Fall 2013 by Drake Mag

DM DRAKE MAGAZINE | FALL 2013

BREAKING CHAINS Reclaiming Life After Prison Time to Drop the Ban on Gay

BLOOD DONORS MUSIC SPOTLIGHT

4 DRINKS

Homemade Holiday

MUMFORD’S TRAMPLED BY TURTLES THE DIGITAL WILD

GRUNGE REVIVAL

‘90s Fashion Makes a Comeback

DOING AWAY WITH DAIRY The Next Fad Diet

CONTENTS

FALL 2013

HEALTH

22 7

23 24

BITS & PIECES

4 5 6

Dance through the Decades Learn the dances of any era with local lessons.

Digital Drugs Binaural beats listeners debate the effects of these soundwaves.

Bit of Lit “Nice Is Just a Place in France” by The Betches

7 8 9 9

Still Got Game

I Agreed to What? Decipher those pesky terms of agreement.

Funding Fetishes Creative, erotic projects get started on Offbeatr.

One writer’s take on why gay men should be able to donate blood.

ROAD TO AWARENESS 12

Can’t Buy Me Love There’s more to romance than what money can buy.

CAN’T BUY ME LOVE

The Quad Cities have a pizza style all their own.

Holiday Cheers Serve one of our original, seasonal beverages.

16 17

“We just play our instruments and sing our songs, and that’s it. What you see is what you get.”

You know, so you can be a misogynist on the go.

FOOD & DRINK A Slice of the Quad Cities

Gravity-defying lingerie acts like a bra for the booty.

SAY WHAT A Positive Change

“We went through this for three days, but people with depression go through this their whole life.”

Try these five board games suitable for adults.

Asset Upgrade

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

TRAMPLED BY TURTLES

Small Changes, Big Differences Drop a few pounds with these effortless adjustments.

Not Milk? The newest fad diet: dairy-free.

Take a Stand Get off your feet to prevent diseases caused by excessive sitting.

Inhaled Intoxication The dangers of smoking alcohol may not be worth the low-cal buzz.

Balancing Act Protein powders aren’t FDA-regulated, posing potential health problems.

FASHION

MUSIC

Iowa-Bred Mumford’s

Trampled by Turtles

28 34

Fashion’s Flyover State Area boutique owners explain why Iowa misses the mark.

Street Cred Go grunge with ’90s-inspired pieces from big-name brands and local shops.

From Costume to Closet Movie-inspired clothing distinguishes true fans from the phonies.

This local band reflects on its Des Moines roots.

Catch up with the Midwestern band’s fiddler.

A Wild Voice The Digital Wild took its innovative sound from Des Moines to Texas.

FEATURES

Weird Beer Check out these three innovative beer combinations.

The Best of Des Moines Nightlife We picked the best bars for every type of company.

BREAKING CHAINS Former felons move past their criminal records to create a better life for themselves—and others.

ROAD TO AWARENESS Three teens longboarded 150 miles to raise awareness in the wake of their friend’s suicide.

BRUNCH WITH THE WORLD’S BRIGHTEST

One writer’s take on what it’s like to dine with members of the Mensa Society.

FROM THE

EDITOR I’m pretty sure my freshman-year self wouldn’t recognize me now. Which is a good thing—I had more than my fair share of embarrassing moments during my first year. Cheek-reddening events aside, I’ve changed a lot. I’m more independent, passionate, and ambitious than I was a few years ago. Some of that happened over time, but in other cases I can pinpoint the moment the transformation happened. These changes—big and small, fast and slow—make life refreshing and engaging. At the same time, they can be really hard. Change can make you question everything, and that’s why it’s so important. Without change, there’d be no growth, no improvement. At DrakeMag, we’ve made some changes, too—which is a big deal, because we can be stubborn. Last year, we surveyed our readers and asked what they wanted in this publication. We listened, and I hope we’ve met your requests. At the Associated Collegiate Press conference last year, we took inspiration from other college magazines and professional critiques, and then applied them to our own magazine. Now, we have more Des Moines-focused stories, and all our photos were taken by Drake students. It wasn’t easy: It took a ton of planning, a little bit of pulling teeth, and a lot of determination. I’m pretty damn proud that we pushed our stubbornness aside in the interest of DrakeMag and our readers. Now it’s your turn to consider a change. Our goal in this issue is to change your mind about something. It could be a major adjustment, such as taking dairy out of your diet (as suggested in “Not Milk?” pg. 23), or starting a campaign to raise awareness for a cause close to your heart (like the guys in “Road to Awareness,” pg. 42). Maybe you’ll alter your perspective on a stigmatized group of people (such as former felons, pg. 36; or those with off-the-chart IQ scores, pg. 48). In any case, I hope something on these pages inspires you to think a little more or dig a little deeper and ultimately make some kind of change—big or small.

Kristin Doherty Editor-in-Chief

DRAKE MAGAZINE Editor-in-Chief Kristin Doherty

Art Director Claire Sedovic

Managing Editor Meagan Flynn

Photo Editor Morgan Cannata

Associate Editor Linley Sanders

Assistant Editor Kendall Wenaas

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

Drake Magazine Behind the Scenes

Advertising & PR Manager Kassy Cheshire

I went to Brrooks Brothers to research the Gatsby line— now I’m trying to get every guy in my life to channel Gatsby a little more.

Web Executive Editor Sami Smith Associate Editor Leah Walters Assistant Editor Melissa Studach Assistant Editor Zoë Ekonomou Webmaster Zach Schrom Contributors Megan Berberich Molly Lamoureux Megan Ellis Raeann Langas Courtney Fishman Molly Longman Joey Gale Jeff Nelson Taylor Hamberg Olivia O’Hea James Jolly Peter Ripple Lauren Kassien Ruth Ronnau Stephanie Kocer Brian Taylor Kayli Kunkel Rachel Ward Paige Zidek Designers Greta Gillen Kayli Kunkel Alecia McEachran Maddi Wittenberg Olivia Curti

–Leah Walters

I wanted to focus my story more on why the FDA won’t regulate protein powders, but it was impossible to get in touch with them—thanks to the government shutdown.

During my brunch, one of the Mensans showed me the group’s Facebook page. Members post about everything, from hookup stories to religious evangelism.

-Kendall Wenaas

–Lauren Kassien

While “researching” the new Up-Down barcade for my story on Des Moines nightlife, I participated in a Mario Kart tournament—and came in dead last on every race. Pretty embarassing.

Some of the stories this fall forced me to be very resourceful with photography. My roommates quickly became used to me asking to borrow random objects to photograph.

-Paige Zidek

-Claire Sedovic

When I asked Chelsea and Chantell of The Digital Wild where they see themselves in five years, they responded: “Hoverboards.” “Flying cars.” “We’re not too good at this.” –Kayli Kunkel

Photographers Cameron Johnson Alex Peterson Allison Trebacz

© 2013 Drake Magazine is published with the support of the Board of Student Communications. Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of Drake University. Letters to the editor are encouraged, but will not be published. Direct any questions, comments, or concerns to drakemag@gmail.com.

I came away from one photoshoot with battle scars— the family dog apparently wanted to help me take the photos. –Alex Peterson

During the fashion shoot we were in a beautiful studio, but decided to use the grimy staircase for part of the shoot. The models had to sit on paper towels to keep their clothes clean.

When my sources were my age, they were in prison for felonies. Writing this article taught me that the people who built themselves up from rock bottom may be the strongest and most respectable among us.

I wanted to write this story because I’ve been on the dairy-free diet for a while. It’s a lifestyle I’m very passionate about, and I was excited to have more people learn about it.

-Morgan Cannata

-Linley Sanders

-Zoë Ekonomou

Bits & Pieces

DANCE

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

Emulate any era with these local dance lessons.

THROUGH THE DECADES

DIGITAL

WORDS Molly Longman | PHOTO Morgan Cannata

DRUGS

Binaural beats could cause a euphoric high, serve as an alternative medicine, or just be a hoax.

WORDS James Jolly | PHOTO Morgan Cannata

WALTZ

SWING

There’s no telling what 16th-century dance aficionados would have thought of Miley at the VMAs. In their day, the waltz was provocative because partners stood face-to-face, holding each other close. To discover your “provocative” side, drop into a ballroom dance class with Des Moines Dance, on your own or with a partner. This studio offers seven-week ballroom dancing classes for beginners.

Swing is an upbeat dance full of spins and under-arm turns. A signature move is the pretzel, but you’ll see more experienced swingers doing aerials, flips, dips, slides, and other show-stopping tricks. Boost your swing skills at Swing Des Moines’ walk-in classes on the third Friday of every month.

desmoinesdance.org | 515.865.6043

FOXTROT As inelegant as trotting sounds, the foxtrot is a smooth and fluent ballroom dance, usually performed to jazz or big band music. Des Moines Dance’s beginner classes cover the Foxtrot, too. desmoinesdance.org | 515.865.6043

TANGO Learning to tango is a top option for spicing up any weekend because of its sexy movements and sultry music,. Get frisky and learn how to tango at the Des Moines Ballroom, which offers a the variety of classes that emphasize the social aspect of dancing. desmoinesballroom.com | 515.277.3545

swingdesmoines.com | 515.274.4676

TWO-STEP A country-music staple, the two-step is a fast-paced dance never complete without a dizzying amount of twirls. Although Des Moines is no honkytonk, Shotgun Betty’s in West Des Moines has country lovers covered any day of the week. Put your two-stepping skills to test here—and be sure to sport some cowboy boots. facebook.com/shotgunbettys | 515.309.0744

TWERKING Twerking has been described as the rhythmic gyrating of the lower extremities, the vigorous shaking of the gluteus Maximus, and girls in yoga pants having sex with the air. No class necessary for this one— just head down to The Dublin to find plenty of Miley-VMA-wannabes.

istening to binaural beats is like having a lucid dream: What you’re hearing is only a result of your brain’s interpretation of the psychedelic sounds. These MP3 files, which can be downloaded or streamed on YouTube, sound like a dull, buzzing tone—sometimes like an ocean’s tide on repeat, other times like a static TV. The beats can cause an increase of serotonin, the “happy hormone,” in the brain. They’re only effective through headphones— different frequencies play through each earbud, creating the mind-altering effects. The brain can’t process these combined frequencies, so they create the ear’s equivalent of an optical illusion. Some of the effects include a euphoric high or audio or visual hallucinations. Marshall Brown, a first-year student at Drake University, discovered binaural beats a few months ago. “I heard about the beats on YouTube, and I was intrigued,” he says. “I tried one out, and I actually started hallucinating, seeing some crazy shapes and vibrations. It was surprisingly easy and fast.”

While some claim these beats are like alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, they’re no magic medicine. Although there are many supposed positive medical effects—induced meditative states and amplified creativity, for example—there’s a catch: These supposed benefits are all unproven and hypothetical. A 2007 study from the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found a correlation between binaural beat treatments, stress reduction, and improved quality of life. But this study explicitly states that it—nor any other study—could be used to prove the benefits of binaural beats. Greg Gonzalez, another first-year student at Drake, didn’t find binaural beats to be effective. “The beats didn’t do anything for me,” he says. “I listened to a beat for 10 minutes, and I didn’t feel any more relaxed or concentrated.” Which confirms that no experience is the same. These beats might just be a simple, free alternative medicine—or possibly another pipe dream of a cure-all solution.

Bits & Pieces

BIT

OF LIT

“Nice Is Just a Place in France: How To Win at Basically Everything” by The Betches WORDS Ruth Ronnau | PHOTOS Cameron Johnson

Who’s Who in s Betch’s World Betch

A woman who does whatever she wants, whenever she wants, and doesn’t care about much besides partying hard and getting a ring on the fourth finger of her left hand.

Bro

Bred in a fraternity house, the bro is the main romantic interest for the betch during college. But mostly he’s just there to provide the betch with free alcohol for four years.

Pro

An older, more successful version of the bro, the pro is the perfect boyfriend for the 20something betch, because he still loves to party. He has a real job, which pays for the expensive dates he takes his betch girlfriend on.

Nice guy

He’s upfront and honest about his feelings. He wants to be in a committed relationship. He actually listens to people and remembers what they say. He calls and texts when he says he will. But a betch won’t date a nice guy—he’s too easy to manipulate.

Nicegirl

The nicegirl is the opposite of a betch. She treats everyone respectfully and attends her college courses because she values her education and doesn’t use college as an excuse to get drunk. Helpful and kind, the nicegirl ends up being manipulated by the betch.

