The visit, co-sponsored by the Slay Fund for Social Justice at Drake University, also included a session during which the Carters spoke with students of social justice and Associate Professor of Law, Politics and Society Renee Cramer in the Cowles Library Reading Room.

In the fall of 1926, Ruth had just finished a 47-home run, .372-batting average season with the American League champion New York Yankees. Stopping in Des Moines for a postseason exhibition game, The Babe was invited to try out America’s other favorite pastime.

According to a 1990 Los Angeles Times article, Drake Coach Ossie Solem extended an invitation, and Ruth “gleefully” came to Drake Stadium to suit up. He scrimmaged, passed, punted, and played offense and defense. Ruth even took down Bulldog star and The Des Moines Register Iowa Sports Hall of Famer Chuck Everett on a rushing attempt.

Ruth soon reverted to his Yankee pinstripes, but not without leaving an intriguing mark on the history of Drake Stadium—and some very interesting photos—behind. Ruth led the Yankees to back-to-back World Series victories in 1927 and 1928.

Eighty-five years after the Sultan of Swat left his footprints on the Bulldogs’ home turf, a new group of champs huddled on Johnny Bright Field at Drake Stadium. The 2011 Drake football team hefted the Pioneer Football League trophy after besting the University of Dayton at home (see Now photo spread on preceding pages).

Paul Morrison, a Drake fixture for more than 65 years, was on hand for the latest addition to the history of Drake football.

Amber Arnett-Bequeaith, GR’03, isn’t afraid of anything.

Spiders, snakes, heights, failure … none of the common—or uncommon—phobias even phase her. But given that she lives and works at the Edge of Hell and spent her childhood lounging in a coffin as part of the family business, this is probably not surprising.

“I don’t scare easily,” says Arnett-Bequeaith, vice president of Full Moon Productions in Kansas City. “It’s always the goal of my staff and volunteers to scare me. Sometimes if someone is really good they can kind of startle me. But it really just doesn’t happen.”

In addition to running four nationally acclaimed haunted houses, a ghost and gangster tour, and ghost hunting excursions, Arnett-Bequeaith is also organizing a tour of Civil War spots in Kansas City. Beyond that she is also the national spokesperson for America Haunts, an organization that represents the best Halloween attractions in the country.

Basically, she is the spokesperson for Halloween. And there is no one more qualified.

The Psychology of Fear

As a five-year-old, Arnett-Bequeaith worked at the original Edge of Hell haunted house, created by her great-grandfather in 1975. Her job was to lie in a coffin, sit up slowly, and drop rose petals on the heads of visitors. As the night ended and the family was closing up shop, she would simply lie down in the coffin and sleep until it was time to go home.

Since then, the thrill and joy of scaring others has never left her.

After earning a master’s degree in marketing and integrated communications and public relations from Drake in 2003, Arnett-Bequeaith stayed in Iowa and worked in marketing for Hy-Vee for four years.

Ultimately, however, the family business called her back. She returned to Kansas City to take the reins of the company in 2009. In addition to the original Edge of Hell, Full Moon Productions runs three other haunted attractions: The Beast, the largest haunted house in the country; the Chambers of Edgar Allen Poe; and the Macabre Cinema. All take the art—and science—of scaring people to a new level.

“People don’t really understand what goes into this,” she says. “Each attraction and scene is built on the psychology of fear.”

For instance, visitors to the Macabre Cinema find themselves in a haunted 1930s theater where the smell of popcorn wafts through the air as they become the victim on the movie set.

“We’re not about gore and blood,” she says. “Each attraction has true antiques in the sets, and that really transports the person to another place and time.”

The company also keeps a trainer on staff to work with the many live animals incorporated into the attractions. The headless horseman sits atop a real horse, live alligators snap at the heels of visitors, and live snakes—including Medusa, at 25 feet 2 inches, the largest reticulated python in captivity in the world—slither underfoot.

In The Beast, visitors are forced to find their own way through a thunderstorm on the cobblestone streets of Jack the Ripper’s London, through a deadly, alligator-filled swamp, and a disorienting maze. For those who don’t make it out in time, a pack of werewolves is released to chase visitors out through a heart-wrenching, four-story slide to freedom.

“Scaring is not easy. It’s all in the timing,” she says. “It’s all about how to put a twist on the experience.”

Beyond the Ghosts

Not all the work Arnett-Bequeaith does is creepy, however. Her company also owns 14 buildings that it leases for commercial space and is working diligently to help revitalize the West Bottoms area of Kansas City.

“We’ve worked for a lot of years on infrastructure and worked directly with the mayor to get funding. We’re seeing real progress there,” she says.

The area currently has about 25 antique stores and boutiques and continues to develop.

Full Moon’s attractions, long recognized as among the top haunted attractions in the country, are also gaining attention in other circles. The Beast is the location for a feature film currently in production and there has been talk of a reality TV show based around the business and Arnett-Bequeaith’s role.

Despite the haunted houses and ghost hunts that make up such a large part of her life, Arnett-Bequeaith says she’s not a believer in the supernatural.

