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THURSDAY
February 11, 2010, Volume 204 >> Number 98 >> 40 cents >> iowastatedaily.com >> An independent newspaper serving Iowa State since 1890
Research
Valentine’s Day
Cotton yields evolutionary genome clues By Bethany Pint Daily Staff Writer Jonathan Wendel brought all of the cotton plants he could stuff in his 1980 Toyota SR5 hatchback and a U-Haul when he came to Iowa State. That was in 1986. Wendel, professor and chair of the ecology/evolution and organismal biology department, has been studying cotton and its genomes for more than 25 years. “It’s just been an incredible adventure,” Wendel said. “I believe he is the only person in the upper Midwest doing any research with the cotton,” said Steve Mahoney, greenhouse manager for the Bessey Hall greenhouse. “This is not like looking at corn or soybeans or small grains that typically people would look at here, cotton is a very specific crop.” Mahoney said Iowa State is home to one of the largest — if not the largest — cotton crops in the upper Midwest. Cotton simply isn’t grown in Iowa because of the short summer growing season. Typically cotton is grown in the southern part of the United States, Mahoney said. “We have one of the larger crops of cotton at an educational institution, that’s just my guess,” Mahoney said. There are more than 1,000 pots of cotton growing in the greenhouses in Bessey Hall and Horticulture Hall, Wendel said. He said there are 50 species of cotton derived from all parts of the
see COTTON on PAGE 6
Speaker
Activist addresses lack of leadership By Taysha Murtaugh Daily Correspondent “Don’t make me feel like I’m by myself,” said Jeff Johnson, nationally renowned social activist, journalist and political commentator. He spoke Monday night in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union and asked for audience participation in the style of “call and response,” relating his interactive approach to that of a black gospel church. Speaking as part of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday Series and cosponsored by a variety of ISU groups, Johnson covered issues of leadership, the attitudes of the post-Civil Rights movement and the development of the black church. There’s a fundamental problem with how leadership is defined, and what society will allow leadership to be, Johnson said. “[It’s] about attendance rather than transformation.” He stressed the importance of doing more than just showing up and going by the book. Johnson criticized student organizations because most lack agendas and foundations, don’t address fundamental issues and waste time in meetings. “Most student organizations are ‘wacked’ not because the students aren’t talented or driven,” he said, “but because they aren’t trained.” Johnson said this training is an important step towards instilling effective student leadership, in addition to establishing an actual agenda and covering serious issues like HPV infection on campus. Johnson said he learned more working with the NAACP than any other experience “while hating it.” He said although the NAACP has an incredible amount of volunteers and potential, he grew frustrated with the group’s “antiquated methodology” and concern with gaining support
rather than building an agenda. Too many times people get caught up in gaining Johnson members and not enough on starting programs to actually get something done, he said. Johnson offered a metaphor stating that the conductor of a train isn’t judged on the number of people on board, but whether or not it’s able to leave the station and arrive at the next on time. Johnson urged the audience to move forward with passion and stop waiting. “Don’t diminish the name of those who show up in the name of those who don’t,” he said. Johnson said our generation’s skewed idea of leadership is evident as we frequently look to athletes, musicians, artists and entertainers to provide it. “What makes us believe that going platinum means you have the ability to provide leadership?” he asked. “Most hip hop artists are waiting to be led by you,” Johnson said, “but you want them to provide the agenda.” As the host of BET Network’s talk show “The Truth with Jeff Johnson,” former national director of the Youth and College Division of the NAACP and vice president of Russell Simmons’s Hip Hop Summit Action Network, Johnson is widely considered to be one of the most prominent and influential voices of this generation and especially of black youth. Johnson met with one of the event’s sponsors, Black Student Alliance for dinner and open discussion before his speech. President of BSA and senior in liberal studies Bryan Woodson said the conversations were enlightening and powerful “I didn’t even need the lecture after din-
see JOHNSON on PAGE 6
The art of creating an appealing Valentine’s Day chocolate arrangement can be a tricky enterprise. Visual layout can be as important as the delicious taste concealed inside the various sweets contained within this classic gift. Photo:Tyler Kingkade/Iowa State Daily
chocolate More than merely
goodness
By Tyler Kingkade Daily Staff Writer Paying $2.50 for a bar of chocolate seems like it must be either king-sized, organic or hold some sort of special quality. Ton Stam realized this as he made his own brand of chocolate in his kitchen that Iowans would be willing to pay a little bit more for some luxurious treats. Fast forward ten years and Chocolaterie Stam currently has seven locations in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and North Carolina. Stam operates his business the way his grandfather taught him. Each shop is uniquely outfitted by each owner in order to create a home out of each location. “The only things required in each store are the golden arches and eggplant paint,” said Terry Stark, owner of the Ames location at 203 Main St. Its location opened in 2006 and was the first non-Stam family owned store. Heart-shaped boxes adorn the maroon walls, held in place by magnets rather than tacks or tape. The store has been busier in recent days with the approach of Valentine’s Day. Christmas and Easter are its other big selling seasons. Right now, a large, themed display of heart-shaped and pink-lipped chocolates are accentuating the regular selection behind the glass. In addition to the chocolates and black licorice people are picking up for loved
The chocolate U.S. Presidential Seal which Stam sent to Obama, left, and a dark chocolate mini-White House. Chocolate can be shaped into many intricate designs to appease creative interests of chocolate enthusiasts. Photo: Tyler Kingkade/Iowa State Daily
ones, Have A Heart Creations greeting cards are available — locally designed by ISU alumnae Jen Mally. Stark filled his store with furniture and personal items from his family, thrift stores and church sales. The chocolate is naturally and locally made in Des Moines without waxes or preservatives. The stores are kept at pre-
see STAM on PAGE 6
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