STILL GOT

he Betches do not give a fuck if anyone likes their book. They don’t give a fuck about anything—except using manipulation to get what they want, so that they don’t have to do any work. The New York Times best seller “Nice Is Just a Place in France” is a spin off the website Betches Love This. The site is full of snarky advice columns, how tos, fashion tips, and The Betch List—which covers everything from doormen and waxing to calling out the repeated cheater. Though The Betches told the New York Times that the website and book are satirical, their writing doesn’t always read that way. While The Betches are undoubtedly funny, their tips read like real advice—but should seldom be taken seriously. The Betches declare that the book isn’t in the self-help genre, but it offers women plenty of advice, such as how to “win” through college on into their 20s. Readers learn how to snag what the authors deem the most attractive man available: the pro. With handy, easy-to-read illustrations, such as “Do’s and Don’ts of Spring Break,” “Types of Arch Nemeses,” and “What Your Drink Says About You,” The Betches comment on every possible scenario for a betch in the modern world. But rather than having realistic expectations for women and explaining how they can grow as people, The Betches push women to be thin, rich, and beautiful. Still, some of the rules are spot on—such as marrying a guy who’s upfront about his feelings. But others leave something to be desired. Some advice can even be physically harmful. Their “Diet Pyramid” replaces grains with Adderall, while iced coffee and Diet Coke have their own food categories. They routinely advise against eating (in order to stay skinny—and therefore hot). But the authors fail to acknowledge, except in the fine-print disclaimer, that the diet can cause physical harm. However, their theories on relationships could actually be applied to real life. The sixth chapter—“Sex: Keep Your Legs Closed and You Too Can Rule the World”—stresses the importance of not having sex with bros. By withholding the one thing they think men want most, they’ll gain the upper hand in the relationship and, like, get a ton of free shit. And their policy on “home-wrecking” (breaking up another couple) is as solid as the 14-carat ring they expect their pro-boyfriends to put on their fingers: Never be a home-wrecker. A betch should be able to get a boyfriend without having to be “the other woman.” When it comes down to it, a betch simply isn’t nice and would rather use manipulation than intelligence to get what she wants. A betch is the girl everyone wants to be—until they realize she never actually smiles. And why should she? As The Betches say, “This book isn’t about being happy. This is about ruling your world. It’s about being the most desired, powerful, manipulative woman you can be.” If that’s the woman you want to be, read this book. And then stay the fuck away from me.

GAME

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

Board games are often labeled as juvenile. After all, most of us can recall family games of Monopoly and Trouble from our childhoods. In the past few years, there’s been a sort of renaissance in board games—a rise in games aimed at adults. These five games serve as a crash course into the bizarre and alluring world of grown-up board games. WORDS Peter Ripple | PHOTOS Claire Sedovic

SETTLERS OF CATAN This award-winner kicked off the new wave of tabletop games. Each player establishes settlements and cities connected by roads on a hexagonal map. To expand their territory and win, players must gather resources to trade and build more structures. The cutthroat competition in this fictional market makes for an engaging game, regardless of experience level. But for beginners, this is a must-have introduction to the world of modern board games.

MUNCHKIN Prepare to destroy friendships in this game of radical betrayal. Each player starts as a Level 1 munchkin—an adorable cartoon character ready to fight its way to victory. To reach Level 10 and win, the munchkin must defeat comical monsters, such as the deafening Shrieking Geek or the petrifying Potted Plant. But these monsters pale in comparison to what’s really standing in the way of winning: the other players. Each player can manipulate the battles with strange items, unexpected allies, and general tomfoolery. Simply put, Munchkin has a tendency to piss off every player, which is why it’s so damn fun.

PANDEMIC Pandemic makes widespread, global diseases seem less morbid and more like a challenge. In this game, work with other players to cure four diseases ravaging the globe. On each turn, players can earn the ability to travel to a new city, treat the diseasestricken, find a cure, or build a research station. Imagine a game of Risk, but without the tricky politics—players win or lose as a team. The collaborative nature creates a more social and relaxed atmosphere, free of competition.

ZOMBIES!!! Fight off masses of the undead in this hypercompetitive, post-apocalyptic game. The battle begins with one road tile—a four-way intersection of a zombie-infested city. Players take turns adding road tiles to the board. These tiles create all sorts of problems and prizes: Players might run into zombie hordes or find stores containing valuable items, such as bullets to kill the enemy and health points to stay alive. As the board grows, players maneuver through the sprawling city and collect items to either kill the most zombies or reach the rescue helicopter first. But the real thrill of this game lies in the back-stabbing opportunities: If opponents are about to reach the helicopter, quickly place a card that spawns 10 zombies in front of them. Then watch as they try to fight their way through while you plan your own comeback.

SNAKE OIL Snake Oil is like Apples to Apples: Fighting for your card is the crux of the game. Each turn, one player assumes the role of customer, whose persona can be anything from Caveman to Mortician. The other players then combine two cards from their hand to invent an imaginary product to sell to the customer. Creativity is required for pitching nonsensical creations—like a Bone Sharpener or Zombie Dust—to a peculiar sort of customer. Drinking game bonus: Winner gives out a shot.

Bits & Pieces

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

I AGREED TO WHAT?

FUNDING FETISHES

Terms of agreements are filled with legal jargon that doesn’t make sense. And let’s be honest—most of us click “I Agree” without a second thought. While many of the terms shouldn’t be alarming, there are a few rules the average person might break unintentionally. We’ve got you covered with the ones you need to know.

Offbeatr helps sex-minded entrepreneurs make their erotic ideas reality.

WORDS Courtney Fishman | DESIGN Maddi Wittenberg

WORDS Molly Lamoureux | PHOTO ILLUSTRATION Claire Sedovic DESIGN Maddi Wittenberg

THE TERMS YOU AGREED TO

IN ENGLISH, PLEASE?

“You may not move the textbook out of the state to which it was originally shipped. If you wish to move the textbook out of that state, you must first purchase the textbook.”

If you rent a book from Amazon, you can’t bring it over state lines. That means out-of-state students can’t bring their textbooks home for breaks, or they’ll be charged the book’s full price.

“We always appreciate your feedback or other suggestions about Facebook, but you understand that we may use them without any obligation to compensate you for them (just as you have no obligation to offer them).”

So you came up with the next great Facebook update. Maybe you’ve revolutionized the Timeline and can’t wait to share your idea with Mark Zuckerberg himself. Wait—don’t share your milliondollar idea until you’ve signed a contract to sell the idea to Facebook. Otherwise, they’ll take it for free.

“Instagram does not claim ownership of any Content that you post on or through the Service. Instead, you hereby grant to Instagram a nonexclusive, fully paid and royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, worldwide license to use the Content that you post on or through the Service, subject to the Service’s Privacy Policy[.]”

You can post whatever you want on Instagram, but you’re responsible for every picture you upload. Say someone has a problem with your Lo-Fifiltered photo and wants to file a complaint or lawsuit. It’s your property, so you’ll take the blame.

“Some iTunes Products, including but not limited to Content rentals, may be downloaded only once and cannot be replaced if lost for any reason. It is your responsibility not to lose, destroy, or damage iTunes Products once downloaded, and you may wish to back them up.”

“Spotify respects intellectual property rights and expects you to do the same. This means, for example, that the following is not permitted: Using the Spotify service to import or copy any local files you do not have the legal right to import or copy in this way[.]”

Computer crashed? Lost your phone? Apple says you’re shit outta luck. They won’t replace any lost songs, shows, or movies you purchased on iTunes. Play it safe: Back up those files now.

If you’ve ever illegally downloaded music and kept it in iTunes or Windows Media Player, it may automatically sync with Spotify. But Spotify isn’t a fan of piracy, and you can’t use the app if you import copyrighted music into the program.

XXX

ASSET F

UPGRADE

The Butt Bra says goodbye to flat booties. WORDS Molly Lamoureux DESIGN Maddi Wittenberg

fter the sex-pocalypse in the year 2069, it’s against the law for humans to have sex with each other. They pitifully resort to sleeping with robots—anything else is considered taboo. This tragedy calls for a superhero: Enter The Devirginator. Thanks to Offbeatr, a website that helps fund adult projects, this erotic comic book actually exists. Offbeatr is like an 18-and-older version of Kickstarter: Entrepreneurs submit proposals for porn products they want to make reality. Users can present any ideas for tangible products— books, blogs, apps, and movies are all fair game. These creative presentations aren’t strictly porn. They include hand-drawn comic books, how-to videos, and online video games—for example, people who fantasize about horses might get off by playing Discord In Equestria. If the Offbeatr community likes the idea, they vote on it. Once a startup has received enough votes, it starts collecting compensation to get it up and running. Some of Offbeatr’s most successful ventures include XStoryPlayer (a racy version of The Sims), “The Importance of Being Open” (an aggressive, intimate online dramedy), and 3G Dancers (an Android app full of erotic dance videos). To support an Offbeatr project—or create your own; no judgment here—head to offbeatr.com.

or women without Beyoncé-like backsides, a solution simpler than squats has surfaced. Introducing: the Butt Bra. Just like a push-up bra, this lingerie lifts even the flattest and saddest of booties by defying gravity—without the padding. These simple undergarments are body sleeves with the butt-cheek area cut out, raising the butt to Kardashian-booty status. Wearing this wonder bra for your tush is as deceiving as an unopened bag of chips: not as much is there as you thought. But that’s the point.

Even though these panties help fill out a pair of jeans, they’re not so sexy without anything on top. Before putting these on, be sure to consider how you might have to explain to a significant other in the bedroom that your assless-chaps panties are referred to as a Butt Bra. Butt Bras are often made of spandex and the queen of all sexy fabrics—Velcro. Prices range from $20 (thong-like coverage) to $100 or more (we’re talking nearly full-body suit). To get your own, visit lovemybubbles.com or hourglassangel.com.

Say What

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

It’s time to reverse the long-time ban on gay men donating blood.

A POSITIVE

CHANGE WORDS Joey Gale | PHOTO ILLUSTRATION Claire Sedovic

his summer, when my grandma asked me why I’ve never donated blood before, I told her I was afraid of needles. She shrugged off my excuse like everybody else who’s heard it, but it’s the furthest thing from the truth. I don’t have a fear of needles, and blood doesn’t bother me. I can’t donate blood because I’m gay. From what I’m told, donors fill out a lengthy questionnaire before being jabbed with the needle. Questions are intended to protect donors and recipients and range from “Are you pregnant?” to “In the past 12 months, have you had a tattoo?” The answers to these questions could effect someone’s ability to donate. And according to the American Red Cross, you can’t give blood “if you are a male who has had sex, even once, with another male since 1977.” But honest responses on these long-winded questionnaires are not what safeguard the blood

supply. The protection comes from a simple and quick test on all blood donations. This is why the ban on gay men donating blood must end. In June, the American Medical Association fell short of eliminating the ban. Two months later, that choice sparked controversy in the nation’s capital, leading over 80 members of Congress to urge the Department of Health and Human Services to knock down the ban. Since August, a national conversation has been thriving on the topic. When the ban was enacted 30 years ago, it seemed to make sense. We knew little about HIV and AIDS, and the disease was thought to be more prevalent in the gay community. Beyond that, discrimination against the gay community was widespread. Modern-day medical technology hadn’t been developed, and blood tests used to find HIV were scarce,

astronomically expensive, and often inaccurate. If a ban of this nature weren’t around 30 years ago, the public’s confidence in the blood supply would have been bleak. A lot has changed in three decades, though. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the likelihood of contracting HIV through a blood transfusion is 1.5 million to one. To put that into perspective, a person has a better chance of being struck by lightning than contracting the disease via a blood transfusion. Today, blood donations are run through a series of nine tests—nine lines of defense against the virus. Yet each year, around 10 Americans contract HIV through blood transfusions. These 10 or so fall through the cracks because if donors contract HIV relatively close to the time they donate blood, the infection may not be detected—it wouldn’t have had enough time to develop. According to the Food and Drug Administration, it takes 11 days to detect the virus in the bloodstream. Therefore, the ban lacks any firm basis: Science shows that having an undetected infection pass through a blood scan doesn’t come from being gay or having unprotected sex. It comes from having unprotected sex with an HIV- or AIDS-

carrier within 11 days before donating blood—regardless of sexual orientation or gender. The CDC reports that 28 percent of all HIV infections come from heterosexual sex, and almost a quarter are transmitted by women. Based on these statistics, women and gay men have an equal chance of spreading the infection through sex. It would be just as reasonable to ban all women from donating blood for the same reasons the ban on gay men exists. Yet the ban still holds. The FDA says the ban could be lifted if “scientific data supported that a change in policy would not present a significant and preventable risk to blood recipients.” The data shows that homosexual donors are no more likely to spread an infection through a blood donation than a heterosexual donor. The American Association of Blood Banks, the American Red Cross, and America’s Blood Centers have all let the FDA know that this ban is simply unjust. Homophobia should not be an excuse to prevent me from donating blood, and the amount of scientific evidence should be enough to combat this discriminatory ban. The next time my grandma asks me why I’ve never donated blood, I’ll explain to her that it’s not because I won’t—it’s because I can’t.

