escape your campus quarantine
Brynn Martin
Feature Story
Editor-in-Chief
Warner Pool Reviews Editor Photo Editor
Viewfinder Staff
Megan Marshall Reviews Editor Photo Editor
Camden Blowers
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Rachel Amann
Campus Culture & People Editor
Editor Camden Blowers dives deep into tackling what it means to be an ally amidst the Black Lives Matter Movement, on page 9.
Cole Berndsen
Feature Photo By: Brooke Wolfe
Copyeditor
Kirk Leach Copyeditor
Dayne Logan Advisor
Cover Story Find more stories from the Viewfinder staff at viewfindergv.com Go take a break from campus and enjoy the parks of Des Moines. Reporter AJ Gill fills you in on the best outdoor escapes in the area, on page 17. Cover Photo By: Trevonte Diggs
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Students in Quarantine | By: Joshua Sifuentes Hamilton Review | By: Jermayne Myrick Sunset Yoga | By: Taleah Smith Training for the Unknown | By: Donminic Goosby Designer Masks | By: Ashlee Seaton Faculty & Family | By: Robert Luke How to Be an Ally | By: Camden Blowers Derecho | By: Karleigh Halpin Back-to-School Clash | By: Emma Mattes Finding Jobs in Crisis | By: Mike Knox Park Tour | By: AJ Gill Selfie Station | By: Cassie Yardley
Students in Quarantine Written By: Joshua Sifuentes |Designed By: Megan Marshall What more could we expect from 2020? COVID-19 has not only dramatically affected the entire world but deeply changed how education is being carried out this year. We are in a period in time in which we are socially distancing from one another and are having to engage through online learning, which is new to most. This was not the expectation for students at any level, but especially international athletes. As if school has not already been hard enough, imagine being an international student. Rafael Goncalves Correa Da Silva, who is a student athlete at Grand View University who plays on the tennis team, has to stay in his home country of Brazil for the remainder of the semester. Another student athlete that was affected by the pandemic is Diego Leite, who is from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Leite is a soccer player at GV who just returned to campus from Mexico after leaving Brazil. Although most students have struggled to adapt to college life during COVID, the struggle has been even more difficult for international students. “I know a lot of people who are going through the same thing I was and (are) stuck in their country and cannot come back, but they still want to come back,” Leite said. Since the pandemic hit the U.S. hard in March, GV has continued conducting learning online through Zoom. Da Silva said this semester has affected him and has made him change his approach to learning. The time zone that he is in has affected him because he has to watch most of his classes after the Zoom call. Once the professor is done with the class recording, they upload the recording to Blackboard. Also, the professors work along with Da Silva and email him. Leite’s situation was almost as hard as Da Silva with online schooling. “It was a little bit weird in the beginning to be honest because I didn’t know if I was going to come back or not.” Leite said. “The borders were going to close because of all the cases in Brazil and I had to go to Mexico for two weeks. I didn’t have the money to do that, and I
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thought I wasn’t going to come back. The online classes were a little different and harder to follow up with the class (as well as) to focus and participate in class. Because when you are in person, in a class, it is much easier to raise your hand and start talking to the professor, but sometimes when you are at home, you just forget that the class is going on.” Da Silva and Leite were able to receive help from GV with the money they received in tuition refunds as well as from their meal plans. Goncalves Correa Da Silva said that the tennis coach keeps in contact with him daily by asking him questions such as if he is practicing. Da Silva said that his coach not only stayed in contact with him but also with the entire team, which is all international students. “The coach is helping the best way he can with scholarship money,” Da Silva said. In Leite’s case, the coach was able to help him find a way back to Des Moines. “My coach gave me a call, and he was willing to help me come back to the U.S. by traveling from Brazil through Mexico,” Leite said. “He was calling me all the time and making sure that my family was safe. He talked to my family to find a solution. The budget he had for the soccer team helped me come back.” GV helped Leite and supported him through his journey back to the U.S. If it wasn’t for GV’s help, Leite wouldn’t have been able to come back. “My love for soccer made me come back here to the U.S.,” he said. “I could’ve taken the classes online. It was more about soccer because if I wasn’t there I would miss my last season and I don’t think I would’ve been able to be (given) another chance to play ever again.” For those who could not make it, imagine the countless hours that they must have endured in training, pushing their bodies to an extreme limit, just to find out that they can’t compete or even be with their teammates.