“My family started this when I was five years old,” she explains. “I create ghosts. You cannot be in this position and get the heebie jeebies every time something strange happens.”

So what does a woman who runs the Edge of Hell do to unwind when she’s had a rough day?

For one, she does not watch scary movies. She’s never seen Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, or any of the other well-known films from the horror genre. But then, why would she? Arnett-Bequeaith sees this sort of thing every day.

“When you’re having a bad day, there’s nothing better than going to the control room and watching the monitors,” she says. “There are cameras everywhere that capture reactions of guests. You laugh so hard you cry.”

These recipes are so delicious you’ll want to keep them after you graduate. Many can be made with only a microwave, while others require chefs to reserve the residence hall kitchen. Drake’s Pinterest board, “Out of Bulldog Bucks?” features:

• Healthy snacks like make-your-own goldfish crackers, single-serving blueberry muffins, and strawberry/cream cheese sandwiches
• Comfort foods like tomato soup mac and cheese, cinnamon swirl pancakes, pita pizzas, and bacon-cheddar mashed potatoes
• Breakfast items like pancake cupcakes, fruit bruschetta, and French toast bites
• Creative dishes like make-at-home falafel, microwave ratatouille, and scallion pancakes,
• Cold drinks including blue raspberry lemonade slush and strawberry smoothies
• Desserts – too many to list!”

Drake University’s Pinterest presence is curated by students. In addition to recipes there are collections of eye-catching blue attire, tips for sporting your Drake pride in the office, more than 100 cute bulldogs, and many other surprises.

And yes, in true college fashion, you’ll also find more than 100 variations on ramen noodles.

A key program for growing students into leaders during their time at Drake is the Donald V. Adams Leadership Institute (DVALI).

The institute was founded in 2001, when Ken Vegors, ED’71, made a gift to Drake to offer future students the kind of leadership opportunities that had benefitted him as a student. He enlisted support from a group of alumni who shared this dream.

The new program was named to honor now-retired Drake leader Donald V. Adams, who became Drake’s vice president of student life in 1969 and retired in 2007 after 37 years of service. Because of the inspiration Adams provided to generations of Drake students, DVALI’s founders wanted to not only name the institute after him, but to center offerings on Adams’ leadership vision and values.

“The curriculum has always come from our faculty ⎯ we have unbelievable talent here. They picked up the ethical, theoretical and service components that we wanted to bring to students,” says Adams.

Since its creation more than ten years ago, DVALI has offered students a variety of leadership programming and opportunities to meet their needs throughout the entire college experience.

In addition to Adams Academy, DVALI’s signature, ten-week program for upperclass students, Drake undergraduates can take part in fall and spring leadership conferences, sponsored by Richard Sussman, AS’51, and his late wife, Lila; the Emerging Leaders Model, a six-week leadership and mentoring program; and the Florence Myers Wallace Leadership Lunch, in which students, faculty and Board of Trustee members discuss ways to improve on the leadership experience at Drake.

DVALI also operates in partnership with Drake’s new interdisciplinary Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) concentration, which develop skills through experiential learning alongside experienced community mentors.

The Adams way

Adams Academy curriculum offers students, from sophomores to P3s, the opportunity to delve into leadership issues related to theory, effective communication, ethical decision-making and inclusivity. Additional academy sessions offer practical skills in leadership, on campus as well as in the workplace and community.

Community service is an important component of the program, which lives out Donald V. Adams’ belief in the importance of serving others.

The program is based on six of Adams’ personal values:

• Take Responsibility
• Be Honest and Dependable
• Be Persistent
• Preserve Your Options
• Never Stop Learning
• Love Unconditionally

The leadership training and preparation offered by Adams Academy and DVALI fit perfectly into Drake’s mission to prepare students for personal and professional accomplishment, as well as to create responsible global citizens.

“We’re always changing and always trying to respond to the times and student needs,” says Jan Wise, director of student leadership and service programs. “I get to work with some really wonderful students. They’re driven to make the world a better place.”

Not just for CEOs

DVALI doesn’t just bring leadership skills to students who aspire to climb the ladder in business. The ability to lead, inspire, influence and effect change is an essential quality for life in the 21st century, regardless of field. Students like second-year pharmacy major Nicole McSweeney are finding that the practical, real-world takeaways from DVALI are shaping their careers and lives.

“The Adams Academy truly allowed me to experience leadership,” says McSweeney, who was recognized as the 1,000th DVALI graduate in 2011. “Leadership does not mean that you have to be in a powerful position. It encompasses making a commitment to an idea or project and inspiring others to share and follow in a common vision.”

After graduation, McSweeney aspires to serve as a clinical pharmacist in the emergency care wing of a hospital, where she hopes to make a difference not just in her patients’ lives, but also in the health care field as a whole. She believes that the skills she learned through DVALI will play an extremely important role in her future career as well as in her ability to contribute as an active citizen.

“I learned a great deal about the importance of cooperation and collaboration with others, as it leads to new ideas and thoughtful innovations,” she says. “I learned what it means to be a true leader.”