Say What

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

CAN’T BUY ME LOVE

One new dating app encourages men to bribe women for dates—but one writer won’t take the bait. WORDS Olivia O’Hea | PHOTO Claire Sedovic DESIGN Alecia McEachran

ow much would you pay to go on a date with me? Would you pay for my gas for a month? I know you haven’t met me, but would you shell out a few thousand dollars to take me on vacation? Just how much am I worth? These questions may seem strange, clingy, and slightly aggressive. But for the creators of the app Carrot Dating, they form the foundation of their business. Carrot Dating capitalizes on the sugar daddy culture by allowing users to bribe each other into dates and relationships. Using the tagline “Bribe your way to a date,” Carrot Dating attracted 30,000 users since its inception earlier in 2013. The app’s users post their likes, dislikes, and what they’re willing to offer a potential mate—a virtual carrot dangling in front of a horse. (Yes, in this analogy the horse is a woman.) The site refers to bribe-takers as exclusively female. Example: “Messaging may get her interested, but bribery will get you a date.” Plus, the homepage claims, “From flowers to jewelry, there’s a bribe for everyone’s budget. You can have anyone! All you have to do is dangle the right carrot.” That’s right, you can have anyone. The Carrot Dating concept uses the basic premise of prostitution—trading money for intimacy—with all the convenience of a smartphone app. You know, so you can be a misogynist on the go. Carrot Dating received extensive criticism from the media, but the creators rebutted these claims by asserting that the app creates relationships, not one-night stands. Many equate the app to legalized prostitution via the Internet, with two parties trading resources for seemingly forced romance. Moreover, this app makes affection and money synonymous. It portrays the women who “take the bribe” as objects to be bought, not people to love. It also strengthens patriarchal power dynamics by allowing the primary buyers (men) to consistently assume the dominant role both on the site and in the relationship. For a feminist like me, Carrot Dating and sugar daddy-sugar baby relationships are hard to comprehend. It’s easy to label apps like Carrot Dating as anti-woman, yet time and time again we see women signing up, creating accounts, and “taking the bribe.” I’ve always felt that it’s not my duty as a feminist to judge other women for actions I perceive to be anti-feminist. I’m not about slut shaming, and if a woman chooses to make a profile for herself on a questionable dating site, that’s up to her, not me. But I’m more than willing to criticize Carrot Dating’s rhetoric as decidedly anti-woman. The basic premise of the app simplifies an entire sex as mindless, vapid, materialistic consumers. Carrot Dating supposedly targets women’s feelings of entitlement. On the other hand, many users clearly feel that their money entitles them to a relationship. The entire principle of Carrot Dating not only reinstates antiquated masculine gender roles, but also devalues an entire group of people. No amount of money can hide the machismo undertones and patriarchal intent behind this software. Ultimately, Carrot Dating is nothing more than a misogynistic business thinly veiled as “Internet dating.”

A OF THE QUAD CITIES

WORDS Kristin Doherty | PHOTO Allison Trebacz | DESIGN Kayli Kunkel

Turns out signature pizzas aren’t reserved for big cities—the Quad Cities give it their own spin. crust The hand-tossed dough creates a crust with a chewy inside, a crunchy outside, and a nutty flavor. It needs to be thick, too—it’ll hold up to four pounds of toppings.

sauce

Don’t count on a saucy pizza— these pies don’t need much to get the job done. Just a thin layer of smooth and slightly spicy tomato sauce does the trick.

sausage

This is the key ingredient for a QC-style pizza. The finely ground sausage, generously spread from edge to edge, is seasoned with a special spice mix.

cheese

Quad City dwellers won’t settle for anything but the freshest stuff around. A blanket of melted mozzarella straight from the cheese state—Wisconsin—cuts down on the pizza’s greasiness.

strips

These pizzas are anything but conventional—square pieces and triangle slices are nowhere to be found. Instead of a rolling cutter, scissors snip the pizza into long, skinny rectangles. This leaves four crustheavy “corners” on the pizza, which true fanatics say are the best parts.

Chicago and New York both have namesake pizza styles, but there’s one more that fits in between Chicago’s deep dish and the Big Apple’s floppy slices. While it might not be as widespread as its big-city counterparts, the Quad Cities serve a pizza that’s just as distinct. “I get it every time I’m home— it’s my staple food,” says Claudia Williams, a Drake University first-year from Moline, one of the Quad Cities. “It brings all the towns together, too. We would rather eat that pizza than any other.”

Unlike New York and the Windy City, the Quad Cities haven’t expanded their pizza market to the rest of the country. A few pizzerias scattered across the Midwest serve imitations, but the real stuff is only found at the Iowa-Illinois border. “It’s almost like it’s a well-kept secret,” says Matt Van, a Drake junior and Quad Cities native. “But you have to search for the good places.” He says Clint’s Pizza in Moline is one of the top pizzerias, but Harris Pizza and Happy Joe’s are local favorites as well.

Food & Drink

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

EGGNOG ELEGANCE

Give this winter classic a chic twist. Eggnog with a caramel kick, artfully presented in a champagne flute with a cinnamon stick, adds a silky sophistication to any soirée.

CANDY CANE ALEXANDER Seasonal drinks sure to enliven the With snowy weather and chilly temperatures grumpiest of Scrooges. setting in, we’ve rounded up beverages

CHEERS

that complement the season and bring a festive spirit to any occasion. Whether you’re throwing a holiday party or staying in for the night, try these cold-weather cocktails to keep warm and cozy. WORDS & RECIPES Brian Taylor | PHOTOS Allison Trebacz

ICE-BERRY MARTINI

Frozen drinks aren’t only for summer. Just because this drink is chilled doesn’t mean it can’t be festive. With peppermint candies and crushed candy canes on the rim, it tastes just like the holidays ought to. Ingredients ½ cup crushed candy canes 1 scoop vanilla ice cream ½ oz. Rumple Minze peppermint schnapps ½ oz. Godiva chocolate liqueur 1 cup ice 1 oz. milk Whipped cream 2 starlight mints

Coat rim of glass with crushed candy cane pieces; chill. In a blender, combine ice cream, Rumple Minze, Godiva liqueur, ice cubes, milk, and remaining crushed candy canes; blend until smooth. Top with whipped cream and garnish with starlight mints.

Berry flavors and tangy lime dance with a hint of mint in this cocktail. Adorned with sugarcoated raspberries and a waltz of mint sprigs, this festive blend will liven up any winter party. Ingredients 1 pint strawberries 2 cups water 1 cup sugar 1½ oz. raspberry-flavored vodka ¼ oz. white crème de menthe ½ oz. cranberry juice cocktail 1 oz. lime-flavored seltzer, chilled 1 lime wedge 3 raspberries 1 mint sprig

Boil strawberries, water, and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Strain and let syrup cool. In a shaker, combine vodka, crème de menthe, cranberry juice, and syrup; mix. Serve in a chilled martini glass. Top with lime seltzer and freshly squeezed lime juice. Garnish with raspberries and mint.

HAZELNUT MOCHA Toast to a frosty evening by serving this fusion of sweet and heat. Freshly brewed dark roast coffee swirls with a combination of hazelnut, dark chocolate, and sweet cream. Ingredients: ½ oz. Frangelico hazelnut liqueur ½ oz. Godiva chocolate liqueur ½ oz. Bailey’s Irish cream liqueur ¾ cup freshly brewed coffee Whipped cream Godiva dark chocolate bar, shaved Pour Frangelico, Godiva, and Bailey’s liqueurs into a mug. Add hot coffee; stir gently to mix. Top with whipped cream and chocolate, shaved with a vegetable peeler.

Ingredients ½ oz. Myers’s dark rum ½ oz. Dulseda dulce de leche liqueur ½ cup eggnog 1/8 tsp. nutmeg 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon Cinnamon sticks Pour rum and caramel liqueur into a champagne flute. Fill to top with eggnog; stir. Dust with nutmeg and cinnamon, and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Food & Drink

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

BEER + ELECTROLYTES

Forget chugging Gatorade to fight off a nasty hangover. Australian researchers have created a beer with the hangover cure built in. This light, hydrating beer could be a shining beacon of hope for drinkers everywhere. Just like any sports drink, this libation replenishes the body with electrolytes, minimizing the chances of an awful morning. The beer-electrolyte combo keeps drinkers alert and refreshed—not exactly the expected effects of alcoholic beverages. That said, don’t count on getting plastered with this drink. Due to its hydrating powers, the alcohol content is even lower than normal beers.

Hydrating Beer

BEER + BREAKFAST Pipeline Porter

BEER + SPICE Cave Creek Chili Beer

WEIRD

BEER Beer that doesn’t taste like beer? We’ll drink to that. WORDS Megan Berberich PHOTO Allison Trebacz

Kona Brewing Company has its own take on the morning brew—and we don’t mean a cup o’ joe. The Pipeline Porter delivers a new twist of flavor to the otherwise simple dark beer. It’s smooth and dark, similar to Guinness, but with hints of roasted coffee and chocolate. Blended with freshly roasted Hawaiian Kona coffee, the malt’s richness pairs well with soups and stews. This brew is ideal for a chilly day—which is a plus, because it’s only available in the fall and winter.

An extra glass of water might be in order for this beer—not just to ward off a hangover. Cave Creek Chili Beer is one of the spiciest beers ever brewed. A mild serrano pepper at the bottom of every bottle gives this brew about the same kick as a cayenne pepper. With its light gold hue, missing foam, and extra spice, the beer is a novelty, though the searing tinge of serrano and hot sauce may overwhelm first-time tasters. Don’t try to tackle more than one bottle solo—split a six-pack with friends.

BEST OF

DES MOINES

WORDS Paige Zidek | PHOTO Allison Trebacz

NIGHTLIFE

Contrary to popular belief, Des Moines has plenty to offer for a night out. Whether you’re headed to happy hour after work or catching up with family and friends, you’ll find good drinks and good company at these bars. BEST FOR PARENTS

THE ROYAL MILE & THE RED MONK

For a downtown bar that’s mom- and dad-friendly, check out The Royal Mile and its upstairs neighbor, The Red Monk. Described by the Des Moines Register as “Des Moines’ living room,” this U.K.-inspired pub features a comfortable atmosphere that’s tucked away from the craziness of Court Avenue. From the European crests and flags hanging from the ceiling, to old photos on the walls, the pub has a distinctly British feel. The bar has 28 imported ales and lagers on draft, as well as 120 bottled beers and 115 single-malt Scotches. Grab a strong pint of O’Hara’s Irish Pale Ale or a more traditional Guinness Stout. The Mile also has an extensive menu of British pub food—tuck into a Shepherd’s pie or traditional English fish and chips, battered and fried to golden, crispy perfection. For an even cozier atmosphere, head upstairs to The Red Monk, Iowa’s only bar dedicated to Belgian-style beers and

imported liquors. The bar’s church-like décor—featuring dim lighting, stained glass windows, dark woodwork, and Renaissance-style tapestries—is ideal for a quiet catch-up. Beer snobs will love The Red Monk’s drink menu, which has over 90 Belgian imports and Belgian-style beers from American craft brewers. Try the Chimay Triple, a hoppy white beer with hints of banana and cloves. The Petrus Aged Red has a heavier flavor with a brown ale base and rich cherry undertones. Most of Red Monk’s beers boast an 8.5 to 10 percent alcohol content, so go ahead and get rowdy with the folks. Find it 210 4th St., Des Moines Hours (The Royal Mile) Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday, 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. Hours (The Red Monk) Wednesday–Thursday, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday–Saturday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Info 515.280.3771 | royalmilebar.com | theredmonk.com

Food & Drink

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

BEST FOR CO-WORKERS

EL BAIT SHOP

Forget the dreary workweek and head to El Bait Shop with co-workers for a fun bar atmosphere, Mexican barbecue, and lots of alcohol. Stepping inside El Bait Shop is like taking a peek inside a fisherman’s tacky hideout. Snarky bumper stickers, posters, taxidermied animal heads, and retro alcohol paraphernalia line every inch of the wood-paneled walls. But the real spectacle is the bar itself. Rows upon rows of beer spigots with funky designs are displayed for drinkers to select their perfect brew. The long tables, ample bar seating, and outdoor patio—complete with a separate bar—are ideal for large groups looking to down a few cold ones. El Bait Shop boasts 120 beers on tap and an additional 150 beers in bottles. Brews from across the nation can be found on tap, along with Iowa favorites such as Confluence and Peace Tree. Check out the Breckenridge Agave Wheat for subtle hints of agave nectar, or try the Prairie Bomb, a dark ale with notes of coffee, cacao, vanilla bean, and chili pepper. If your beer repertoire only extends to Miller Lite, no need to be intimidated—novices can consult the bar’s extensive menu for options, or ask one of the bartenders for a recommendation. Not a beer lover? Options are limited—try one of the hard ciders on tap. El Bait Shop also has weekly entertainment and happy hour specials to spice up a post-work event. Sundays and Wednesdays are “Boulevard Nights,” when Des Moines’ best local and touring acts perform, and select Boulevard drafts are $3 from 8 to 11 p.m. Every Thursday from 6 to 8:30 p.m., the “Jimmy Carter Happy Hour” features free samples from local and awardwinning brewers—perfect for blowing off some steam after a long day. Find it 200 SW 2nd St., Des Moines Hours Daily, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Info 515.284.1970 | elbaitshop.com

BEST FOR DATES

TALLY’S RESTAURANT BAR AND CATERING

Few date spots in Des Moines have the simple charm and sophistication of Tally’s. With mouthwatering dishes, an extensive drink menu, and its signature rooftop patio, the quaint atmosphere is a great backdrop for a casual first date or romantic rendezvous. The restaurant’s interior is cozy yet posh, with an upscale dining room, a full-service bar, and red brick walls adorned with local art. For a more casual environment, dine al fresco on the outdoor patio in front of the restaurant, or head to the sprawling rooftop deck overlooking the sights and shops along Beaver Avenue. The bar’s variety of specials will satisfy the pickiest of drinkers. Throw back a couple beers with your date on Thursdays for $3 imports and microbrews, or sip specialty martinis for $5 on Fridays. Wednesdays are $1 off mixed drinks—check out the bar’s signature Grape Goblin, a mix

of grape vodka, schnapps, Pucker, and lemon-lime soda. Specials are only available at bar seating, so head to the patio to drink the night away with your date. The Tally’s menu complements its simple atmosphere with a diverse selection of traditional American fare. For a classier twist on a drunk-food staple, split the nachos, which consist of (brace yourself) handmade chips topped with cheddar and blue cheeses, bacon, tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, and a tangy whiskey barbecue sauce. Be sure to save room for the $5 dessert specials made daily from scratch. Keep in mind, though, Tally’s is not for the cheap date. Menu items range from $8 to $15 during lunchtime and up to $35 for dinner. Find it 2712 Beaver Ave., Des Moines Hours Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Info 515.279.2067 | tallysbeaverdale.com