Written By: Jermayne Myrick |Designed By: Megan Marshall After five years of Broadway performances, Hamilton, an American musical, has launched on the Disney+ platform. Unlike any other Broadway musical, Hamilton keeps young Americans and students engaged through frequent and rapid changes in the energy of the pace, pitch, and tone of the music; the way it is either rapped, sung, or recited; and the intensity of dancing, physical emotions, lighting or even a spinning stage. Composer Lin-Manuel Miranda portrays the life of often-forgotten founding father Alexander Hamilton as a young, gritty immigrant who is eager to leave his stamp on history, while struggling to form a brotherhood with other founding fathers and people in power—which ultimately gets him shot and killed. In telling his story, Miranda was also accompanied by fellow actors Daveed Diggs (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Jonathan Groff (King George), Christopher Jackson (George Washington), Leslie Odom Jr. (Aaron Burr), Okieriete Onaodowan (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison), Anthony Ramos (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton), and actresses Jasmine Cephas Jones (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds), Phillipa Soo (Eliza Hamilton) and Renee Elise Goldberry (Angelica Schuyler). Since Hamilton’s Broadway premiere in 2015 at The Public Theatre in New York City, not one seat at the show has been left empty. Miranda was actually struggling to host the musical because the venue was not large enough to fit the amount of people who wanted tickets. In my opinion, Hamilton is a must-see production especially pertaining to the state of revolution that our country is in. With the Black Lives Matter protests going on, I believe that the Hamilton production will encourage young Americans to be pioneers of their own story, to take history into their own hands and to choose to stand together for something or fall divided, at least I hope. I identify as an African-American male and an avid listener and consumer of rap, hip-hop and R&B music. Hamilton piqued my curiosity in both the history of Alexander Hamilton, the production itself and its relevance to America today. I believe that anyone who loves rap, hip-hop, American history, or has a burning desire to be involved in making America better will love this production. One of my favorite scenes was “Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down).” The scene served as a feature introduction of the first men who allied with Hamilton: Hercules Mulligan, an IrishAmerican tailor and Sons of Liberty Spy for George Washington during the American Revolutionary War; John Laurens, an American soldier and statesman from South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War best known for his criticism of slavery and his efforts to help recruit slaves to fight for their freedom as U.S. soldiers; and Marquis de Lafayette, a French aristocrat and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War and commanded American troops in several battles, including the Siege of Yorktown. The aggressive rap lyrics and intense music helped to create a high-paced action scene that grouped these men as revolutionary war heroes. My favorite part of this scene was the feature introduction of Hercules Mulligan (Okieriete Onaodowan), the most physically massive of the war heroes. Although profane, his aggressive lyrics—accompanied by his emphatic energy, and that of the music—painted Hercules Mulligan as a very rugged man. The toughness and determination displayed by Onaodowan in this piece is a completely generic experience, and it conveys, to a great extent, the genius of Lin-Manuel Miranda to intentionally make the lyrics and the music to allow Onaodowan to portray a white Sons of Liberty Spy as such a ferocious Black male. This is the brilliance of Hamilton to be able to display a look of America then, told by America now, that is very empowering for Black people and America as a nation. Until this day, America has been a country divided, missing the mark on how to include minorities and people of color into American history and society, but Hamilton the musical has been opening viewer’s eyes to the fact that “history has its eyes on you,” and each of us can be a part of making America a better place if we all stand for the cause. Tickets to see Hamilton ranged from $89 to $399, but with its recent launch on Disney+, the production can be seen for a monthly subscription fee of $6.99. Since the musical was made more affordable and accessible on Disney+, many more people will have the opportunity to experience the greatness of the musical from the comfort of their own homes. While it may not be as luxurious as going to a live show in New York City, watching Hamilton on Disney+ is very entertaining, and people basically get a frontrow ticket. After viewing, viewers will have the opportunity to be a chief constituent of who lives, who dies, and who tells their story.
Hamilton Review
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Written By: Taleah Smith |Designed By: Megan Marshall
proper license to hold the event. She also has an expanded sense of purpose. This year Griggs has combined her passion for yoga with her right to fight for the social injustices that are happening around the United States and here in Des Moines. Each week a different organization is represented at her yoga class. Attending Sunset Yoga at the Judicial Branch is free, but she gives the option for those who attend the class to donate to one of the chosen organizations via CashApp or Venmo. “I believe yoga is healing for the self and the community and I became a yoga instructor so that I could offer this gift to people,” Griggs said. “2020 Sunset Yoga was set to be in its third summer. It was around the same time that the need for the Black Lives Matter movement became undeniable. I also learned about DarQuan Jones, a local young black man who was nearly killed in a racist attack on the south side of Des Moines. Initially, I intended to dedicate our first practice to raising money for him. Not long after I realized we needed to dedicate the whole series to BLM causes in our community. It was fundraising meets karmic-yoga endeavor. It just seemed like the right thing to do because Black Lives Matter is very important to me.” Emily Griggs hosts a weekly event called Sunset Yoga. Every Griggs has organized Sunset Yoga events for organizations Wednesday night the event is held at the Judicial Branch in and causes, including Hoover High School Football, Urban downtown Des Moines. Griggs originally started Sunset Yoga Dreams, Des Moines BLM Rent Relief, Movement 515, The to blend her pure passion for yoga and Iowa’s breathtaking Supply Hive, Italia Kelly and many more. sunsets, but it then turned into something more for her and “These organizations are important to me because they are the Des Moines community. doing the Black Lives Matter work here in our community,” “I moved back from New York City in 2014,” Griggs said. Griggs said. “I have the privilege to know many of the people “I made a commitment to take a picture of the sunset every behind these organizations, and I want to support the work day that year. I also started practicing yoga for the first time in they do in our community. These organizations are also my life at the same time. When I began teaching yoga in 2017, important to me because they foster diversity and culture in it just made sense to marry the two loves of my life to create Des Moines.” Sunset Yoga, especially in one of the most beautiful places in The impact that Griggs has made is undeniable. She Des Moines.” has gained a large local following and inspired others in the Starting Sunset Yoga was tough for Griggs. When she community. During the toughest times, Griggs and Sunset first started this event, she only had about 10 to 15 people Yoga has been used to uplift and inspire the community, but participating in her class. She also began originally operating there is still a lot more that could be done. When asked what this event without the proper consent from the Capitol others can do in their communities to make an impact, Griggs’ Grounds of Des Moines (unknowingly). The state sent a state words of advice were to use your skills, talents, hobbies and trooper to one of the first Sunset Yoga sessions. She now has interests to contribute to a worthy cause. Do what makes sense a following of over 100 people at her yoga sessions and the for your life; the possibilities are endless. 5
