Author: Drake University Student

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Breaking Records and Making History: Inside the Excitement of the 2023 Drake Relays

The 2023 Drake Relays is an outdoor track and field competition, known to be “America’s Athletic Classic.” The annual event is considered to be the most exciting event at Drake and it’s just around the corner. Just 2 more weeks from today and athletes from all over the country and world will be toing the line, jumping and throwing. The event will take place at Drake University, in the Drake Stadium on the 26-29th of April. One of the biggest track and field events in America is held in Des Moines – why not get around the track and field spirit and see what the hype is all about! 

Schedule Overview 

The Drake Relays kicks off with the road races on Sunday the 23rd, offering a half marathon, 10km and the 5km. On Tuesday 25th, the Grand blue mile and USATF MILE championship is being held, which featured some of Americas best mid-distance athletes. Heptathlon events kicks off the official relay events on Wednesday; Thursday night is the distance carnival where college athletes will battle it out in the 800m, steeplechase, 5000m, 10,000m, and Friday and Saturday feature sections of high school, college and professional athletes (many of which are Olympians).

Athlete Overview 

At this time, only professional athletes from the shot-put event have been announced. World champion and record holder Ryan Crouser will be attempting a new world record in the Drake Field House on Wednesday night. Crouser has won the last 4 titles at the relays and will be back to claim his 5th. Along with Crouser, Chase Ealey – Women’s World Champion and American record holder will be teaming up in an 8-thrower competition.  

Ryan Crouser – 2022 World Championships

The Drake athlete’s to look out for is Isaac Basten. Basten is a 4 x All-American, who recently placed runner-up at the NCAA Indoor championships, in the Mile, missing out on the NCAA title by just .03 seconds. Basten won the 1500m title at last years Drake Relays. Anthony Barmes will be competing in the hammer throw. Barmes is Drake’s hammer throw school record holder and placed 21st at the 2022 NCAA outdoor championships. On the women’s side, Brooke Mullins will be competing in the 3000m steeplechase Thursday night. Brooke is the school record holder for the steeplechase and the indoor mile. Chandler Height – fresh off her new PR in the shot put, will be looking to improve her own school record Saturday afternoon.  

Isaac Basten Taking the 1500m Title at the 2022 Drake Relays

Although not confirmed, Drake will submit a distance relay team on the men’s and women’s side. Unsure of what relay exactly, whichever they toe the line in they will be looking to bring home a relay title. The women’s will be in the mix to place high in whatever the race in.  

Looking For Tickets?

Head to the Draketix.com to purchase your tickets. You don’t want to miss it – they are selling out fast!

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Is Dance a Sport?

Image free to use through CCL.

Many have the assumption that all dance requires is the ability to be graceful, to stand on your toes with ease, to leap through the air and land without making a sound, the ability to make everything look effortless. There is this misconception that dance isn’t a sport. That is simply an easy art form. While it is an art form, it can also be a sport. When compared to football, many think it looks easy. Research shows that dancers have as much strength as football players or even possibly more.

“Kinesiologist Dr. Jill McNitt-Gray has observed many dancers throughout the years and has noticed that they can move their feet up to fifteen miles per hour and turn over one hundred times per minute.”

(Dachowski, Kylie).

Many athletes of different sports engage in dance and Pilates classes to strengthen their own muscles and increase flexibility. Dance is officially recognized as a sport by the Olympic Committee, yet we fail to see it year after year as an event.

What makes something a sport?

  • Athletic activity
  • Competitive
  • Judges or referees
  • Social participation
  • Formal rules
  • Exists through organizations

It meets all the requirements of being a sport. It is competitive, physically engaging, and requires skill, and determination. Many associate dancing with being such a feminine sport, limiting its exposure to social circles. This often happens in America, the thought of a little girl doing ballet is cute. But the thought of many, when a boy says he wants to dance, is repulsive. We only have society to blame for these stereotypes. The truth is dance is meant for anyone, and in other countries being a male dancer is highly praised and rewarded.

Dance is not only a physical sport but a mental one. Students often remember hours’ worth of choreography, terminology, and corrections. No other sport can also be as mentally detrimental to young athletes. Dancers often spend upwards of 15-25 hours a week alone staring at themselves in the mirror. This can have serious side effects such as eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and perfectionism.

Nonetheless, all that time dancers spend in front of the mirror only makes them stronger. “Dancers tended to have more aerobic capacity, higher muscular endurance because of their ability to jump very high, a higher endurance for spending longer periods of time working their muscles, higher flexibility, and better agility. Therefore, dancers are right up their ability-wise with football and baseball players, but much less attention,” (Dachowski, Kylie). It is time our world recognizes that dance is a sport. Made for any gender, race, age, and ethnicity. It is never too late to join the sport.

Blog Citations: Dachowski, Kylie, et al. “SIOWFA15: Science in Our World: Certainty and Controversy.” SiOWfa15 Science in Our World Certainty and Controversy, 17 Sept. 2015, https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa15/2015/09/17/is-dance-a-sport/.

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Meet the Des Moines City Council

Who are the members of the Des Moines City Council?

Des Moines is the capital city of Iowa and is home to over 200,000 residents. The city is governed by the Des Moines City Council, which is responsible for setting policies and regulations that govern the city. The council is made up of seven members, including the mayor and six council members. Here we will take a closer look at who is on the Des Moines City Council.