Beyond blue jackets

The Donald V. Adams Leadership Institute is now in its eleventh year, with more than 130 participants in the Adams Academy. And Don Adams remains active on campus as a role model and mentor.

“We have a senior reflections capstone experience, in which the top leaders in the senior class are invited to write and present a position paper reflecting on their leadership journey,” says Adams. “It is unbelievably emotional – I wouldn’t miss it.”

Adams is also present for workshops and for the culminating event of convocation, in which graduates earn the iconic Adams Academy jacket, a tangible representation of the hard work and sense of community that permeates each year’s class.

“I get to welcome every graduate from the academy. I shake their hand, we get our picture taken, and I hand them their blue jacket,” says Adams. “It really is a wonderful life.”

Even more important than the honors and accolades, graduates of DVALI will have made all-important connections ⎯ between classroom learning and practical leadership, as well as with alumni and community leaders.

“The skills that I learned through Adams Academy will be valuable throughout my whole life,” says McSweeney.

⎯ Jill Brimeyer

Nanci Ross’ research takes her from windswept mountaintops to ancient Mayan forest gardens.

As an ethnobotanist, Ross seeks evidence as to how plants in the natural world are impacted by human culture. She’s climbed above tree line to study the impact of climate change on indigenous people in the Himalayas, and has explored abandoned urban centers in Belize and Guatemala, gathering information about long-gone societies. As assistant professor of biology at Drake, Ross works to connect her expertise with opportunities on campus.

“Humans have lived as integral members of their ecosystems since our species arose and many cultures still hold that knowledge,” Ross says. “I find it helps to give students a more personalized perspective on this concept. I am not talking about some abstract culture so far away that it is almost unreal. I can show them pictures of me there, interacting with other cultures, students and scientists. It helps my students at Drake realize that this kind of work is within their reach.”

Since her arrival on campus last fall, Ross has made it her mission to reinvigorate the Pioneer Hi-bred International Greenhouse — filling the space with student projects that explore everything from heirloom tomato growth to the effect of dried, shredded cornstalk compost on squash. (Turns out you might want to consider the material as a fertilizing groundcover in your own garden.)

This fall, Ross brings her global experiences to the table in more ways than one. She is teaching a course that investigates diverse environments around the world to see how the adaptations of native plant species have been recognized and exploited by human cultures to produce unique and fascinating foodways. Students will cook shared meals based on cuisine from the regions they’re studying, such as spices from India, then MesoAmerican chocolates and chiles.

In addition to its more delicious coursework, the class also serves up practical lessons in the importance of land stewardship in contemporary culture.

“With so many forces — the increasing human population, climate change, biodiversity losses — threatening to overcome the resiliency of ecosystems to repair themselves, people often feel overwhelmed,” Ross says. “It’s important to realize how much we are actually a part of our environments and how much our culture and everyday lives are interwoven with the plant world.”

Visit www.drake.edu/magazine to see what Ross and her students are growing in Drake’s on-campus greenhouse.

— Brianne Sanchez

Carlyn Crowe, School of Journalism and Mass Communication Internship Coordinator

With an average of 18,000 people attending the Downtown Farmers’ Market every Saturday from May through October and hundreds more attending smaller farmers’ markets throughout the city, there is obvious enthusiasm for local foods and products in the Des Moines area. But even Carlyn Crowe, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s internship coordinator and adjunct instructor, and her business partners were amazed by the passionate response they received when they opened the Tallgrass Grocery Co-Op in West Des Moines last September.

“We met with consultants and they told us we would be lucky to get 200 members before we opened. We had 500 sign up in the first month. That was a sign that people were really interested in this entity,” says Crowe.

Nestled in the Valley Junction shopping district, Tallgrass Grocery Co-op provides locally grown, organic and hormone-free items to shoppers year-round. Crowe believes the enthusiasm for the co-op is derived from a desire people have to “know where their food comes from and support local producers.” Because of the plethora of farmers’ markets and roadside stands, people in Iowa are used to getting their food directly from the suppliers. Crowe says the co-op is simply an extension of that concept.

Since opening, the member-owned store has continued to add to the number of items it offers. It sells fresh produce, meats, dairy products and other merchandise from more than 80 local producers, including well-known operations such as The Homestead and Grinnell Farms as well as local artisans who make crafts like soap and teas at their home.

“We have more producers that are local than we ever thought there would be,” she says.

In addition to providing another avenue for Des Moines shoppers, the store has served as a learning opportunity for Drake students. This semester, Crowe used the co-op’s business plan to teach about small business ownership in her Business Fundamentals for Communication Professionals course. Last fall, the advertising capstone course, taught by Sandy Henry, assistant professor of journalism and mass communication, developed several conceptual creative plans to promote the co-op, and students in Crowe’s introductory public relations course developed public relations plans around those concepts. The project gave students at various stages in their Drake careers the chance to collaborate on a real-world project.

While Crowe is pleased with the opportunities her undertaking has given Drake students, she is also happy with the support the organization has received in the Des Moines community.

“I wanted to help create this entity to give people more access to fresh, healthy, local foods,” Crowe says. “I like the idea of having a community of people who support locally grown food.”