Training for the Unknown Written By: Donminic Goosby |Photos By: Joshua Sifuentes | Designed By: Warner Pool One of the biggest questions being asked this fall around Grand View University’s campus is if the GV football team will have a season. Other college football conferences such as the Big Ten (and then not the Big Ten) and the Pac-12 have already canceled and decided that they won’t play this year. Many other teams and conferences have decided the same fate this year. This leads people to believe that GV may not play a more than a game or two. Are the football players practicing for a season that will not happen? “It’s a little weird because at any moment they can just cancel the season,” said Nick Trotter, a GV sophomore offensive lineman. “At the end of the day, I keep pressing like the season will happen because you don’t want to not be ready in case the season is going to happen. I just try and treat it like a normal season, giving it my all and trying to keep that topic out of my thoughts.” Freshmen on the team are also feeling the effects of COVID-19 jeopardizing the season, although perhaps on a lesser scale than the upperclassmen. “I mean if the season might not happen, I feel it won’t affect me as much,” said Ben Welch, a GV freshmen linebacker. “I just see it as a way to prepare myself for next season. This is only my freshmen year, so I’m going to not try to dwell on this season because, like I said, this season is for me to get bigger and learn from the players ahead of me. But it would be nice to have a season.” At any time on the field, there’s a chance that the players could contract COVID-19, and the players who live out of state have to worry about bringing the virus back home with them. “The way we practice is different because we used to practice as one; now we practice as two teams so it’s just different (for) me,” said Kevin Ansah, a GV red-shirt sophomore, wide receiver. “To be honest we just have to tough
through it and keep moving, but I still keep the fact that COVID-19 is still a thing in the back of my head.” Even with the realities of the pandemic, the players continue working together. “For me I don’t think about it too much because you’re going to be coming into close contact with these guys, so it’s bound to happen,” said Welch when asked about the possibility of contracting COVID-19 at practice. “There’s only so much you can do from trying to not catch it at practice so it’s just one of those things that if it happens it happens, just keep moving forward.” So far, one of the scheduled games has been postponed and the other game against Central Methodist was canceled. The GV football team has been practicing and hitting each other since spring without a game or scrimmage against another team. “It was disappointing,” said Joe Woodley, GV’s football head coach on the most recent cancellation. “I keep telling the team that it’s probably not going to be the last one that gets postponed. It was just a deal that both sides just decided it wasn’t safe.” With the COVID-19 pandemic still happening, the team has also had to switch up the practice structure. “It’s changed a little bit,” Woodley said. “We’re going two different practices with 90 (players) in one and 70 in the other. We have a really big squad, and we just felt that having all those people together at the same time is not ideal at this time.” The match-up against Missouri Valley was postponed a day before the game was supposed to be played. With this game being postponed, the season seems to be slipping away from the players and the coaching staff. With the season hanging by a thread, all the team can do is take it one week at a time and see if the games will be played or postponed.
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Designer Masks Written By: Ashlee Seaton |Photos By: Emma Mattes |Designed By: Cole Berndsen As face masks have become a requirement in our daily outfits, they have become available in a variety of colors and patterns making it possible for them to become an extension of one’s personality. Clothing retailers, both large companies and local businesses, have joined the trend of selling a wide variety of face masks to match each personality while keeping them effective and comfortable. One large company that has begun selling face masks is Victoria’s Secret/PINK. Although their masks are onesize-fits-all, they have an adjustable ear strap along with an adjustable nose wire to ensure a perfect fit. Victoria’s Secret/ PINK has two different fabrics to choose from, a cotton-andspandex blend and a purely cotton option. Rachel Stohowick, the brand operations supervisor at the Jordan Creek Shopping Center Victoria’s Secret said, “I am finding that they are pretty durable, especially the cotton and spandex ones.” Although cotton and spandex masks seem to be the most durable, purely cotton masks are also machine washable. Each fabric style has a wide variety of patterns to choose from. Patterns can range from solid colors (including plain black or white), polka dots, animal prints and typographic prints with sayings (such as “stay positive”). Each mask is priced at $9.50. “We are going to start selling more of them,” Stohowick said. “I feel like maybe around mid-October, close to November, especially with the holidays coming up, we are going to have to start putting a limit on masks.” RAYGUN, a local business in Des Moines, has also started selling face masks. These masks have witty sayings on them that RAYGUN is known for, such as “don’t drink bleach” and “there still isn’t a vaccine.” “A lot of our masks are in really high demand,” Mary Newman, the assistant manager of RAYGUN, said. “We started with just a few (designs), and then we (developed) more ideas.”
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RAYGUN masks are all about the sayings. The background tends to be plain black, white, or red, and they are all sold in adult and child sizes. “We had what we call our fabric face masks, and they are white with blue ties that go around the back,” Newman said. “Then we started to also do ear-loop masks.” The ear-loop style has been selling the fastest at RAYGUN, likely because of the efficiency compared to tying a mask on every time you put it on. RAYGUN also sells third-party masks that have a filter on the side to help with breathing and are sold with a variety of patterns, such as animal prints and solid color options. Fusion Boutique, located in West Des Moines, has also started to sell face masks. This local business has both adult and child sizes that are available in solid black, rainbow and tie-dye. The adult masks have an adjustable wire on the nose to help fit all face types. “We (sold) masks for a local bank,” Sara Jacobson, the owner of Fusion Boutique, said. “They needed 250 of them, so for that, we put in a special order.” The availability of masks makes Fusion Boutique a go-to place for anyone who needs a large order of matching masks in a short amount of time. There are a variety of online retailers that sell masks in case leaving the house is a concern. Nylander Los Angeles sells four different sizes of masks ranging from extra-small to large. Although these masks are priced high at $21.90 or more they are three-layered masks that include a pocket for an air filter. Patterns that Nylander makes and sells are more intricate, with skull designs and mandala patterns. Another online option is Etsy, which is where many in-home businesses sell their masks. There are hundreds of masks to choose from on Etsy, with multiple styles (adjustable ear straps, adjustable nose wire, tie around your head, etc.) and patterns (solid color, animal print, rainbow, sayings, etc.) and prices ranging from $4.50 to around $25.