Mayor of Des Moines

  • T.M. Franklin Cownie

Council Members At Large

  • Carl Voss 
  • Connie Boesen

Ward 1: Indira Sheumaker

Ward 2: Linda Westergaard

Ward 3: Josh Mandelbaum

Ward 4: Joe Gatto

Mayor Frank Cownie

T.M. Franklin Cowie has served as the Des Moines mayor since 2004. He grew up in the city, attending Theodore Roosevelt High School and Iowa State University. In addition to serving as the city’s mayor, Cowie also owns and operates Cownie Furs, a shop that has been in his family for generations. Before being elected as mayor, he served as an at-large member of the city council.

At-Large Council Members

The Des Moines City Council has two at-large council members who represent the entire city. The current at-large council members are Carl Voss and Connie Boesen. Boesen has been serving on the council since 2016 and is focused on improving economic development and creating job opportunities for residents. Voss won in a runoff election in December 2019.

Ward Council Members

In addition to the at-large council members, the Des Moines City Council also has four council members who represent specific wards within the city. The current ward council members are:

  • Ward 1 Council Member Indira Sheumaker: Sheumaker has been serving on the council since 2021 and she is the youngest member of the city council.
  • Ward 2 Council Member Linda Westergaard: Westergaard was elected to the council in 2018.
  • Ward 3 Council Member Josh Mandelbaum: Mandelbaum has been serving on the council since 2020 and has recently announced a bid for Des Moines mayor.
  • Ward 4 Council Member Joe Gatto: Gatto has been serving on the council since 2015.

Conclusion

The Des Moines City Council meeting happen every other Monday at 5pm at City Hall, Council Chambers, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive, 2nd Floor, Des Moines, IA 50309. If you want to attend a meeting or learn more, visit dsm.city/government/council_meetings_and_agendas/index.php

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Keeping Up with the DMP Majors

Are you interested in films, working with video, audio, and creating digital content for the web? Digital Media Production might just be the major for you. You’ll work at companies like ESPN, and Disney to produce content for their platforms. You could also work in local news stations like at KCCI in Des Moines, Iowa. The possibilities are endless!

Digital Media Production lets you learn a wide variety of skills in the realm of content creation. You’ll learn how to use software like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro, as well as operate professional-grade camera rigs. Drake will make sure that every student has the skills they need to enter the exciting world of Digital Media Production.

Student Testimonials

“Being a Digital Media Production Student is a blast. I get to work on all sorts of different projects, from filming PSAs to editing news footage using digital software.”

 -Will Erbes, Digital Media Production Major

“Switching to a Digital Media Production major was the best decision I could’ve made for myself! I’m improving my video editing skills while also learning to work in audio production, photography, and journalism!”

-Logan Kulbersh, Digital Media Production Major

Prime Spot for DMP Students around the country

Located in Des Moines, Iowa, Drake University is located in the heart of the nation. Its central position in the United States makes it only a few hours drive from many major metropolitan areas, including Minneapolis, Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Omaha. Many students who attend Drake are originally from these cities, so interning is really easy because Drake has so many connections.

Des Moines is a great city to go to school in. When not studying on campus, students can use their Drake ID to take the DART bus to anywhere in the city. Check out the beautiful Des Moines downtown area, or grab a bite to eat at one of our many local restaurants. If nature walks are more your style, Des Moines has plenty of great hiking trails and natural areas to explore. There is no shortage of things to do!

The best part about going to Drake is the small class sizes. Digital Media Production students also get the same opportunities available to Drake Students, so every student gets 1-on-1 time with their professors to ensure that they are getting the most out of their education. Every student at Drake gets the chance to succeed.

Studying Digital Media Production in Des Moines is a great opportunity. There aren’t many other places in the midwest that offer such a great education for students looking to get into the media world.

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Drake University’s Study Abroad Programs

For many students coming to Drake University, studying abroad is one of their biggest hopes to achieve before graduation. Drake University offers several different options when it comes to studying abroad. Whether students study abroad through Drake Programs, Exchange Programs, or Affiliate Programs, studying abroad offers all students the opportunity to engage and grow in different cultures around the world.

Drake Programs

Drake University offers Drake Programs both internationally and throughout the United States during the spring, summer, and J-term. Drake Programs are short-term faculty-led travel seminars and can last from 10 days to 16 weeks. Programs in the past have been located in England, China, Belize, New Zealand, and Uganda. Students across campus have been abuzz about the upcoming Spring 2023 seminar in Spain. A current student at Drake University, Hannah Krueger, experienced the Drake Program in Spain in the Spring of 2022 and encourages all Drake students to take this opportunity to experience life and education from a new point of view.

Exchange Programs

Alongside the Drake Programs, Drake University has signed agreements with international partner institutions to offer students another opportunity to study abroad. With Exchange Programs, students at Drake University can attend partner institutions, while a student from the partner institution attends school at Drake University. Many students study using Exchange Programs for the entirety of a semester, although J-term and summer options are provided as well. For students interested in deeper cultural engagement and integration, Exchange Programs are the way to go. Through Exchange Programs, students are involved in independent study and sit in a classroom with students from the local host country.

The international partner institutions offered include:

Affiliate Programs

A third option for studying abroad while at Drake University is being involved in an Affiliate Program. Affiliate Programs are often used when a Drake Program or Exchange Program does not meet a student’s academic and personal preferences and goals. Global Engagement at Drake University has chosen specific institutions for this semester abroad. Students taking Affiliate Programs complete the majority of their coursework in English, with most of the classroom filled with American students. Unlike the Drake Program or Exchange Program, Drake University charges a fee for students participating in Affiliate Programs. Semester-long Affiliate Programs have a fee of $500, while J-term and summer Affiliate Programs have a fee of $300.

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