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BY THE TIMES-DELPHIC
Grades have been submitted, transcripts updated and J-term is on the horizon. With 2016 behind students, The Times-Delphic is taking a look back on some of the most important and most-read news stories of the last semester.
Drake’s campus declared a sanctuary
Following the election of Donald Trump, Drake officials moved to support immigrant students on campus, especially those who are undocumented.
President Marty Martin noted that the university “will not act on behalf of government agents to enforce immigration laws for the purpose of facilitating deportations.” In extension, Drake committed itself to taking steps to protect the privacy and records of students, including citizenship status.
Men’s Basketball head coach Ray Giacoletti resigns
With the circumstances still not entirely clear, Giacoletti resigned in the middle of the men’s basketball season – a surprise to the team and Bulldog fans.
Giacoletti was in his fourth year as head coach. During that time, the Bulldogs have a cumulative record of 32-69 and have never posted a winning season.
“It’s on me. It’s as simple as that,” Giacoletti said.
Women’s Basketball assistant coach allegedly forced to resign for being gay
The court filing claims that Courtney Graham was discriminated against by having her responsibilities stripped and being sent home without explanation after her sexuality became known in November 2014 when Graham’s girlfriend, to whom she is now married, attended a game at the Knapp Center.
This came after former athletic trainer Scott Kerr filed a lawsuit with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission against Drake University.
“Blonde” chosen as reviewer’s music album of the year
The TD’s music columnist Parker Klyn ran a weekly column reviewing his top pics across many genres. This year’s top picks for Klyn: Frank Ocean’s “Blonde.”
Klyn writes: “The songs on Blonde are so personal, so elegant, and so incredibly well-crafted that it’s hard for me to find fault.”
Drake football player headed for NFL?
In September, we reported that about 20 NFL teams have visited Drake Stadium to watch Eric Saubert play.
“It’s pretty surreal,” Saubert said. “I’m just excited and blessed.”
‘Hateful’ posters in a first-year dorm, with sexist and racist messages
Chelsi Barraza, one of the three girls who lived in the dorm, sent a picture of the door through Snapchat with the caption “look what someone did to my door.” Senior Kenia Calderon shared the photo on Facebook, which garnered over 500 shares and 1,000 Facebook ‘reactions’ less than a day later.
Four students came forward and admitted to taping up the posters. Drake provost Sue Mattison emailed the student body, letting them know that the university was “able to immediately initiate emergency suspension from the residence halls.”
Donald Trump visited campus, attracting long lines and controversy
“By hosting Mr. Trump we were not endorsing or affirming his opinions,” President Marty Martin wrote. “Rather, we were doing exactly what a university should do, which is to facilitate a free and open debate through which ideas and positions can be put to the test.”
He later wrote he was ‘inspired’ by these protesters using their right to freedom of speech. This was only one of many visits to campus from multiple politicians during the caucus season at the beginning of 2016, some of those included Rand Paul, Chris Christie and all three Democratic presidential candidates.
The TD’s 2016 Election Poll: Who Drake students wanted in office
The Times-Delphic decided to undertake the task of polling the Drake University student body, as well as its faculty and staff, to place a more concrete measure on the political leaning and climate of our campus.
Drake the university wanted Drake the rapper, was left heartbroken
In what was the highlight of the semester for the campus (at least on social media), Drake the rapper didn’t show up during the day when students expected. He did, however, show up to campus, when everyone was asleep.
Student Senate denial of conservative group on campus ignites backlash
Drake University Student Senate has received backlash after denying the group Turning Point USA (TPUSA) recognition as an official student organization on Drake’s campus.
Did we miss one? Ideas on what you want to see reported on next? Visit timesdelphic.com/news-tip to make a suggestion, or send us a tweet @TimesDelphic.
Thanks for a great 2016 – we’ll be back in the newsroom at the end of J-term, continuing to cover the stories of Drake, its campus and the surrounding community.