Faculty Life During COVID-19 Written By: Robert Luke |Photos By: Dom Wright |Designed By: Cole Berndsen Life as we know it changed in March when the news started to tell us about COVID-19. Suddenly, we were being told to wash our hands, wear masks and stay inside our own homes. Businesses were closing. Then came the news that we wouldn’t be returning to finish our spring semester, and this is when challenges started to arise. Not only did this affect students but faculty and staff as well. Grand View Speech Lecturer Amy Pettit said the whole process has been a “learning curve.” As she planned for the fall, she had to try to figure out what the year would look like for her students via Zoom classes. She had to lay out many scenarios for class in her planning. Pettit said that COVID-19 “did not make for a relaxing summer.” Not only did this affect her at Grand View but also at home. Pettit and her husband had to decide if it was safe to send their son off to his freshman year of college. What would it look like? Would he be OK? Her husband is a principal in the Southeast Polk school district, and he had his own concerns. He spent the summer considering all the factors of running a school and the challenges that COVID-19 would present to him. Taking classes online is a new way for teachers and students to experience the classroom. Pettit said that teaching during the pandemic has been very different as she has had to make changes in dates for homework and speeches. Even learning the new Hy-Flex schedule presents its own challenges. For Zeb Sullivan, Professor of Kinesiology, the biggest adjustment has been working around his elementary kids’ schedules. Sullivan’s kids all attend Ankeny Schools, where they are also on a hybrid model for classes. His wife is now working from home full time in order to supervise their kids on the days they are home for online learning. “A positive I’ve gotten from all of this is that I get to spend more time with my family on certain days,” Sullivan said. In the Communications department, Professor K.C. McGinnis has had an easier time moving his classes online than he expected. McGinnis said that he is emotionally excited and really likes the new Hy-Flex Model. One positive for McGinnis is that under circumstances when he would have had to cancel classes previously, he can now simply hold class virtually. He is optimistic about what this year will bring for student progress despite the potential stress from
the Hy-Flex model. At home, the transition for McGinnis’ family has been a little less stressful since his wife is a fulltime mom to their young children. COVID-19 has certainly changed lives in the last six months. We are still learning the effects of the pandemic and what kind of an impact it will have on people. Here at Grand View, professors have been trying to keep classes as normal as possible while learning, creating, stressing and balancing their own new lives. “Obviously, it’s not ideal but it’s the new normal,” McGinnis said.
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How to be an Ally Written By: Camden Blowers |Photos By: Brooke Wolfe | Graphics By: Brynn Martin | Designed By: Camden Blowers Growing up, Tamara Empty attended Valley High School in West Des Moines, where she said she was graced with many friends who loved her for who she was. Soon after Empty graduated, she attended the University of Missouri. After touring the campus, she immediately thought to herself “where are my people at?” African-American (Empty’s preferred identifier) and feeling alone, Empty committed to finding others like herself. She became a resident assistant for an international building on campus called Defoe-Graham. The place felt like “home,” and Empty started to feel more comfortable with herself and heritage. With this comfort came a desire for expression. Empty started to share about her culture on her social media platforms. The posts started to amplify in number, in depth — and apparently in controversy. Empty soon saw an increase in high school friends unfollowing her. She also started hearing the phrase “I just now realized that you were black,” to which she could only respond, “I have been Black this whole entire time.” That is when Empty knew that some people only liked her when she acted white. Even though embracing her culture has cost her friends and followers, it has also made her more comfortable in her own skin than she ever was before.
What white people shouldn’t do Empty said that throughout her life she has experienced numerous micro-aggressions that she believes were committed without realization. Dictionary.com defines a micro-aggression as a subtle but offensive comment or action directed at a member of a marginalized group, especially a racial minority, that is often unintentionally offensive or unconsciously reinforces a stereotype. Some examples: “You don’t sound black. You sound/act white.” “I’m not racist; I have a black friend.” “I do not see color.” They can also go unspoken when people do things such as clutch a purse or wallet a little bit tighter when a person of color walks by. “By someone saying ‘I can’t see color,’ (it) means that they are not taking the time to actually see me,” Empty said. “You don’t see the actual color (that) I am and the things that I have to go through. But, if you see that I am Black, you see the things I have to go through and face. You are seeing me. Recognize what our struggles are.”. Far too many times the phrase “you don’t sound black” or “you sound/act white” comes up in a conversation. Telling
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people of color that they are not acting or sounding like the stereotype that the world has put on them is not a compliment. Rather, it’s a direct comparison of two races. A person of color should not be compared to the white race when they sound educated as this suggests only white people are educated. Similarly the Black community often speaks in Ebonics, a form of American English that is regarded by linguists as a language in its own right rather than a dialect of standard English, according to dictionary.com.
What white people should do “Part of (showing support) is that there is room for all of us,” Andrews said. “You need to be mindful how advocacy works,” Betty Andrews, president of the Iowa and Nebraska NAACP chapters, said. Change comes from education, awareness, support and actions on a societal level. So many times, white people are stuck between feelings of “this is not my fight” or “I do not know how to support.” Change demands that white people get over the discomfort and fear that comes with conversations about racial injustice. There is no more time to sit back and wait until the next death or injustice committed against a person of color. Empty and Andrews said it is important for white allies to recognize privilege. Once privilege is recognized, the next step is to use it to help those without it. “A lot of people do not recognize that they have the power to help us,” Empty said. Intervention starts at the dinner table, residence hall, classroom or even the work place. “Start being a stop sign,” Andrews said. Those who are privileged can act as a “stop sign” for microaggressions, racial slurs or dehumanizing comments about the Black ethnicity. As a stop sign, the duty is to express that the conversation is wrong and that the words being used are offensive. It is best to stop the conversation before it gets worse. Of course, there is the discomfort of telling someone to stop, but that is why racial justice is often referred to as a struggle. The alternative is to let the comments go unchecked. In this case, the person who is engaging in racist comments will think that you are fine with the conversation, which will lead to more conversations about the same topic. Habitually racist behaviors will not stop until one is educated or told that their actions are wrong. Once you stop the first conversation, doing
it again becomes easier. Here are a few sentences that can work as a stop sign: “We cannot continue this conversation.” “I do not agree with your beliefs.” Lastly, “Would you be comfortable saying that in front of a Black person?” White people have the privilege to use their voice and be heard. Take it upon yourself to say something. The next step is to show up. Show up for your friends or family of color either physically, verbally or emotionally. Verbal and emotional support entails checking up on your friends of color. Many Black people are fearful right now, and this requires monitoring. This is the time to go past the simple “Are you doing OK?” This is the time to show that you are truly invested in them rather than sending out an obligatory text. Verbal support can also come in the form of the words that you speak on a daily basis. Bring the conversation about racial injustice outside of your “safe space.” Have tough conversations. Change is not made by being silent, so don’t be afraid to talk about the unsolved cases of missing or murdered people of color. Bring awareness to the unjust situations by showing up for your Black friends. The more white people show up verbally, the more weight and stress they take off of those that are fighting this battle every single day. Sometimes, actions speak louder than words. Actions are how you can physically show your support. Whether it’s going to a protest, or a march or putting up a sign showing support in your front yard, physical demonstrations catch the eye and bring attention quickly to the subject at hand. Physically standing up and actively participating in marching and protests shows the physical support that Black people need. Another way to be an ally is to educate yourself. Take it upon yourself to look up and advocate for people of color regarding educational disparities, the wealth gap or workplace inequality. In the age of misinformation, it’s useful to have trustworthy information and statistics when talking to people in the field. White people can also invest time and resources into Black organizations. Ask organizational leaders what they need you to do rather than assuming. Sometimes all that they need is a volunteer to help with an event or a person to spread their message and mission. So many times, there is a lack of listening when helping.