BEST GUYS’ NIGHT

UP-DOWN

For a change of pace from booze and the big game at friends’ apartments, grab the guys and head to Up-Down, a brand-new barcade in the East Village that brings a different spin to guys’ night. This adult arcade combines classic video games with local brews and a shot of childhood nostalgia. This bar resembles the ultimate basement hangout, with dim lighting, pop-culture posters on the walls, a well-stocked bar, lounge areas with TVs and couches, and, of course, plenty of games. Up-Down has over 40 arcade games from the ’80s and ’90s, including favorites such as Mario Bros., Ms. Pacman, Mortal Kombat, and NBA Jam. The barcade also has an assortment of

pinball machines, three skee-ball alleys, and giant versions of Jenga and Connect Four. The best part: All games cost just a quarter. This gamers’ paradise is perfect for some bro bonding. Up-Down has over 20 craft brews on tap—all reasonably priced, beginning at $3. Grab an 8 Bit Pale Ale or the crisp Backpocket Raygun IPA to fuel a late-night skee-ball tourney or Mario Kart marathon. Dudes can also check out the bar’s smaller cocktail menu, featuring arcade-inspired drinks such as the “Gamer Fuel,” a punchy mix of Three Olives Dude and Code Red. Find it 500 E. Locust St., Des Moines Hours Daily, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Info 515.243.4322 | updowndsm.com

YOUR DRAKE AREA YOGA STUDIO

Food & Drink

Roxianne Scott, Owner and Lead Instructor, a “Best Yoga Instructor, 2012”

Voted by Cityview readers as a “Best of Des Moines”

BEST GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT

LIME LOUNGE

For a girls’ night out sans crazy crowds and creepy dudes, head to the East Village for a low-key evening at Lime Lounge. From the outside, this bar looks inconspicuous—and can be downright hard to spot next to the flashing lights and thumping bass of its neighbor, The Blazing Saddle. But on the inside, Lime Lounge’s comfy couches, secluded back area for private parties, and spacious outdoor patio can accommodate small or large groups. Flashing neon lights pulsate to the techno beats booming over the bar’s speakers, giving it the feel of a metropolitan dance club. Top 40 hits won’t play at Lime Lounge—its soundtrack is mostly obscure techno and house, spun by some of Des Moines’ top electro-DJs. The dance floor stays pretty empty until midnight, when the crowd really starts to pick up. Non-techno lovers can check out the bar on Thursdays for Salsa Night, with

no cover charge and free salsa lessons. While standard rum and Cokes or gin and tonics are available at Lime Lounge, “girly drinks”—namely, fruity martinis and cosmos—are its specialty. Check out the signature Mango Tango, a sweet and spicy fusion of Absolut Mango vodka, freshly squeezed lime, and mango purée. Another favorite is the coconut mojito, crafted with hand-muddled mint, fresh lime, sugar, and coconut rum. For the indecisive (or the lightweight), most of the bar’s martinis are available in half-price sample sizes—but they still pack a punch.

Find it 435 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines Hours Tuesday–Sunday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Info 515.333.4643 | limedsm.com

We always offer discounts for Drake faculty and staff

Drake students get $5 classes with Drake ID CONTACT US and get started today!

We offer caring, professional, and complete yoga instruction for all levels BEGINNER TO ADVANCED

PHONE | 515.271.YOGA (9642) WEBSITE | http://harmonyyogadsm.com

Health

SMALL CHANGES,

BIG DIFFERENCES

Weight-loss tips that take little effort could reap noticeable results. WORDS Molly Longman | PHOTO Claire Sedovic

Chew Gum

Go Blue

Chomping on sugar-free gum can help cut calories—it keeps the mouth busy and answers one of the most vexing everyday questions: “Am I hungry or am I bored?” Researchers from the Mayo Clinic found that chewing sugar-free gum raises the metabolism. The same study states that it’s possible to shed 11 pounds per year by chewing gum throughout the day. Pop a piece of gum to ward off the temptation of snacking.

Most foods aren’t naturally blue, so the brain subconsciously associates the color with poison. Dieters who surrounded themselves with blue ate less while still feeling satisfied. Conversely, the colors yellow, red, and orange prompt people to eat more. In a study published in Contract Magazine where participants spent time in three different colored rooms, people ate 33 percent less food in a blue room than in red and yellow rooms. Wear blue at mealtime, eat off blue plates, and put a blue tablecloth on the table to suppress an overactive appetite.

Browse #FoodPorn Social network feeds blow up with images of tasty treats and savory meals. As it turns out, this is actually good for our waistlines. A Brigham Young University study showed that seeing images of food—rather than eating it—creates the feeling of satiation, making those Instagrammed apple-pie-snickerdoodlecookie bars or garlic-butter shrimp scampi seem less appealing when it’s time to chow down.

Eat Off a Smaller Plate Smaller plates mean smaller portions. A Cornell University study found that people who used smaller dinnerware believed they were eating an average of 18 percent more calories than they actually consumed. Eat meals off a saucer-sized plate—about 6 inches in diameter.

Hydrate Before Meals We’ve heard it a million times: Drink water, and lots of it. Eight glasses of water per day is recommended, but it’s the water right before meals that’s most beneficial to weight loss. Downing a glass of water before every meal tricks the body into feeling full, so it takes fewer calories to feel satisfied. In a Virginia Tech study that included 48 overweight or obese people, participants lost more weight when they drank water before every meal.

Brush After Meals Not only will the dentist be happy, but the body will be thankful, too. Brushing the teeth reduces the urge to snack after meals. Having that minty fresh taste in your mouth will cue your body that mealtime is over.

Going dairy-free may be the next fad diet—but is it safe? WORDS Zoë Ekonomou PHOTO Allison Trebacz

NOT

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

MILK?

ot everyone is rocking the milk mustache. After Brad Shepherd decided to cut dairy from his diet for a short period, he never added it back in. While the medical community is split on whether the dairy-free diet is beneficial, Shepherd stands by the diet as one of the healthiest decisions he’s made. The 35-year-old had always considered himself a healthy person. He initially eliminated dairy products to support his wife, whose rheumatoid arthritis warranted the diet. But Shepherd found that it helped him, too: Within two weeks, he credited the dairy-free diet for alleviating headaches, bloating, and problems he had sleeping—his wife even told him he stopped snoring. After eight weeks, Shepherd experimented and reintroduced dairy to his diet to see how he’d feel. “Immediately, I felt my stomach was gurgly and kind of heavy, and I didn’t sleep very well that night,” says Shepherd, who runs the blog Fooduciary. “I was congested and stuffed up. And I could pin that right back to the dairy because that was the only thing that I added back in.” Those changes were drastic enough for Shepherd to cut out dairy for good. “Eating it again was just not worth it,” he says. Dairy-free eaters support the trend because they believe dairy doesn’t belong in our diets. Dr. Michael Klaper, who specializes in preventative and nutritional medicine in California, is one of the leading doctors studying this diet. He believes that consuming dairy, from an evolutionary perspective, is unnatural. Regarding milk specifically, Klaper believes that because a cow’s milk is designed with hormones that help calves grow, when people consume milk after they’re done growing, it can contribute to weight gain. “Drinking milk causes a lot of health problems,” he says. “If you want to be lean and healthy, don’t eat dairy products.” When patients first walk into his medical office, Klaper says he can easily recognize dairy eaters by their appearance. “If they stop the dairy, the change is often dramatic,” he says. “You can see within weeks that bloat leaves their faces and they certainly lose weight. It’s really remarkable to see the change that happens.” Klaper acknowledges we can receive calcium, protein, vitamins, and minerals from consuming dairy—but that doesn’t make it healthy, he says. Eating plant-based, whole foods makes up for the nutrients dieters miss when skipping dairy. On the other hand, Stefanie Boyd, a clinical nutrition specialist

at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, believes going on the diet could be dangerous. Boyd says dairy provides nine daily essential nutrients, including calcium, protein, and vitamin D. Eliminating an entire food group that contains these nutrients could increase the risk of nutrient deficiency if the dairy-free eater does not make proper dietary changes. “Certainly you want to make sure you are intentional about getting the calcium and vitamin D that you need,” Boyd says. “One cup of milk is 30 percent of your daily requirement for calcium and 25 percent of your daily requirement for vitamin D. There really is no other food that is even close to meeting those requirements.” That means dieters need to find those nutrients elsewhere. Boyd says milk substitutes will do the trick. Soy, rice, and almond milks are all fortified substitutes. Calcium can be found in green veggies and beans. Fish is a good source of vitamin D, and lean meats, beans, and nuts are all protein-heavy. In any case, Boyd advises working with a dietitian to ensure the body gets what it needs. Despite the health risks, Shepherd still thinks the diet is worth a shot. “Try it out for a little while; see how you feel. Add it back in; see if it makes a difference,” he says. “If it does make a difference for you, it’s possible it could be life-changing.”

Health

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

Experts have coined the term “sitting disease,” a new health concern for all-day sitters.

TAKE A

STAND WORDS Megan Ellis

BALANCING ACT

Lack of regulation for protein powders puts the responsibility of safe consumption on the consumer. WORDS Kendall Wenaas | PHOTO Allison Trebacz

he trend started with marathoners, bodybuilders football players—people who need a little extra energy. They used supplements, mainly protein shakes, to get a few extra grams of protein per day. But the intake of protein shakes has expanded—supplements are now being consumed more often than just after a workout. These products that were once mostly marketed to athletes are now also being aimed at the average consumer as a means to stay healthy or lose weight. Unknown to many consumers, the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate protein powders. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 separated dietary supplements, such as protein powders, from other foods in the regulating process—they became their own category. The act also stated that the FDA doesn’t need to approve dietary supplements before they’re marketed, unless they contain a “new dietary ingredient.” Determining if an ingredient is “new” is also the distributors’ decision—and because protein isn’t new, suppliers are not required to notify the FDA before their protein supplements hit shelves. Besides determining if the production is safe, the supplements’ serving sizes also fall on the shoulders of the individual manufacturers. Because the FDA isn’t responsible for approving this, there’s no way to know if the serving

size listed on the nutritional label is a safe amount. That means it’s up to consumers to make sure they’re not taking too much. “Here in the U.S., we just assume what’s sold at retail is OK,” says David Ellis, registered dietitian and certified strength and conditioning specialist. He emphasizes that consumers should be cautious when purchasing and consuming these unregulated products for that reason. More often than not, consuming protein shakes won’t cause any problems at first. “Short term, there probably is not [a negative effect],” says Brian Smith, clinical dietitian at UnityPoint Health in Des Moines. Long term might be a different story. Digestive problems, a decrease in bone strength, and kidney problems—such as kidney stones, kidney disease, and dehydration—have all been linked to excessive protein intake. These more extreme effects don’t happen overnight. But after the continual over-ingestion of these supplements, the risk increases sharply. Smith says not enough research has been done on the long-term effects, and because distributors don’t have to present evidence of the safety or efficiency of their products, it’s impossible to determine the likelihood of these health risks. Protein supplements deliver nutrients that are important for muscle recovery, which is why athletes benefit from them. Plus, the shakes are more attractive to athletes because they’re

easier to digest post-workout, as opposed to a proteinheavy meal. But for non-athletes, Smith believes chocolate milk is a better choice after exercising. “Good ol’ chocolate milk performs the best because it has the best balance that the body can use to repair itself,” he says. Also, chocolate milk—and other forms of protein such as eggs, meat, and beans—are generally cheaper per serving than supplements. Unlike athletes, average consumers don’t count on health professionals to track their protein consumption, calculate how much they eat, or make sure the protein source is safe. Ellis says it’s problematic if consumers think protein shakes are superior to protein-heavy foods or if they’re skipping meals in favor of the protein shake. Smith agrees. “In the end, the human body is designed to run on a balance of fuel,” he says. “If protein shakes and protein supplements fit within the balance of the diet as a whole, there’s no issue. However, if those are used in the exclusion to real foods that allow us to perform at our optimum performance level, then over the long haul, there may be some problems.”

ouch potatoes and workaholics have more to worry about than high blood pressure and weight gain—“sitting diseases” can now be added to their worries. “Sitting disease” is a blanket term for all the health risks associated with sitting for long periods. These diseases are running rampant because of the growing number of people who sit stationary for hours on end, creating a laundry list of unforeseen health hazards. According to an October 2012 study from the British Journal of Sports Medicine, sitting in front of the TV is more harmful than smoking. Our bodies simply are not made to be stationary—the spine, nervous system, and joints are designed for motion. Sitting puts pressure on the nerves and reshapes the spinal curve. This can lead to upper-crossed syndrome, characterized by rounded shoulders and a person’s head resting farther forward than the body. Dr. Wael Haidar, vice president of hospital services and primary care at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, says the risks of cardiac disease, metabolic diabetes from obesity, spinal changes, and arthritis all increase with the more time people spend with their butts in chairs. Sitting for long periods of time also inhibits vascularity and blood flow. Muscles operate on a use-it-or-lose-it system—Haidar says that if they go unused, they begin to shrink from the lack of activity. This can cause shortness of breath when moving, a decrease in functional activity, and a limited range of motion. The more people sit, the harder it gets to do things that aren’t sitting—a vicious cycle. To a chiropractor, sitting with good posture is the equivalent of patients brushing their teeth for the dentist. But before burning chairs, there’s an easy solution to ward off these unwanted side effects. Laura Rehmer from Whole Health Chiropractic Wellness Center in Des Moines says sitting with the legs at a 125-degree angle is kinder on the joints than if the knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. She says an even better fix is standing as much as possible: Walk around while talking on the phone or invest in a standing-height desk. “We are seeing changes everywhere to combat sitting diseases, from technology that restricts computer use for periods of time, to changes in ergonomics standards for small and large business, to advances in furniture design,” Rehmer says. So take a stand—literally—to save yourself from this “disease.”

