivia has found a similar appreciation for Rachel’s honesty. “I think people get their work sugarcoated a little too often, a lot of times people mince words and try to make everything nice and comfortable for everyone all the time,” Olivia said. “It’s good that she always wants to make things a safe space, but she doesn’t want to let you coast. I think if she wasn’t blunt, I wouldn’t have developed to where I am.” Rachel always hits with hard questions; she is incredibly introspective. She has made me a better artist in learning how to talk about my work, even when it is difficult. “Everything that fuels you makes your work … Allowing you to open up and share, even if it’s messy … I’d rather you get it out and speak it because then the next time you say it it’ll be a little bit more articulate,” she said. Rachel’s passion for the arts and educating students is how she makes such an impact, and what makes her my favorite professor. She wants all students to be their best. “She continues to push me to push myself. It’s going back to the whole thing of she wouldn’t let me just coast. You have ideas, you have the skills. You need to challenge yourself and do more than what you’re doing,’” Olivia said. Rachel is everything a professor should be. Funny, personal, informative and above all else, kind. I admire her confidence to authentically be herself, it is something I am personally striving to work more towards. “I’m to the point where I’m like this is who I am, and I think I make pretty decent work now. I had to work at it to get it to a good spot, but I’m pretty comfortable now,” Rachel said. There are teachers and professors we remember for better or worse. Rachel Schwaller will always hold a top spot among my favorites. Her dedication towards her classes and students are like no other, I cannot recommend her classes enough. I am grateful to have her in my life as part of my support system and hope I can shape someone’s life in the same way she has shaped mine.

the police force is female By Taylor Thomas |Photos by Mayeli Jimenez Designed by Taylor Thomas “Anything boys can do, girls can do better,” said an old t-shirt thrifted from the Salvation Army. A saying that we’ve all heard, but many do not truly believe. For Lieutenant Tina Kalar, this saying has been held in the highest rank since she was a small child. Growing up in a neighborhood full of boys gave her lots of practice for her future career as a police officer, a world dominated by men. She wore the t-shirt until it did not fit anymore, but never grew out of its meaning. For women, working in a male-dominated field can mean harassment and discrimination. It can also mean facing a glass ceiling as far as moving up in rank. Like any job, many women have been able to push past these barriers and pave the way for future women aspiring for a career in policing. But being a police officer

is not like any other job. Women possess certain skill sets that are invaluable to any police department. In a world with decreased police legitimacy, female officers are often trusted by their communities, potentially improving their view of police departments. Female officers have great communication skills, statistically use less force and may be more empathetic than their male counterparts. Lieutenant Kalar has been with the Des Moines Police Department (DMPD) for 23 years. She currently works at the Des Moines Police Academy, training the future men and women who plan to enter the police force. Her experience as a woman in this line of work has not always been easy, sharing difficulties in the early years of

her career. But she is a strong, resilient female and has handled every challenge that has come her way. According to Kalar, there are challenges that she has faced that are like any other job. Whether it be personality differences or sub-par supervisors. Her best approach to these challenges is to fix the problem head-on, stating that in any conflict situation, communication is important. “Has there been bad times? Of course there has. But I don’t think it’s any different from the corporate world,” Kalar said. When she has an issue with the department or someone within the department, she wants it fixed as soon as possible, so that she can go back to her job of fixing problems for others.

In the past, Kalar has had issues that she could not bring up to certain supervisors. She stressed the importance of having positive female role models or mentors who have been in her shoes who she could talk to. If these women cannot fix the problem directly, they would listen and help direct her to someone who could help. Kalar reflected on a negative experience early on in her career that made her decide what kind of cop she wanted to be. Through her years of experience, Kalar has been able to differentiate between the good and bad qualities of her peers and the department’s leaders, each experience shaping her into a better officer and coworker. After 23 years, Kalar has learned how to navigate the ins and outs of the

job and has always loved being a part of the police department. “I love what I do. I do this for other people, I want to serve the community,” Kalar said. “In order for me to be able to serve the community, I have to be happy and care about my job. And so that’s what I strive for.” Officer Eleanor (Ellie) Ladd, a probationary police officer for the DMPD, has been serving her community for a little over a year now. For new hires, the probationary period is 18 months before the officer is officially part of the union. Ladd started her professional career in the corporate world but has always felt the call to service. She decided to attend Navy Officer Candidate School when a couple of friends asked her if she has ever considered

becoming a police officer. The thought had never occurred to her, but she loved the city of Des Moines and shortly after began the call to service at the Des Moines Police Academy. Ladd is one of two female officers on First Watch Patrol, the shift from 9p.m.-7a.m. Most women opt for the Third Watch. Ladd drives a downtown car, meaning she gets to talk to people out and about or who live downtown, which has had a positive impact on her experience so far. Ladd stressed how much she loves living and working in Des Moines, calling the city, “the best kept secret in the Midwest.” “I have some really awesome teammates and coworkers,” Ladd said. “That makes the work environment fantastic.” In her experience so far, Ladd has not