One of the last ways to support is to donate money. Think about donating to local organizations as well as those on the national level. A couple of Black-focused organizations in the Des Moines area are the B. Well Foundation and NAACP. Take the time to research and look into these organizations and others. Above all else, don’t do nothing. Sitting back and watching others struggle mentally and physically is not what human beings are supposed to do. So many times, our own egos and lack of education gets in the way, and this is not the time for it. We can change the world but not before we change our own behaviors. As Des Moines Black Lives Matter organizer Matthew Bruce put it, showing up the first time is growth, but showing up the second and third time is sustainability and change.
PRIVILEGE QUIZ A first step to becoming an ally is acknowledgment of your own privilege. This quiz is designed to help you see advantages you enjoy that many black people do not.
I am white I have never been a racial minority in a crowded room I have never been mocked for the way I talk I have never been told I am beautiful for my race I have never been a victim of racial violence I have never had a stranger try to touch my hair I have never been told “you sound/act white” My race is widely represented in advertisements 10
Iowans Come Together After Midwest Hurricane Written By: Karleigh Halpin |Photos By: Ashley Boatright |Designed By: Warner Pool On August 10, the Midwest experienced a land hurricane, also known as a derecho. What seemed to be a gloomy day soon turned into a storm and no one was prepared. Residents of Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska were soon hit with the fact that the best thing to do was to get shelter and hope that the storm would blow over soon. Houses were knocked down, buildings were ripped to shreds, trees fell on everything in sight, RVs and mobile homes were completely flipped on their sides and power lines covered the streets. Unfortunately, many people were left injured, and sadly, a few fatalities were recorded. I was in Cedar Rapids when the derecho hit, laying in bed planning on taking a nap. I woke up to three rounds of tornado sirens outside. I was unaware that there was any chance of rain, let alone that this storm planned to take out the whole city of Cedar Rapids. Shortly after the sirens went off, the wind started picking up outside. About 15 minutes after the first sirens, the power completely shut off in the apartment building I was in. According to The National Weather Service, the derecho covered nearly 800 miles across four states, and in Iowa alone, over 10 million acres of corn and soybean crops were flattened and destroyed. To put that into perspective, nearly 1/3 of the farmland in Iowa was left damaged. Farmers who rely on these crops for their livelihood are now trying to salvage what they have left of the damaged crops, rebuild farm sheds and replant crops. The derecho managed to crush massive grain silos, leaving metal structures scattered around. Wind speeds reached approximately 120 mph, and over 400,000 people were left without power. After 10 days, over 250,000 residents were 11
still without power. Residents soon learned that losing their power was the least of their worries moving forward.
Power and Property In the derecho’s aftermath telephone poles were ripped to shreds, and power lines were covering streets. Electricians from across the country came to help restore power. Driving down the street after the storm, it looked like a scene from a horror movie. Street signs were crushed, billboards were bent in half, and there was no form of communication. Once the power went out, the cell towers also went down shortly after. Bailey Sullivan, a student at Grand View, was one of the many that lost power. “When the storm hit, I was by myself at Grand View,” Sullivan said. “The power immediately went out when the wind started picking up. My family, who lives in Mount Vernon, were also some of the less fortunate to lose power. They were without power and cell service for over a week.” With no Wi-Fi or cell reception, families were hoping for the best when it came to trying to get in contact with family and friends, myself included. I was not with my family when the storm hit, and when it did, I was left wondering if everyone was OK. Unable to get in contact with my immediate family, I was left stuck in a storm cellar hoping that this would pass soon. It was approximately 20 minutes after the storm started that I decided it was best to take shelter. Some people I have never met before asked me to take shelter with them. The cellar was very dark and very small. It was safe to say we all became very comfortable with each other very fast. It then took
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me about an hour to get in contact with my parents. Phone calls wouldn’t go through and text messages said not delivered. When one message would finally send, it would take even longer for the next ones to come through. Phones became like paperweights and were almost useless.