Health

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

FASHION’S FLYOVER STATE

INHALED INTOXICATION W

Lost between two fashion-forward coasts, Iowa struggles to keep up with style trends. WORDS Rachel Ward | PHOTO Claire Sedovic

The health concerns of smoking vaporized alcohol outweigh the low-cal buzz. WORDS Taylor Hamberg | PHOTO Allison Trebacz

hether it’s snorting vodka or butt chugging, bizarre ways to consume alcohol are always surfacing among experimental drinkers. One of the latest techniques: smoking alcohol. When poured over dry ice, the liquid transforms into boozy fumes, which can cause smokers to feel tipsy within a matter of minutes. But just like its predecessors, this intoxication technique poses an array of risks. “The reason people are doing this is because they believe that it has less calories and a better high,” says Emily Blomme, program manager at the Iowa Substance Abuse Information Center. Although inhaling alcohol may sound like an easy way to cut back on drink calories, the ethanol that lingers in the fumes still contains them. The amount of calories is significantly reduced—but calories are still present. One of the biggest dangers of smoking alcohol is an increased risk of alcohol poisoning. “When people drink alcohol, the body uses vomiting as its defense mechanism to protect itself from overdose,” Blomme says. Because the alcohol enters the bloodstream faster when inhaled, it sidesteps both the stomach and liver, where liquid

alcohol is stored. “And if the alcohol bypasses the stomach, then there’s no way to expel it when you have too much in the system,” Blomme says. Once the brain absorbs ethanol, it cannot escape from the body. Another problem is that while liquid is easily measured, fumes can’t be counted like drinks. Smoking alcohol makes it hard to keep track of how much has been consumed. Not only are alcohol smokers more prone to alcohol poisoning, but they’re also at risk for also serious lung conditions. Dry ice can burn the lining of the lungs, making breathing difficult and increasing the possibility of future health hazards. Smoking alcohol also increases the chances of developing pneumonia by damaging nasal linings and respiratory tract passages. Drinking alcohol may have its own health concerns, but not nearly as many when its fumes are inhaled. “If you’re taking something that was once a liquid and inhaling it, common sense says this isn’t good for you,” Blomme says. “I can see the appeal, but people don’t see the dangers.”

hevron and mint may be trending in the Midwest, but on the East and West Coasts, they’re old news. Stuck between the two most stylish parts of the country, trends arrive (unfashionably) late to the Heartland, leaving Iowa in a state of style Siberia. “It’s hard in Des Moines because there’s not a fashion scene,” says Rebekah Risbeck, owner of Mint L.A., a boutique in West Des Moines. “We wear what we have access to.” To her boutique she brings 10 years of experience as a buyer and trend forecaster for a privately owned company in Los Angeles. But Iowa is a bit different, she says. Some trends never come at all. Traditionally, designers show off their lines on three platforms: Fashion markets (think hundreds of booths showcasing designers’ latest lines), fashion shows (think glamorous, over-the-top productions and Anna Wintour pursing her lips in the first row), and showrooms (think a display of one designer’s latest collection). Virtually nothing of comparison exists in Iowa. The Midwest hosts exclusively small markets, showrooms, and fashion shows—and only in its biggest cities. None of these runways compare to New York Fashion Week or pull the number of vendors that L.A. and New York bring, which means Midwestern boutique owners have less to choose from. To make up for the lag in trend translation, many boutique owners fly to the coasts’ fashion markets. Pieces that work for the runway often don’t fit the Midwest’s style or budget, and most showrooms only showcase a single designer—markets are their best option. These fashion markets are the size of sports arenas, and the floor is crammed with vendors yelling,

“Look at my line!” The booth-to-booth setup doesn’t leave much room for aisles. Boutique owners compete to score the latest designs. And they’re doing what should take weeks in four days. Laurie Anderson, who owns Lyla’s on Main in Ames, Iowa, enjoys going to markets, but finding the time to get away can be difficult. “I’m the owner. I’m the manager. I work 90 percent of the hours here in the store,” Anderson says. “It’s hard for me to get out of the store and travel to markets.” Emphasis on travel. Midwest boutique owners shell out cash for plane tickets every time they want to see designers’ latest lines in person. Technology helps Iowa play catch-up—to an extent. In the past few years, online stores began selling bulk products in eightpiece packages, instead of, say, 80. Midwest boutiques can shop online to spice up inventory between markets without spending big bucks on travel or overstocking pieces that customers won’t like. “We’re looking for those unique items we can bring to the Midwest that no one else is going to be wearing,” Anderson says. She rummages markets for classic pieces with a fashionforward print and staying power—boutique owners must toe the line between trend and Des Moines’ style. To walk this line, Risbeck predicts what styles to buy for her boutique according to her customer base, instead of trend’s magic ball. In L.A., Risbeck bought trends 18 months ahead. In Des Moines, she’s buying the same season. “When I first moved here from L.A., I was bringing in things that my friends and I were wearing in L.A. at the time, but it wasn’t translating to the Des Moines market,” she says. Risbeck says the flyover states’ underwhelming nightlife leaves little room for boundary-breaking style. “Here, you can find something cool, like a jumpsuit or harem pants,” she says. “But where are you actually going to get away with wearing it without people making fun of you?” In fact, Risbeck brought these styles to her boutique when she first opened it, but most of her Iowan customers wouldn’t bite. They’re still in love with chevron and mint.

Fashion

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

STREET

CRED Forget high-class couture. Let the sidewalk be your runway and channel the ’90s with old-school grunge style. STYLING Raeann Langas & Leah Walters PHOTOS Morgan Cannata MODELS Annie Norlander | Ariella Miesner Brandon Boelts MAKEUP Emily Hardinger

HAIR Ariella Miesner

LIGHTING Cameron Johnson Visit drakemagazine.com/street-cred for a behind-the-scenes video of the photoshoot.

On Brandon Plaid flannel shirt ($22.99) Target Polka-dot tee ($12.95) H&M Light-wash jeans ($280) Badowers Twill backpack ($348) Badowers Paisley snapback ($32) Urban Outfitters

On Annie Star-print, leather-sleeved sweater ($178) Aimée Destroyed white jeans ($108) Aimée Cheetah-print snapback ($32) Urban Outfitters

On Ariella Camo-print knit sweater ($140) Aimée Coated jeans ($245) Velvet Coat Black leather and pink calfskin purse ($425) Velvet Coat Silver stud bracelet ($34) Dillard’s

Fashion

Laid-Back Layers A monochrome pattern puts a modern spin on a classic crewneck sweater. Finish the look with a denim jacket and bright beanie.

Pump Up the Details Dress up a pair of lightwash skinnies with an edgy, leather-detailed sweater and statement-making pumps.

Patterned sweater ($19.95) H&M Denim jacket ($90) Topman Black jeans ($180) Badowers Purple beanie ($16) Topshop

Leather-detailed sweater ($145) Aimée Light-wash jeans ($185) Proper Pop-Up Cheetah-print heels ($368) Velvet Coat Black-and-silver bracelet ($28) Dillard’s Stud ring ($48) Dillard’s

Neon Knit

Give a bright, feminine sweater a grunge make-under by pairing it with a slouchy hat and cuffed camo-print pants. Orange, short-sleeved sweater ($295) Proper Pop-Up Camo-print jeans ($198) Proper Pop-Up Gray beanie ($16) Topshop Gold necklace ($18) Dillard’s

Fashion

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

Tied Together A plaid shirt knotted around the waist creates the quintessential ’90s look. Make it work for a night out with heeled booties and gold accessories.

Babydoll dress ($22.80) Forever 21 Plaid flannel shirt ($22.99) Target Black heeled booties ($29.99) Target Leather wrap bracelet ($24) Dillard’s Gold chain necklace ($48) Dillard’s

Every Rose Has a Thorn Even florals can go grunge when mixed with masculine pieces— leather lace-up boots toughen up this sweet, rose-print dress. Floral cut-out dress ($86) Aimée Lace-up boots ($470) Proper Pop-U

Sleek Simplicity A chambray shirt gives a twist to a ’90s staple: denim. Dress it down with a cool graphic snapback. Chambray button-down ($115) Badowers Paisley snapback ($32) Urban Outfitters

Pearls and Punk Pearls add a girly touch to a leather mini, but with an oversized plaid flannel on top, the outfit stays old school. Pearl-embellished leather skirt ($140) Aimée Black tank ($44) Velvet Coat Plaid flannel shirt ($22.99) Target Black-and-gold necklace ($32) Dillard’s

Fashion

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

Capitol Couture There’s no denying it: The privileged residents of the Capitol have style down pat. With styles ripped from the silver screens, Capitol Couture bridges the realm of “The Hunger Games” franchise with reality. The real-life costume designer behind these elaborate District 1 looks, Trish Summerville, worked with luxury online retailer Net-A-Porter on the line inspired by the films. Cinna’s flaming creations aren’t available—the fiery gowns aren’t practical for the everyday. But the 16-piece collection includes wearable designs with references to the over-the-top movie wardrobe. Summerville and Net-A-Porter remained tight-lipped about the line at press time. Although, fashion lovers may be left in suspense for now, the collection won’t fail to impress when it debuts in conjunction with the release of “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” The sought-after Capitol Couture collection will be pricey no doubt, but the Quarter Quell only comes around every 25 years, so go ahead and splurge.

FROM COSTUME TO

CLOSET

Silver-screen styles come to life in these movie-inspired fashion lines. WORDS Leah Walters | PHOTOS Claire Sedovic

ny ordinary movie lover can recite lines verbatim or schlep movie-branded school supplies around in a matching backpack. But real fans display their fondness more seriously— namely with film-inspired fashion. More than ever before, big-name labels are taking note of blockbuster costumes, and creative entrepreneurs are finding ways to coalesce their passions for movies and clothing design. Thanks to the fashion industry, film buffs can now seamlessly integrate their fandom into everyday life by way of their wardrobes.

Great Gatsby Collection With the release of Baz Luhrmann’s take on “The Great Gatsby” earlier this year, the world caught a case of Roarin’ Twenties fever. The hypnotically opulent party scenes are enough to make anyone want to hop in a time machine. It’s only fitting, then, that Brooks Brothers released a line of Gatsby-inspired menswear—the classic American haberdasher has been around since 1818, and F. Scott Fitzgerald himself was brand loyal. Costume designer Catherine Martin collaborated with the clothier on the movie wardrobe, and now those very pieces are available in Brooks Brothers stores and online. Replicas of Nick Carraway’s green shawl cardigan and Jay Gatsby’s ivory linen jacket are up for grabs, but an authentic yellow Rolls Royce is harder to come by. The collection includes suave suit jackets, blazers, sweaters, ties, shoes, and all that jazz. The striped burgundy regatta blazer is sure to refine a gentleman’s wardrobe. Naturally, the pieces carry a price tag as grand as Gatsby himself—a suit jacket costs $798. But attend one theme party a month for the next two years and it practically pays for itself. That’s what you call an investment piece.

Black Milk Clothing Spandex lovers and film nerds need not look further: Black Milk Clothing covers “Lord of the Rings,” “Harry Potter,” “Star Wars,” and, for good measure, “Sesame Street.” There’s nothing subtle about this line of skintight apparel from Australian designer James Lillis. The company, which grew out of a love for stretchy fabrics, produces a wide range of apparel.

Swimsuits, body-con mini dresses, and leggings are taken to the extreme with allover prints. Hardcore “Star Wars” fans will appreciate the R2-D2 mini dresses, Chewie and Hans leggings, and Yoda swimsuits. Black Milk also hooks up “Harry Potter” fans. Devoted muggles can rock house pride no matter where the Sorting Hat sent them, and the Death Eater leggings would have Voldemort turning in his grave. A swimsuit costs $94, and a pair of leggings runs about $80— but Black Milk comps the international shipping. Delivery by owl is an extra charge.

Last Exit to Nowhere Last Exit to Nowhere is dedicated to delivering more understated apparel for the die-hard fans not necessarily looking to stop traffic. Its shirts, sweatshirts, and caps are the stuff of movie-geek dreams. An ace team of film-loving designers takes inspiration from the places and businesses in popular movies. It’s the subtlety of the products that make them stand out—only true fans will catch the references here. The online retailer pays homage to all genres, from low-budget cult classics to major blockbusters. Channel Rocky Balboa in a Mighty Mick’s Boxing sweatshirt, celebrate the 1993 classic “Groundhog Day” in a WPBH 9 Action News tee, or show “Back to the Future” school pride in a Hill Valley High School shirt. The line is smart, low-key, and attractively designed. With T-shirt prices under $30, customers won’t feel bad indulging their inner nerd with a few selections.