faced any harassment or discrimination for her gender or otherwise, including homophobia. Ladd is openly gay and said that her sexual orientation has not made a difference and if anything, has made things easier on her and her coworkers. A lot of her friends in the police department are straight males with wives, so she and her wife have the unique experience of spending time with all of them. “It’s almost a pleasant surprise,” Ladd said. Although she has not had the same experiences as other female officers, she feels empathetic toward the women who have not had a positive experience and recognizes her privilege. “I only have a female experience; I also only have a lesbian female experience. I only have a white experience. It is who I am,” Ladd said. Officer Holly Pickett has been with the Urbandale Police Department since 2010 and works in the Community Relations side of the department. Community Relations officers focus on addressing problems that the community voices to the department and provide education to the citizens on how to keep themselves safe and what they can expect from the police department. Pickett’s first department was a twoman crew, made up of two female officers. This experience brought her up on the ideology that being a female police officer “wasn’t a big deal.” In that experience and her time with the Urbandale Police Department, she has never experienced any personal harassment or discrimination. “I never felt like I’m just a woman here in a man’s world,” Pickett said. However, she did note that there are some disparities between men and women that have been in place for a long time. For example, there used to be height and weight requirements for officers, because of this, uniforms were made for men. Even today, “female” uniforms do not quite fit right. “We’ve not set ourselves up to be equal,” Pickett said. She gave other examples, including

the men’s locker room being far bigger than the women’s. Patrol cars are often designed to fit the body type of an average male, giving extra legroom in the driver’s seat. This leaves out officers, most often women, with smaller body types. Pickett said that they are slowly shifting from what law enforcement used to be and what it is turning into. At this point, most male officers have hopefully worked with a female officer. Obviously, these things will not change overnight, but Pickett said that the system is catching up. Pickett also addressed that the Urbandale Police Department recognizes the importance of having female officers on the streets. “There’s obviously a comfort level when it’s woman-to-woman versus being a man to a woman,” Pickett said. “We realize that women are very important to law enforcement and because of that, we’re trying to add to it.” A nationwide initiative to bring more women into the police force is gaining traction with police departments. Both the DMPD and the Urbandale Police Department have signed the 30x30 Pledge. The initiative is meant to bring more representation of women to the police system. Their overall goal is to increase female representation in police recruits to 30% by 2030. The initiative also seeks to ensure that policies and culture support current and future female officers throughout their careers. Although these departments have pledged to increase the representation of women, there needs to be more women applying. 52% of the world is female, and Ladd said that Des Moines is working towards reflecting the population in their workplace. “I know Des Moines is working really hard to grow that representation because it matters,” Ladd said. Pickett thinks that the reason there are not many women applying is that society has taught us that it’s okay for men to go to work and for women to stay at home. However untrue this may be, a lot of women are thinking about their families.

The idea of missing birthdays, Christmas, dance recitals and putting their kids to bed may steer women away from this line of work. “I tend to think that maybe women take that a little bit harder than a man does and because of that, they choose not to apply,” Pickett said. Increasing female recruits means switching up their efforts to get women to apply. The DMPD has had conversations with other police departments and other states to hear about their experiences. In November 2021, the DMPD had an open house for prospective recruits, something that Kalar had never seen done before in her career. The current Des Moines Police Academy recruit class is already at 25% female but would like to see 30% of employment at the DMPD. Pickett’s role as a Community Relations officer includes recruitment. Their approach to grabbing the attention of women is to reach out to colleges and women’s groups, maintain a social media presence and make sure that on their ads there is always a woman on the cover. This way, women can see it, identify with it and know that a police department is more than just men. “We’re trying to portray to people that we want women here and that it’s okay for women to come into this line of work,” Pickett said. Ladd said that now is the perfect time for women to be police officers. The DMPD mentorship program has been invaluable to her experience so far. She always has someone to talk to and help her when she needs it. She never feels alone. “I feel valued,” Ladd said. Both the Des Moines and Urbandale police departments, as well as many others across the country, are working hard to make the police system a safe place for women to work. Women are invaluable to this line of work, and departments are starting to realize just how important they really are. More and more women are feeling valued for their work, and it’s been a long time coming.

Emma Cochran and Hannah Michael wrestle during practice in the Grand View Women’s Wrestling practice room on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Members of the Grand View Women’s Wrestling team take a break during practice on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

Ashley Tobe and Assistant Coach Arelys Valles practice a technique in the Women’s Wrestling practice room on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

“You gotta prove yourself; you gotta work the hardest in the room so they don’t think ‘you’re a girl and you’re slacking.’” — Alli Ragan

Leilani Rodriguez and Adrienna Turner enjoy a mid-practice break in the Grand View Women’s Wrestling practice room on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. On March 11-12, members of the team went on to compete in the NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Invitational Championship, where the team placed sixth overall.

Joy and Sweat Photographs by Mayeli Jimenez Additional reporting by Emma Cochran

Members of the Grand View Women’s Wrestling team practice in the Men’s Wrestling practice room on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. The team went on to win the Heart of America Athletic Conference Women’s Wrestling Championship on February 26, 2022.

Alexandria Cockrell and Chloe Krebsbach laugh after finishing a dual round in the Women’s Wrestling practice room at Grand View University on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. On March 11-12, members of the team went on to compete in the NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Invitational Championship, where the team placed sixth overall.

Alexis Gomez takes sip of water during practice in the Women’s Wrestling practice room at Grand View on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

“It’s brutal, but I think as long as you are finding the fun in it and you build those relationships with girls, I think that makes it so much easier.” — Alli Ragan

Samara Lusk and Laura Kipnusu take their last breaths before initiating a practice match at the Grand View Women’s Wrestling practice room on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

“Not every day is gonna be a win for you. You have to find the small things and you have to celebrate those things becasue if not, you’ll just miss them.” — Madison Diaz

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