Transportation When it comes to being able to get around, it was anything but easy. As soon as the power went out, most gas stations were unable to stay open. In Linn County, where I am from, the few gas stations and stores that were open were only accepting cash. My 15-minute drive home turned into a 45-minute drive. The drive back was eerie. It was pitch black, street lights were down, and I was forced to use my GPS because the street signs I was used to reading were blown over. On the way home, I saw close to 10 semis tipped over on their sides in the ditch. Storage units were ripped open, and campers were on top of each other or nearly bent in half. People were driving up to an hour to find a gas station that had power to fill up their cars and gas cans for their generators and other necessities. The lines to get gas ranged anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. I had multiple friends who were so low on gas that they couldn’t even make it to a gas station to fill up. The gas stations in Iowa City and North Liberty were some of the most used. Not only did they have gas available, but people were also able to use their cellphones there. I luckily had enough gas to drive from Cedar Rapids to North Liberty to fill up but was forced to wait in line for 45 minutes.
Shelter According to The New York Times, the storm also left many without shelter. Some have been forced to relocate and evacuate, while others have continued to sleep in their homes, which are left without roofs, walls and electricity. Apartment buildings that have been ripped to shreds, left residents pitching tents outside. An apartment building on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids, full of refugees who had escaped from their countries to find a better life, is now facing destruction once again. Not knowing the next time they would be able to get groceries, many people resorted to spending almost thousands on generators, in order to keep their food safe to eat. On top of that, the thousands of residents that were not lucky enough to come across a generator were stuck in their houses with no power, with the temperature being almost 90 degrees outside. Bags of rotten food filled the streets.
Schools Most schools in Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas were forced to start school weeks after their original start date. The storm left massive floods in the schools and managed to take off roofs leaving many schools with gas leaks and no power. Schools had to start virtually until their buildings were able to get the needed repairs. 13
Post Storm Walking outside for the first time after the storm, I looked at the emotions of all of the neighbors; it broke my heart and it was hard not to shed a tear. I looked across the street and could see right through the inside of the fire department that had just lost it’s roof. Trees were blocking everyone in and it was hard to find a road that was clear enough to drive on. Drew Adams, a junior at Grand View, said this was the worst storm he had ever witnessed. “Driving around town after the storm had passed through was a shocking experience,” Adams said. “Nearly every yard was covered in some type of debris, and plenty of streets were even blocked off by fallen trees or powerlines.” I was left speechless. The town I grew up in was not the same town that it was the night before. My parents’ house was missing shingles, the siding was ripped off, and our fence was almost completely gone. Not to mention, the ceiling was leaking from all of the rain and our garage was completely blown inward. To this day, the ceiling has yet to be fixed and there are still repairs that need to be made. Compared to most, we were extremely lucky. There were many others that were not as fortunate. “My family’s house in Mount Vernon had a tree fall down and plenty of other debris spread around the yard,” Adam said, “A tree came down on our backyard fence and completely damaged it.” Sullivan was in Des Moines when the storm occurred. She was in the Johnson Wellness Center when the power went out, but luckily the generators kicked on right away. She got locked in between Knudsen and the Wellness Center, surrounded by glass windows. The doors locked, and she no longer had access to any of the doors because the power went out. She was forced to sit in between buildings until the storm had passed. “When I walked outside, I saw a tree through someone’s windshield. Trees were everywhere, the power was out for three days, and it looked like a ghost town,” Sullivan said. She drove home the next day to Mt.Vernon and was blown away by what she saw. “Every tree was gone; trees covered my pool, and the fence was ripped out of the foundation,” Sullivan said. A tree also fell through her parents car, leaving it undriveable. Kyra Larkin, another student from Grand View, was at home in Grimes when the storm started. She left her house during the storm to go check on her sister’s dog that was left alone in her sister’s apartment. “I was terrified driving; I thought my car was going to blow over,” Larkin said. She ended up turning around halfway through the drive because the conditions were too bad. “I have never seen anything like this before,” Larkin said. “It was truly terrifying. Cars were pulled over on the side of the road, I saw multiple semis slowly flip over, and I was just praying that I would make it home safe.” Days after the storm hit, no one knew about it if they weren’t from the affected locations. We got hit by the equivalent of a Category 3 inland hurricane and there was
nothing on the front page of any national news outlets. Many Iowans are frustrated with the lack of national attention that they received. Local journalists and reporters have worked around the clock to cover the derecho and tell the stories of all of the people affected.
Communities Luckily, the communities of Iowa rallied together to clean up and help each other out. Iowans took time out of their day to help the less fortunate, and many non profits came together to give back to those in need. In my neighborhood alone, every neighbor immediately was outside after the storm, asking each other if everyone was OK and if they
needed help. The days after, everyone came together to help pick up debris and fallen trees that covered the streets. Driving around town, it appeared that other neighborhoods were doing the same thing. It didn’t matter if they had never met, they all came together to help clean up their city. Local non profits also helped bring together volunteers to help hand out food and clear peoples’ yards. High school sports teams volunteered their time to help at their schools as well as the community. There were also many disaster relief groups that made their way to Cedar Rapids to help in any way they could. The derecho brought together the state of Iowa. In a time of need, communities came together to overcome the worst natural disaster Iowa has seen in years.
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Back-to-School Clash Written By: Emma Mattes |Photos By: Fermin Iturbide | Designed by: Rachel Amann For college students, the prospect of staying in bed all day on Zoom rather than going to school to attend classes can sound pretty good. But for elementary, middle school and high school students, this semester is a different story. In fact, for students and teachers in the Des Moines Public School District, this fall has come with more challenges than normal as their district squares off against Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds on issues ranging from extracurricular activities for students to teaching licenses. Rob Barron, who serves as special assistant to the president for government and community relations here at Grand View, provided insight into the fight against Governor Reynolds and the DMPS board’s efforts to keep students and teachers safe during the pandemic. In addition to his work at GV, Barron has served on the DMPS board for two years. All summer long, he met with the board to help devise a plan to keep everyone safe when returning to school this fall. The original plan was to have elementary and middle school students return to school to attend only two days a week in person, while the three other days were virtual. High school students were only supposed to attend one day a week while the four other days were held virtually. This plan was introduced before the beginning of the school year and was known as the hybrid plan. To make this possible, the DMPS board provided well over 1,000 laptops to students who did not have one and helped secure internet access for many households at a cheaper rate so that students could do their schoolwork over meetings on Zoom. Much of the money raised for the laptops was raised privately, and many people in the community pitched in selflessly. Then complications arose with Governor Reynolds. “Her proclamation on July 16 meant that none of that (was) any longer feasible, even though they approved that plan two weeks before,” Barron said. However, DMPS wished to continue with the hybrid plan. “That is part of why we are suing the state: to get the ability to come back in that plan when we think the conditions are ready for us to come back,” Barron said. Barron said that there were two things the school board asked for and so far they have received a decision on one of them. “The first thing that we asked for is an injunction or a stay, which basically means that until there is a final decision on our lawsuit, (no) penalties can come to us,” Barron said.