BREAKING CHAINS

Life after prison isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t easy, but these felons have turned their lives around to help troubled youth do the same. WORDS Linley Sanders | PHOTO Claire Sedovic

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

that if she said anything, she would be next. She looked him dead in the eye. “I’ll be the last bitch you ever slap,” she said. The next morning, Jamie went to the police and turned in herself and the other four teens. Jamie went to jail for 8½ years for her role in the robbery and murder. She used the time for self-reflection, working three jobs and doing volunteer work in the prison. It was the staff and other inmates who helped her understand that her past didn’t have to define her. “I am who I am because of prison, not in spite of it,” Jamie says. “They raised me.” While in prison, Jamie helped bring rehabilitation programs for long-term prisoners to Iowa. The Pets And Women Succeeding program allowed prisoners to help train dogs; a Big Sisters program promoted in-prison mentoring; and Youthful Offenders became a restorative justice program that Jamie is still involved with today. Chad Jensen, a juvenile court intake supervisor for the 5th Judicial District, says that the rehabilitation process holds

Sitting in her backyard, Jamie talks about her sons, the Color Run she recently participated in, and how far she’s come since prison. “I think one of my goals is to represent a new fact of an ex-felon to let people understand that we can change—and do.”

criminals accountable for their offenses. The programs can help them learn to make better decisions and become productive members of society, he says. “We come across various individuals in which there’s been a prior history of criminal involvement and they’ve turned their lives around,” Jensen says. “They’ve been a positive influence on youth.” For Jamie, it was the Victim Impact program that showed her she could make a difference for others. “I was very vocal in [the program],” she says. “I go, ‘You know, we as women, we know what it feels like to be victimized. We’ve been molested; we’ve been robbed; we’ve been raped, beaten, and insulted. And the counselor turned around and said, ‘Well, if you know what it feels like to be a victim, why would you ever want somebody else to feel that way?’” That class changed Jamie’s life. She started trying to help every prisoner she could, even earning the nickname “Captain Save-aHo.” The reputation stuck with her after being released.

PHOTOS Alex Peterson

amie Ross looks at the teens sitting around her at the Youthful Offenders meeting. She’s here because they’ve made mistakes, and some could go to jail if they don’t turn their lives around. She’s here to tell her story—to scare them straight, so to speak. But few seem interested. After all, she’s just a 34-year-old suburban mom from Norwalk, Iowa. “How many would guess that I went to jail for murder?” she asks. The kids are paying attention now. Jamie was 16 when she went to prison for second-degree murder. But she’s come a long way—she’s an ex-criminal who changed to benefit not only herself, but also others who are headed down the wrong path. Forty percent of inmates return to prison within three years of release, according to the Pew Research Center. But some fight against the odds, fight to make sure troubled teens—like those in front of Jamie now—don’t make the same mistakes. MORE THAN ONE EVENT LED to Jamie’s crime. She was sexually abused by a relative from ages 5 to 8. She was first arrested for robbery at age 11. By 14, she was pregnant and gave her child up

for adoption. And by age 15, she reached her breaking point. She wasn’t prepared to lose her daughter, and when she did, her life spiraled out of control. At that point, she didn’t care if she lived or died. Less than a year later, Jamie would be charged with the felony that kept her in prison for over eight years. On the night of the murder, Jamie stood 40 feet away from where a man was killed. She and four other teens had only planned to rob him—killing him was never part of the plan. But as three young men beat the victim, one blow caused a fatal brain hemorrhage. By Iowa law, Jamie was guilty by association, even though she never laid a hand on him. They left believing he was alive, Jamie says. She wouldn’t discover the truth until a few days later, when a friend picked her up for a party and asked if she’d heard about the murder. “My heart sank,” she says. “It’s one of those things where your life flashes before your eyes. Immediately, I knew what I had to do.” Jamie’s friend took her to find the three guys. She jumped out of the car while it was still moving and screamed, “You fucking killed him!” One of the guys slapped her across the face and told her

Jamie Ross holds her 19-month-old son, Gavin, at their home in Iowa. “I want to be honest with my kids,” she says. “They’ll know about what I’ve done, but it’ll all be at age-appropriate times.”

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

“If we had the life skills needed to change our lives, we wouldn’t have gone to prison in the first place. That’s just common sense.” –Jamie Ross BEYOND PRISON, FELONS’ LIVES are limited. Many can’t vote. They’ll never sit on a jury or own a firearm. Jamie always dreamed of being a nurse, but felons can’t earn medical licenses. Instead, she’s worked with a retinal surgeon as an ophthalmic technician, doing everything a nurse would do, just without the title. But there are still other obstacles. According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, only 40 percent of employers report that they would hire applicants with criminal records. Her boss recently relocated to a hospital, but her felony would make it nearly impossible for her to be hired there, so she moved to a local acupuncture office. The job hunt has been hard, too, for Michael Garcia*, another felon. At 15 years old, he was sent to a juvenile prison for a gangrelated crime in Des Moines. He’d been shot at multiple times and almost killed, but nothing made him want to turn his life around until he was arrested. He’s 25 now, and because his criminal record is sealed, he’s not required to tell potential employers about his past. But Michael remembers one job interview in which he admitted to an employer that he made mistakes when he was younger. “She told me that they would give me a call,” Michael says. “In my mind, I had nailed the job. I was honest with her; I figured she’d appreciate that. One week went by, two weeks went by. No phone call. My buddy that worked at the company told me that they didn’t hire me due to my so-called criminal past.” Michael says situations like this are hard, because he was just

Jamie’s 7th grade school photo

*Name has been changed to protect the source.

Jamie and her fellow inmate celebrate Christmas Dec. 22 1998 at the prison in Virginia. Shortly after cutting her hair for Locks of Love, Jamie acted in a prison play called “In the Absence of Angels” in her twenties

being honest. Now, he doesn’t disclose anything about his prior crime. “They judge me based on my past. They don’t look at where I am now.” With the hope of becoming a probation officer, Michael is studying criminal justice off and on at a community college. Given his past, he knows he can relate to kids better than most officers can, and he mentors troubled youth with that goal in mind. “I’ve had a few [kids] tell me to fuck off,” he says. “It doesn’t bother me, because that’s me—that’s who I was. The satisfaction of seeing other kids’ lives turn around, that’s what I go for.” Now, Michael works for a company that sells electrical products, but helping others is what truly makes him happy. “My biggest impact will be to help other kids out,” Michael says. “I’m very fortunate to be alive, yet not in prison. I have friends who are dead or in prison—they don’t get a second chance. They’re in for life.” Jamie is grateful for a second chance as well, continuing to help long-term prisoners change. She volunteers with the American Red Cross, the Department of Corrections, and any prison that

PRISON PROGRAMS

Many inmates wouldn’t be able to turn their lives around after prison without the guidance of rehabilitation programs during their sentences. These are a few of the programs offered in Iowa.

needs her help. In her work, she uses her past to relate to former inmates. She jokes that she’s bilingual—fluent in felon. “I get [patients] to open up about drug use and other things we need to know medically. It helps.” She’s staunchly against what she refers to as “warehousing,” when a prison simply holds prisoners without offering programs to help them change their lives. “If we had the life skills needed to change our lives, we wouldn’t have gone to prison in the first place,” she says. “That’s just common sense.” There are times when Jamie works all day, drives straight to the prison to volunteer until 9 p.m., then gets home and spends time with her husband and two sons. But the busy days are worth it. “If I weren’t trying to help people, my victim’s life would have been wasted. I don’t want that to happen. I don’t want him to be forgotten,” Jamie says. “I want to be that face where people look at me and say, ‘I would have never guessed.’”

Prison Substance Abuse Treatment for Women is an inpatient substanceabuse treatment program at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women. According to the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning, this program reduces post-prison crimes.

Youthful Offenders was created for offenders under the age of 22 with felony charges in Polk County. The program allows staff to assess, refer, and monitor offenders who are sent to community-based, substance-abuse programs.

The Victim Impact panel seeks to bridge the gap between offenders and survivors by having community members share their personal stories of victimization. The goal is to humanize the victims of crimes and have offenders see them as real people. The national program stresses personal responsibility, accountability, and the consequences of criminal behavior from a victim’s perspective.

Pets And Women Succeeding (PAWS) is a collaboration between The Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville and the Des Moines Animal Rescue League. This dog therapy program is an option for prison rehabilitation, where the women work to become rehabilitated by helping train dogs before adoption.

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

ROAD TO AWARENESS WORDS Meagan Flynn | PHOTOS Courtesy of Jake Bailey

Lucas Hess, Kyle Olson, and Jake Bailey on the first day of Push for Awareness.

Dylan Wade rarely talked about his depression. So when he committed suicide in June, three college students who knew Dylan in high school set out to raise awareness: They longboarded 150 miles in three days, hoping it would be enough to start a discussion.

HEY WERE ONLY A MILE from home when Lucas Hess ran out of gas. He, Jake Bailey, and Kyle Olson were rounding out mile 149 of their longboarding trip, when Lucas, exhausted from the August heat, stumbled off his board. His water was gone and he was dehydrated. He was panting like a track star. He spoke up: “We need to stop.” “Dude,” Kyle said, “are you crazy? We’re almost there.” Kyle and Jake bent down to meet Lucas at eye level. “We’re already home, dude,” Jake told him. “We just have a mile and that’s it.” Two days earlier, they had set out on a 150-mile longboarding trip with a picture of their high-school friend Dylan Wade pinned on their backpacks—this trip was for him. Earlier that summer, Dylan had committed suicide. “It wasn’t real at first, you know?” Kyle says. A few weeks before it happened, Jake had been toying with the idea of a longboard trip to raise awareness for a cause, drawing inspiration from a man who boarded from coast to coast for cancer. When Dylan died, Jake made the connection: His trip would be for depression. The guys, all age 19, called the endeavor “Push for Awareness.” It would last three days—Aug. 23 to 25—from Duluth to Blaine, Minn., and each day the trio would spend more time on their boards than a businessman spends at his desk. “Our goal was to make people comfortable talking about depression,” Jake says, “because depression is something that’s a silent disease—especially for guys.” By the end of the trip, they would raise $3,100 for the cause. Now, waiting for them at the end of this last mile were over 100 people and even a TV news station, all lined up along Jake’s driveway and down his street—among them Dylan’s parents, Lynn and Troy Wade, and some of Dylan’s closest friends. Lucas thought of them, and he got back on his board. THE NIGHT BEFORE LEAVING, Jake says he slept as restlessly as a 9-year-old before his first Disney World vacation. He had gone to sleep early, around 8 p.m., but thoughts of the 150 miles that lay ahead kept him turning. Around 5:30 a.m., Jake’s grandfather drove the boys three hours northeast to Duluth, and they piled out of his car the

at the Willard Munger trail’s entryway. On their backs they carried more than 20 pounds—giant Ziploc bags of energy bars, changes of clothes, sidewalk chalk, and bandages. A Duluth news station interviewed the boys briefly before they began, then recorded footage while they strode away on the first mile of the cause. The first day’s trip would total 60 miles—nearly the full length of the state trail, enclosed in red pines and white cedars, safe from the ruthless wind. Once they were out of the camera lens’ reach, they wrote “This Is For You, Dylan” in chalk on the pavement. They weren’t ever close to him, but they’d known Dylan since elementary school, and Lucas had sat with him at the same cafeteria table in high school. “Every time I was with him, he put a smile on my face,” Lucas says. “That’s the biggest thing that sticks to me.” Dylan had the reputation of a jokester in high school. He took his schoolwork seriously, though, and made the dean’s list in his first two semesters as a freshman at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn. He was never an athlete or in any clubs, and so loyalty to his friends was always high on his priority list. “At the funeral, there were so many people who knew Dylan, who have said how, first of all, how nice he was,” his father, Troy, says. “And how funny. He just had a really good sense of humor.” “And they said he was always smiling,” Lynn adds. Jake, Lucas, and Kyle remembered him this way on their trip. Whenever they felt their energy waning, they stacked their hands like a baseball team in a locker room, and they shouted the message to Dylan written in chalk. By noon the first day, the temperature had climbed into the mid-90s. Their sweat had made the ink on their handmade “Push for Awareness” shirts bleed. And they had no appetite. They never stopped for a meal, relying on a few energy bars to deliver them to their crappy motel in Sandstone, Minn. “When you have to work that hard and you have that far to go, there’s really not much you’re paying attention to other than just kick, push,” Kyle says.

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013 Their room was a dump. It smelled like cigarette smoke and road kill, and the door was left unlocked when they arrived. They picked up a pizza from a gas station—the only nearby option for a meal—then came back and kicked their skate shoes off their aching feet. Tonight, not even thoughts of the remaining 90 miles could interrupt Jake’s rock-solid sleep. THEY ATE THE PIZZA COLD for breakfast the next morning, before dawn. They forced themselves out of bed at 5:30 a.m. to escape the sun’s hellish rays, even if only for an hour or two. But today, while the sun still radiated high in the sky by 10 a.m., the heat wasn’t the problem. On the sides of Highway 61 are open, rolling pastures. Some crops, a few shrubs. But nothing to protect the guys from the callous, 22-mph gusts of wind they rode against. “The harder you push in that wind, the harder the wind pushes back,” Jake says. “You just make no more progress than you think you would. It felt like a never-ending battle.” Giving up was never an option, but if their trip ever felt bleakly impossible, it was today. On top of the wind, some drivers weren’t so accommodating. To avoid the gravelly shoulder layered in unpredictable debris, the guys skated a foot inside the white line, on the tire tread where the road was worn. Right on a speeding car’s track. “We kinda just looked like hobos getting in the way of traffic,” Kyle says. “And cars hated us for about 50 miles.” Their only solace was the music in their headphones, which blocked out the wind’s continuous, deafening whooshing and provided an extra surge of motivation. They tried to keep the tunes upbeat—which, although they were on his trademark blues route, ruled out Bob Dylan. “Bob Marley, though. It counts,” Jake says. Without music, Kyle doesn’t think the trip would have been possible.