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“Then there is the final question of did the Governor interpret the statute correctly, or are we able to go with the plan that we think is best for our students?” The judge decided to go against the DMPS board, so they are currently out of compliance with the law. The DMPS board will meet again to determine if it wants to appeal. “I believe in our teachers,” Barron said. “Nobody wants to be in this situation, and I think any teacher included would say that they teach better in person than they do through a computer. That doesn’t mean that they can’t teach this way. We’re forced into this position, and people will raise their game and will figure out a way to do it better.” According to NBC News, Governor Reynolds has been in a fight against the Des Moines Public School Board since the middle of summer. On July 17, Reynolds signed a proclamation saying, “Schools to teach at least half of all classes in-person, unless the district receives a waiver from the State. Waivers would only be approved if a county’s coronavirus positivity rate surpassed 15 percent.” After approving the original plan that the DMPS had in place, Reynolds changed it before school started to require that 50% of people had to be in the classrooms. DMPS refused to comply with the last-minute changes. For DMPS teachers, the complications have made for a unique semester so far. Joy Fischer, who teaches at Cowles Montessori, just finished her first week teaching on Zoom with preschool and kindergarten kids. Like many teachers, she spends her days sitting in an empty classroom and teaching students all of the content online. The teachers are not allowed to see each other at school and mainly stay in their classrooms. “It does not feel natural,” Fischer said. “I did not sign up to be an online teacher.” Montessori is a teaching philosophy where students learn by using materials rather than notebook instruction. Fischer has her students choose household items to learn subjects such as math, reading and writing. “It is a dance; I am trying to expose them to material online so that when they come back, they are familiar with it,” Fischer said. Despite the challenges caused by the clash between the DMPS school board and Governor Reynolds, online learning continues.
Finding Jobs in Crisis Written By: Mike Knox |Photos By: Ernest Docker | Designed By: Rachel Amann From securing internships to building resumes, the future can seem uncertain for students in normal times. However, in 2020, planning for the future seems nearly impossible. COVID-19, leaves not only students with a sense of uncertainty, but also the rest of the world. Terminated jobs have left millions without employment. For recent graduates, 2020 was supposed to be the year they began their careers; however, many have been faced with the adversity COVID-19 has so swiftly created. Terry Johnson, Grand View class of 2020, said that COVID-19 has created many obstacles for young adults who have just completed their degrees. “I never expected the job search out of college to be easy, but I also didn’t expect it to be this difficult,” Johnson said. “It is already a small percentage of jobs available for fresh graduates, and with the pandemic, it has basically made the availability of new jobs reduce.” According to an article by Rakesh Kochnar of the Pew Research Center, unemployment numbers in the United States went from the lowest since World War II to the highest the country has ever seen. In February 2020, the U.S. totaled around 6 million unemployed Americans; however, after the coronavirus outbreak, over 14 million were left without jobs. These numbers have not been seen in the U.S. since the Great Recession from late 2007 to 2010, which left 10% of Americans without employment. During the recession, 5.3% of workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher were unemployed in comparison to the 7.2% rate that the pandemic has produced. COVID-19 has caused numbers to increase at a faster rate in a shorter time than the recession, but both have caused problems for students looking to expand on internships and further their careers. Jake Vice and Holly Poort were both students at GV when the Great Recession started. Vice graduated in 2008, and Poort graduated in 2009. Vice, who earned a degree in biology, is now the owner of a multi-million-dollar construction company. Vice said he chose the path that fit him the best after college during a time when the economy was not strong for students looking to begin their careers. “A lot of people in my major went on to further their educational programs after graduation,” Vice said. “I chose to do construction when I got done with school because it was something that I was already familiar with.” Vice said he started doing construction work with his father at an early age. Then he worked for a small construction business before starting his own. Vice said he was comfortable with his decision at the time and encourages students today to do the same. “At that time in 2008, I was not sure where I wanted to go with my degree in biology, but I did know I was a hard worker,” Vice said. “Choose the path that is best for you, and work hard. Being a hard worker during times where jobs are limited will benefit you in the professional world.” Poort, on the other hand, said her job search after college took time but helped build her into the worker she is today. “I graduated with a degree in graphic design,” Poort said. “I would have never imagined I would be in a hard hat and boots every day. I lost three jobs after graduating before finding my career.”
However, Poort looked at losing a job as a lesson. She said it taught her the importance of building relationships, networking and ultimately building a brand for yourself, while using the things she has learned along the way. “During the recession, I took jobs I never would have imagined for myself during school, but those jobs taught me a lot (about) how to navigate the professional job market,” Poort said. Poort said she would tell students today to not worry or stress about the future. The future is always uncertain and no path is straight. “My path was not ideal,” Poort said. “I lost the job I completed an internship for due to the recession. But the connections I have made during my path have allowed more doors to open.” Vice and Poort are two examples of what being resilient, even during an economic crisis, can do for a college student. Their stories can help alleviate the pressure some students are feeling in 2020. Even though COVID-19 hit the U.S. economy harder than the Great Recession, Vice and Poort have shown that building a career during these times is still possible.
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Parks Tour Written By: AJ Gill |Photos By: Trevonte Diggs |Designed By: Megan Marshall Des Moines Parks and Recreation manages 4,000 acres of land that make up 75 different parks. Because of the city’s yearround work, Des Moines residents have access to a number of beautiful parks, trails and lakes with different activities and types of scenery available. Perhaps you’re tired of spending money on weekends out, maybe you’ve caught a case of cabin fever from studying for hours on end — whatever your reason, these Des Moines parks are just minutes away and waiting to be explored.
Tour 1: Gray’s Lake If you like water and a beautiful paved path to walk, then Gray’s Lake should be at the top of your list. Located in the heart of Des Moines off of Fleur Drive and just minutes from both downtown and the airport, this park offers a small beach that is fantastic for a beach day, and almost two-miles of a walking trail that circles the lake with a large bridge that connects the walking path from one side of the lake to the other, which is lit beautifully at night. There are also small boat rentals for the water fanatics, both canoes and paddle boats are available for between $8-$15 an hour. Gray’s Lake is a hidden gem within Des Moines, a great spot for avid runners and casual walkers to get their exercise in and a wonderful choice for a nice lakeside hangout with family or friends.
Tour 2: Water Works Another park located just across the street from Gray’s Lake is Water Works Park. This park is a popular destination for prom, engagement and many other photo shoots simply because of the landscape. Going to this park in the spring will maximize your experience as many of the trees located in the park are flowering, but it’s also beautiful in the fall. Not only does this park offer a terrific landscape for photos but also other small complimentary activities for its guests. There are fire pits and grills located throughout the park that are open for public use and fishing is permitted with a valid license. For those who love strolling through nature, chilling out by a fire or fishing, Water Works Park is a great choice.
Tour 3: Riverwalk The downtown Riverwalk may not be a park in itself, but it’s still a great way to get out and enjoy the weather after being cramped up at home all day. Just a short 10-minute drive from Grand View’s campus there’s plenty of street parking and sidewalks to get down to the Riverwalk. The beautifully designed Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens with a big pagoda is perfect for a picnic with friends or family, and it’s a walk down the street from popular coffee shops and restaurants, such as Zombie Burger. A short walk in the opposite direction of the restaurants is the Botanical Gardens of Des Moines, which is a taste of paradise indoors. Another attraction along the Riverwalk is the Women’s Achievement bridge, a fairly new addition to the Riverwalk. It has two arching walkways on both sides of the center arch going from one side of the river to the other, connecting the modern East Village to the heart of downtown Des Moines. If walking isn’t an ideal means of getting around, then no worries. There are bicycles available to rent downtown that will provide a faster way to see the sights of Des Moines. While downtown, you can also tour the Papajohn Sculpture Park, an admission-free park with many different styles of sculptures created by various artists, both local and from abroad. The downtown Riverwalk is a terrific choice for sightseers, visitors new to Des Moines and those who just want to spend an afternoon exploring with friends.
Tour 4: Raccoon River Raccoon River is another park filled with lots to do. It is located next to the Blue Heron Lake, an over 200 acre lake that has boat ramps, a 225-foot fishing pier, boat rentals and more. No need to fret about getting waked out by bigger boats if you decide to rent a canoe, as the entire lake is a designated no-wake zone. The lake also features several fish habitats underwater, so the chance of catching something is good. Raccoon River also features a 500-foot long beach, which is plenty of room to safely socially distance while getting a nice tan and taking a dip in the water. Other amenities offered in this park include picnic shelters available for rent, a softball and soccer complex, a playground, an ice-skating rink and several walking trails. There is something for everyone to enjoy at Raccoon River. Those who love swimming, boat rentals, sports or a good grill-out will find themselves at home here. 17
First: Lemme Take a Selfie Written By: Cassie Yardley |Photos By: Taleah Smith |Designed By: Megan Marshall What’s better than bomb lighting and the perfect background? I was lucky enough to get to experience Iowa’s first-ever “Selfie Station” located inside of Merle Hay Mall under Flix Brewhouse. Selfie Station is an interactive venue that offers ring lights, 12 rooms with different backgrounds and interactive props. Ring lights are circular lights that have space in the middle, specifically for a phone or camera. Selfie Station also offers many colorful backdrops for you and your friends that can help create picture-perfect moments. A ticket buys you one hour. Selfie Station also allows their customers to rent the venue out for a private event. Selfie Station is extremely popular, and people have traveled hours to see what the hype is about. Previous reviews claim that a group drove four hours to check out Selfie Station. The owner, Ashley Wilkerson, explained how they get most of their room ideas from Instagram users, other selfie museums and Pinterest. I was able to explore all 12 rooms with over 20 different backdrops and photo options. My favorite setup was the “Milkshakes and Dreams” room; it had neon purple lights and fake milkshake props to pose with and a wall of old-school records. Another one of my favorite rooms had a pool full of mini clear plastic balls in a
swimming pool and a neon pink “POOLSIDE” sign. It makes the picture more interactive and fun when you are able to add a matching prop. There were plenty of other rooms that involved props, such as a bright yellow room that had fake leaves scattered around and a room that was filled from head to toe with giant multi-colored slinkies. An employee at Selfie Station said that they try to change up the rooms seasonally. “I thought it was really cool, and they used the space really well with what they have, considering they are just a pop up,” said Kyla Fitzsimmons, who got to enjoy the Selfie Station in mid-July. “I would for sure go again if they have the opportunity to change up the rooms so I can take new selfies.” Kami Wheelock, a Grand View University student, snapped her most recent Instagram posts at Selfie Station. “I thought most rooms were extremely well thought out and creative,” Wheelock said. “Each section had a different vibe, and that was fun to try and match. I thought the prices were fair for something so new and so different to Des Moines.” Wheelock said. “I’m curious to see how the one getting built in Kansas City will end up looking.” Overall, Selfie Station is a great place to visit for a fun mini getaway.
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volume 4 | issue 1