PUSH FOR AWARENESS

BY THE NUMBERS

But when they stopped to rest and thought of Dylan Wade, their physical battle felt petty, almost, in the grand scheme. “No matter what, sometimes the road you’re on is gonna be rough, and you push through it no matter what,” Jake says. “We kind of had that analogy that we felt like, if we gave up, then it’s like letting depression take over your life, you know? We went through this for three days, but people with depression go through this their whole life.… Even though you didn’t feel depression, it made you understand it in another sense. I would’ve felt really guilty if I would’ve quit—or if we would’ve quit. I think it was in all of our minds that we were gonna finish no matter what.” Dylan was diagnosed with depression in the fall of his freshman year at Concordia. He had struggled intermittently with the disease in high school, but hadn’t vocalized its severity to Troy and Lynn until that point. While he had always been social before college, they began hearing him say he didn’t have friends. He told them that, because he left his friends behind for college, he had strained their relationships. Which, from his friends’ perspectives, was not the case. After his death, some of them told his parents that Dylan had mentioned his depression in small spurts. But the conversation never went very far, because Dylan never allowed it to. “He always said he was afraid of how people would think of him,” Troy says. “How people would look at him, being the depressed, sad kid. Would his friends still want to be around him because he had this disease?” On the second night of their trip, Jake, Lucas, and Kyle arrived at their hotel around 7:30 p.m., totaling 14 hours on their boards. It was a rewarding break. They used half of the $30 Dairy Queen gift card a family of strangers had stopped to give

50 TO 75 STRIDES TO GO A MILE

$3,100

The amount of money Jake, Lucas, and Kyle raised for Suicide Awareness Voices of Education

them earlier that day. And one of their good friends, Trenton, stayed the night at the hotel with them, and he let Jake use his laptop. A Facebook message waiting in his inbox from a girl named Mia would make the day worth every flinch against the relentless wind:

I know you don’t know me, but I heard about what you and your friends are doing to raise awareness about depression, and that means a lot to me. I’m 15 and have been dealing with depression for about 4 years now. I’ve recently been put on medication for it. What you are doing means a lot and I wish the best for you and your friends. “I’ve probably read it over 100 times,” he says.

AUG. 23

60 miles 9 hours ~7 mph

AUG. 24

50 miles 14 hours ~3 mph

AUG. 25

40 miles 7 hours ~6 mph

ON THE LAST OF THE 150 miles and as the last of Lucas’ fumes fizzled out, the trio sped homebound faster than they had gone all weekend. They’d completed the final 40 miles in seven hours, and the familiar scenes closer to home had made the kick-push feel a little more natural. Not long past noon, Jake led the way as they turned the corner onto his cul-de-sac. All of their neighbors lined the sides of the street, holding signs that read, “This is for you, Dylan!” and

“Never, never give up.” There were balloons and cheering and crying. Jake ripped through the finish-line ribbon beaming with relief, while Kyle and Lucas followed close behind. The crowd encircled them, and Troy fell into Jake’s arms in tears. “You all three boys are my heroes,” he told them. “I’m very proud of you.” “It was…kind of amazing when they pulled in,” Lynn says, teary-eyed. “I don’t know how to describe it. For only knowing Jake for such a short time—and not really even knowing him, just knowing of him and what he was doing—I was just so excited when they came pulling in, and just excited to see him. And I just wanted to hug him.” They didn’t expect to solve depression in their first year, Jake says. But they had opened the forum for discussion, and people were talking about the Push for Awareness in places as far as Arizona and Ohio. And they had reached Mia. “Our whole thing from the beginning was, if we can make a difference with one person, that’s worth it,” Lucas says. Early plans have stirred for another trip next year, and they want to open it up to more people. They’ll shoot to raise even more than $3,100. “If you want to make a true difference, you gotta

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

keep working at it,” Kyle says. “You know, stuff doesn’t just happen overnight. And our trip was virtually overnight. It was great, and it was great for our short time. But I think it’s gonna keep needing to be done in order to make a true difference that lasts, you know?”

“We went through this for three days, but people with depression go through this their whole life.” –Jake Bailey

DYLAN WOULD HAVE BEEN a sophomore this year. After quitting his mathematics major halfway through his freshman year, he would have continued his degree in psychology. “We think he was using his classes to study himself,” Troy says. On the day Dylan died, cars lined the streets outside of his home—worried friends coming and going, searching for him. He had stayed overnight with a close-knit group of them the night before, and they all had made plans for that same evening. Dylan had dressed sharp that day, wearing a purple-and-bluestriped sweater and dark-wash jeans—a contrast to his usual graphic tee and shorts. Lynn and Troy had given him a card that morning, in which they wrote how proud they were of his hard work, like they do shortly after every school year. He hugged them and thanked them sincerely. After they left to run errands, Dylan found his 15-year-old sister, Devin, and told her he loved her, and he hugged her longer than normal, Devin remembers. In his letters that he had drafted multiple times, carefully selecting the truest words, Dylan admitted this was something he had been planning for months. He had been waiting only for courage. Sitting in their living room now, Lynn and Troy recount how well the summer had started: Dylan had gotten a job at Sam’s Club; he had set a goal for himself to gain 15 muscular pounds; he was reunited with the friends he had missed. A happy façade. Troy breaks down, apologizing. “Dylan would be very proud of the boys. He would be very thankful. … We’re hoping that Dylan is not in vain, that what these boys are doing…that maybe Dylan can help somebody else.” “Is there a last memory you have of him, or last image?” he’s asked. Troy opened his mouth to speak, but paused, dimples showing while he conjured up the perfect picture. “His smile,” he says finally.

Michelle Herring

Doug Petty

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

BRUNCH WITH

THE WORLD’S

BRIGHTEST A high IQ may warrant entry into a society of the world’s smartest thinkers, but being a Mensan doesn’t come without costs. Central Iowa’s most astute individuals talk stereotypes, family rivalries, and social isolation. WORDS Lauren Kassien | PHOTOS Morgan Cannata Dan Heck

Pam Poppe

ou must feel a little intimidated.” I blink, taken aback by the woman’s blunt comment. “After all,” she adds, “it’s not every day you get to spend time with America’s top 2 percent—intellectually speaking, of course.” It’s a rainy Saturday morning, and I’m sitting at a table in the middle of a Hy-Vee cafeteria with some of Iowa’s smartest people. Families, couples, and grocery store employees are enjoying their mid-morning breakfasts. But the group I’m with sticks out—a circle of seven men and women ages 35 to 68. They all have one thing in common: They’re members of Mensa International, a community for the world’s intelligence elite. A SMART PEOPLE SOCIETY I came to the brunch expecting to meet a table full of real-life Sheldon Coopers and Einsteins, assuming the Mensans would be talking about physics and history. They came expecting an interrogation, staring at me until I broke the ice. “Why did you join?” was my first question. “Bragging rights,” says Bruce Connor, 58. Bruce, the Central Iowa chapter’s membership coordinator, joined Mensa in the early ’90s. “I’ve noticed that a lot of people join Mensa so that they can say, ‘I’m a member, so yay! Look at me!’ I think one of the biggest draws for people to join Mensa is just for

them to say they got in because their IQ is high enough.” Cockiness aside, some members at the table say they joined the society for its true purpose: genuine conversation. In 1946, two lawyers set out to create a community made up of the world’s most intelligent thinkers. Their goal was to form a society of people who could communicate on a higher level. The first chapter of Mensa was established in Oxford, England, later that year. The only membership criteria: an IQ above the 98th percentile, usually a minimum of 130. According to Mensa International’s website, the organization has 110,000 members—Mensans, as they’re called—in 100 countries. In Iowa, there are over 200 members. Pam Poppe, 65, is one member who’s similar to the society’s founding fathers. She joined Mensa in 1993 in search of a level of debate and conversation she couldn’t find elsewhere. Her uncle, who worked in a research lab, was part of the reason she joined Mensa. “He asked me one time why I joined,” Pam says. “I told him that if he wanted to have an intelligent conversation, he could just walk to the next cubicle—his office was full of intelligent people that he could relate to. I didn’t have anyone.”

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013 INTELLECTUALLY ISOLATED I figured Mensans, with chart-topping SAT scores and the ability to quickly learn new tasks, must have the world handed to them. But for being so smart, life isn’t always easy. While Mensa members are grateful for their academic intelligence, they’re also frustrated by the lack of social understanding. The Mensans I met have experienced this frustration firsthand. Over a steaming plate of scrambled eggs, Doug Petty, 64, leans forward and launches into his tale of rejection. “One night when I was in college, we decided to stay up and play Trivial Pursuit,” Doug says. “When it was my turn, I answered 20 or 30 questions in a row correctly, and I went all around the board. And at 19 years old at the time, I didn’t know any better than to be an ass about it. But I stopped playing after that, because I always won. And I noticed that regular people don’t like playing games with us.” The other six Mensans nod in agreement, commiserating about several frustrating rounds of Scrabble, Scattergories, and even Apples to Apples played against “regular people.” They say when one friend can think more complexly than the other, relationships can take a difficult turn.

Michelle Herring, 45, has felt the sting within her family. When she was a baby, her parents taught her older sister to count by tossing blocks down the stairs, while Michelle watched nearby. “As they would throw down the blocks, I would start counting them before my sister could,” she says. “My poor parents were like, ‘Clearly, this isn’t working if the 2-year-old is giving the 4-year-old all the answers.’ Those kinds of sibling rivalries can be incredibly difficult.” Surpassing their peers intellectually doesn’t help Mensans when it comes to fighting the stigmas that are pinned to the group. And pictures of a wild-haired Einstein and cracks about the comic book-loving introverts from “The Big Bang Theory” don’t help dispel the stereotypes. Bruce admits to having reservations before joining, even spying on the group beforehand. “I had the idea that it would be full of geeks or lots of strange professor-types,” he says. So Bruce went and had dinner at the table right next to the Mensans to observe them. “I remember looking over and thinking, ‘They seem pretty ordinary to me.’” The Mensans around the table agree that they’ve developed pretty thick skins when it comes to handling stereotypes.

Ahead of the Curve

frequency in population

An IQ score in the top 2 percent (at least 130) is the requirement for Mensa membership. The average IQ is 100, which means a Mensan’s score is at least 48 percent (30 points) higher than the average person’s.

34%

68%

Mensa qualifying test score 14%

95%

2% 55

Information from American Mensa

MEMBERSHIP PERKS Although they often work to fight these social battles, the members of Central Iowa’s intelligence elite don’t let much else stop them from enjoying the benefits that accompany being uncommonly bright. One of the best things about being a Mensan, they say, is the other people who can understand their troubles, interests, and quirks. “One of our made-up slogans for Mensa is, ‘We get your jokes,’” Doug says. He puts his fork down abruptly and asks for my paper napkin. I surrender the stack and my pen, and he begins to scribble a quick message. “Here’s an example.”

There are only 10 kinds of people in the world: Those who understand binary and those who don’t.*

14%

0.1%

However, the main problem with people’s preconceived ideas surfaces when recruiting new members—especially younger ones. An IQ test is the simplest way to be accepted into Mensa. Short for Intelligence Quotient, an IQ is a ratio of mental age to physical age. This means that, in order to join Mensa, a 7-year-old member must have an IQ higher than 98 percent of other 7-year-olds. For this reason, children and adults have equal chances of being accepted into the community. One of the biggest reasons child Mensans make headlines is because few young people choose to join what others deem the world’s biggest society of geeks. “I think there is always that need for social connection, especially among young people,” Michelle says. “We’re really trying to reach out to people from younger generations through activities and social groups. Mensa now has everything from evangelical groups to Hell’s Mensans, our motorcycle club.”

100

2% 115

130

0.1% 145

I laugh and he smiles. “If you understand that, you could be a contender for Mensa.” In addition to fostering friendships, Mensa has also played matchmaker for a couple of Central Iowa’s members. It’s because of their equally high intelligences that romantic relationships between Mensans work the best, they said. “We met at a Mensa event,” says Dan Heck, 35, pointing a pancake-laden fork across the table and locking eyes with Michelle, his wife. “I went to a card night event at her house, and she likes to joke that I said fewer words than the number of points I scored in the game of Hearts—and I won all of the games. But we just understood each other, and it grew from there.”

IQ score *In binary code, 10 means 2.

BY THE

NUMBERS MORE THAN

57,000

MENSANS IN THE U.S.

OLDEST MENSAN

2/3 MALE 1/3

FEMALE YOUNGEST

MENSAN

102 1,800 40% MORE THAN

FAMILIES HAVE TWO OR MORE MENSANS

DON’T HAVE

COLLEGE DEGREES

ARE YOU

MENSA

SMART?

Find out by taking this short quiz, featuring sample questions from the Mensa International’s online practice exam. 1. Jane went to visit Jill. Jill is Jane’s only husband’s mother-in-law’s only husband’s only daughter’s only daughter. What relation is Jill to Jane? 2. Find the number that best completes the following sequence: 1 2 4 7 11 ? 22 3. What is the 4-digit number in which the first digit is one-fifth of the last, and the second and third digits are the last digit multiplied by 3? (Hint: The sum of all digits is 12.) 4. In a foot race, Jerry was neither first nor last. Janet beat Jerry; Jerry beat Pat. Charlie was neither first nor last. Charlie beat Rachel. Pat beat Charlie. Who came in last? 5. Pear is to apple as potato is to… A. Banana B. Radish C. Strawberry D. Peach E. Lettuce 6. Two men, starting at the same point, walk in opposite directions for 4 meters, turn left, and walk another 3 meters. What is the distance between them? 7. What is the following word when it is unscrambled? HCPRAATEU 7. PARACHUTE 6. 10 meters (They make two right triangles.) 5. Radish (Both grow underground.) 4. Rachel 3. 1,155 2. 16 (Each number adds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, to the preceding number.) 1. Jill is Jane’s daughter. (Jane’s mother’s husband is Jane’s father, his daughter is Jane, and Jill is her daughter.) ANSWERS

“I’ll tell you this much,” Doug interjects, breaking what’s left of the sweet moment. “You know you’re sleeping with a Mensan if you’re woken up at 3:30 in the morning and your bed is covered with books and charts, and she’ll be saying, ‘Look at this!’” A few members slowly nod. “And you know you’re a Mensan as well when you get up and search for your glasses because you want to look at it, too,” another Mensan adds. In the end, Central Iowa’s members all agree on what they get the most out of Mensa. The social stigmas and rivalries come alongside what they say is Mensa’s greatest perk: the ability to share, debate, and chat with like-minded people. “People have this idea that since we’re a community we all get along all the time, and that isn’t true,” Michelle says, pushing aside her empty plates. “At the same time, that’s a very good thing. I think it’s interesting how philosophically and theologically opposed we all are. So when we talk or debate, we are able to do so at a better level because people have more developed, intellectual reasons for our certain ways of thinking.” By noon, most members have polished off their meals. As a few begin to get up, shake hands, and say their goodbyes, I’m struck by this picture of normalcy. Despite their shared abilities to talk both quantum physics and 16th century European literature better than many ever could, in this moment of casual friendship, I can see that members of Mensa act like—and expect to be treated like—the world’s other 98 percent. Most of the time. More than half of the members have trickled out, but some continue nursing their coffees and chatting. Our waitress senses the movement and asks if we’re done. “Just about,” Doug tells her. As she carries away a few half-eaten plates of French toast and bacon, Doug nudges me. “See? That’s what I mean.” He nods toward our busy server. “She shouldn’t be clearing those plates. I said, ‘We’re just about done,’ not ‘We’re completely done.’ We Mensans would have understood that.”

RESULTS 7 correct: Congratulations, you’re Mensa material. 5-6 correct: You may qualify for membership. 4 or less correct: Stick to Sudoku—with a pencil.

IOWA-BRED MUMFORD’S Homestate love drives this up-and-coming band forward.

he Iowa flag that always accompanies Mumford’s on stage doesn’t always go over well outside of the state. A rude concertgoer once asked the band, “Iowa? What’s from Iowa?” The guys didn’t miss a beat, proudly answering, “We are!” “We get to be like their first exposure to Iowa,” says singer Nate Logsdon. Founded in 2008, Mumford’s is a gang of guys who describe their music as a mix of party rock and psychotic folk—a combination that guarantees an off-the-wall concert atmosphere. On stage, they jump, spin, and practically run into each other while Logsdon sings (or raps) over it all. And the shirts? Usually missing. Take tuba, trombone, and cornet player Brian “Wild Man” Stout, for example. “We couldn’t keep clothes on this guy,” Logsdon says. Mumford’s albums don’t always match the atmosphere of its concerts, though. The band’s LPs consist of more ballads and country-style tracks than party jams. The guys play elaborate narratives and focus on the storytelling quality of a song. “We like to play with different genres to match the different characters in our songs,” says bass player Chris Lyng. From metal to jazz, nothing is off limits. “They aren’t afraid to be themselves—which just happens to make for a very strange and interesting group of individuals,” says Christopher Ford, cofounder of Mumford’s label, Maximum Ames Records. Though easily mistaken, Mumford’s has no relation to the

WORDS Stephanie Kocer PHOTO Courtesy of Mumford’s

world-famous Mumford & Sons. The band is named after the late Ames musician Don Mumford, who was instrumental in inspiring several local artists. After Mumford died, Logsdon named the band after him as a tribute. “It’s like his band, but we’re doing it,” he says. “He’s kind of possessing us and playing music through us. We really represent his spirit and his spirit to me is very much Ames and Iowa.” The band has taken its style all over the country—36 states, to be exact—and has played at music festivals like South by Southwest and Iowa’s own 80/35. Mumford’s played to its biggest crowd yet at 80/35 this summer, but Lyng admits that the guys have played some shows on tour with just five people in the crowd. “Sometimes you have the sound guy and a couple of the people who are regulars at the bar,” he says. But they never let it stop them. “In Mumford’s we have a policy: We play the same whether we’re playing for two people or we’re playing for 2,000. We bring it every time.” And when they proclaim that they are “preparing for even greater heights of Iowa glory,” they really mean it. In November the band released a new LP, “Immediate Family,” which comes with a live album titled “Sing-Alongs For the Dead and Dying.” And in January, the guys plan to record two new albums on vinyl and kick off another tour. This “Iowa glory” is exactly where Mumford’s wants to be. “We’re not a band that wants to get out of here or make it out of Iowa,” Logsdon says. “We’re just the opposite.”

Music

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

TRAMPLED

INTERVIEW Jeff Nelson PHOTO Courtesy of Trampled By Turtles

When did you know that you “made it”?

Some bands may go from zero to 100—they may have a big hit that just blows up. This band hasn’t done that. It’s been very slow and gradual. There wasn’t a moment where all of a sudden I was like, “We’re doing well.” Although I recognize for sure now that we’re doing well. We’ve been able to play on “Letterman.” We’ve been able to go to Europe. And we’ve met all these great people. Things are definitely going well. But there wasn’t one light-bulb moment.

It sounds like you’re not taking anything for granted. What is it about your music that resonates with people?

BY TURTLES

Bluegrass and folk jams are making mainstream waves, and Trampled by Turtles is part of the movement. Its latest album, “Stars and Satellites,” landed on the Billboard charts and sent the band on a nationwide tour. DrakeMag caught up with Ryan Young, TBT’s fiddler, before the band’s concert this fall at Wooly’s in Des Moines.

It’s not bandwagon-y, you know? People can just tell that it’s honest music—the words, the feel of the songs. It’s natural, not forced. Also, this band’s been around for 10 years now, so it might seem like we’re sort of bandwagon-y now, because the Avett Brothers are pretty popular, and Mumford & Sons are pretty popular, and they could be compared to us. But we started before all that.

Q A

What was it like seeing bands like Mumford & Sons get so big? How did you react when you heard them and saw Grammys pouring out for them?

I thought it was great, actually. I enjoy their music. Any success they have—well, some of it’s gotta rub off on us, which I’ll take. There’s been quite a few newer Trampled by Turtles fans who found out about us through Mumford & Sons. I’m all for it.

Q A

Why do you think your sound has been getting more popular in the last couple of years?

The new music that’s coming out has become so electronic and computerized and auto-tuned, and it’s just kind of fake, you know? There’s a certain segment of the population that’s had enough of that. I doubt that anybody is completely against it—myself included. There’s plenty of good electronic bands out there that are fantastic. Radiohead comes to my mind. They’re geniuses. You can’t deny that they’re super-talented. But there’s other music that maybe isn’t to the higher standards of Radiohead and bands like that. And I think some people are starting to see through that and see how fake and processed and computerized it is. So they’re looking for something a little more real. We just play our instruments and sing our songs, and that’s it. What you see is what you get. I think that’s attractive to some people.

Q A

What was the best crowd you ever played for that you can remember? Is there any one crowd or show that sticks out in your mind?

The first that comes to mind was the last time we played in Toronto. The crowd was just ridiculously rowdy and just having a great time, and it was super fun. There were tons of stage divers and crowd surfers and a mosh pit. And at one point, this guy jumped off the stage and head-butted this woman in the mouth, and her tooth fell out. She had blood running down her face and neck, and it was like an early-’80s punk rock show. I’ll always remember that show.

You guys have been together for 10 years now. You’ve released six albums. Where do you think the band will be in another 10 years?

That’s impossible for me to say. I honestly don’t really ever think about it. There’s an equal chance that I could be not in a band anymore. There’s a chance that we could be at the same level we are right now. Maybe if we’re lucky, in 10 years, we’ll be doing even better than we are right now.

For more from Trampled By Turtles, visit drakemagazine.com/trampled-by-turtles.

Music

Drake Magazine | Fall 2013

The Digital Wild finds a platform to share its forward-thinking ideas through activism and an indie-hip-hop sound. WORDS Kayli Kunkel PHOTOS Courtesy of The Digital Wild

hen Chantell Moody left behind her folk band in Des Moines and trekked south to Austin, Texas, her music scene wasn’t the only thing that changed. In this city of activism and innovation, the Live Music Capital of the World, Moody’s musical experiment—a sound far from folk—was born. “Even though Des Moines is a progressive city, things hit Austin several years before Des Moines,” Moody says. “It’s been really cool, because people are very aware of issues here and are also very progressive. You’ll drive around and see people with solar panels, eco-friendly cars, organic

VOICE

grocery stores, and farmers markets. It’s opened my eyes to a lot of things.” Under the stage glow of Austin’s Beauty Ballroom, The Digital Wild formed in a blend of fortune and fate. Moody and her then-boyfriend, Chelsea Seth Woodward, crossed paths with their future band mates: Pax, an emcee, and Wisdom, a hip-hop drummer. Woodward’s close friend Eddie Hudson soon came into the project as bass player. But it was Moody, the group’s vocal powerhouse, who lit the finalizing flame under The Digital Wild. “Chantell was more amped about starting a band,” says Woodward,

former frontman of the indie-rock group Paper Mache. “I wouldn’t say I was burnt on it, but I was taking a break to find a new style, find a new outlet. I was done pursuing music for a bit, but she knew all along that she was getting a band together. She was tricking me slowly.” The group’s mixture of soul, indie-rock, and hip-hop may sound like a clashing formula, but The Digital Wild melds genres into a seamless puzzle. Members call this spin “trip-hop,” “indie hip-hop,” and “conscious soul,” complete with alluring beats and vocals. “We’ve got a couple songs that have this OG-vintage, hip-hop sound with our own twist,” Woodward says. “We have a couple songs where Chantell sounds more like Ella Fitzgerald in the Nat King Cole era.” By adding elements of activism and humanity to their lyrics, the group reimagines hip-hop—a genre often classified by exclusivity and gender violence. “I’ve always really been more about lyrics and about vibes,” Woodward says. “With this band, it’s a better platform to express what I had wanted to do the whole time: a little more soul.” Woodward says the overarching message is broader than any one topic. It’s an invitation to think forward— to care about the environment and the carbon footprint, to eat non-GMO, to buy local. It’s about breaking old notions of right and wrong. “You can still have game and be a badass in life, and treat women well and be monogamous,” Woodward says. “In many places, you’re just a complaining hippie if you speak out. You become just a troublemaker trying to annoy everyone else. Here, there’s a more of a positive approach.” Woodward

appreciates Austin’s culture as one of collaboration, not competition. After touring the West Coast with Paper Mache, Woodward says he doesn’t miss the dog-eat-dog music world of cities like Los Angeles and Seattle. On the album, Moody, a magnetic blend of sweetness and tenacity, speaks out about self-image and anti-war movements. “War creates more war; bloodshed creates more bloodshed,” Moody says. “Leaders have been doing that since the beginning of time, and we obviously need to rethink how we want to reform things. For me, this album has been the first time I’ve had a platform to talk about issues like this.” The Digital Wild meets open arms at local shows, and its mature sound and insightful lyrics are making waves. Sneak preview tracks from the band’s upcoming debut album are already solid and soaked with soul. And though the album is saturated with ethics, the band won’t soapbox the causes they care about. “Our attitude was to be a little ambiguous—we don’t want to think for people,” Woodward says. “We want to give them a platform to have a voice.”

The Digital Wild’s debut album, “Into The Digital Wild,” is set to drop later this winter. Download two preview tracks at soundcloud.com/thedigitalwild. Stay up to date on the album’s release at TheDigitalWild.org.

WHAT’S

Want more DrakeMag?

ONLINE

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Des Moines On The Rise Des Moines has been earning accolades as one of the country’s coolest up-andcoming cities for families, singles, and young professionals. We explore where this rise in popularity comes from.

Inside the Mind (and Closet) of A Fashionista If style gurus look trendy at all times, their wardrobes must be a fashion overload. Take a peek into the closet of Katelyn Herlein, a Des Moines-based fashion blogger, for style inspiration.

You know, You Could Be Writing This.

The Nadas Rock At Home The Nadas, a rock band whose popularity stretches beyond the Midwest, looked right at home at a September show in Clive. Read our review of The Nadas’ hometown concert.

Take the challenge.

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