Aras Dailide

Name: Aras Dailide

Birthday: November 2, 1988 (Scorpio)

Class: Sophomore

Major: Public Relations (has switched majors four times in two years) “I switched majors the second day of class,” Aras said. “I think I’ve set the record.”

Hometown: Flossmoor, IL “It’s ironic because my dad is dentist,” Aras said.

Tid-bits:
- Currently learning to DJ, mixing and overlaying music. “I can’t dance. I’d rather make music for other people to dance,” Aras said. “That way I still look cool without making an idiot out of myself.”
- Played hockey for eight years
- Hasn’t taken his Māori necklace from New Zealand off for four years (a symbolizes power, leadership and safe journey over water)

Religious views: “I was born and raised Catholic and because of that I’m atheist,” Aras said.
Political views: “Incredibly liberal,” Aras said.

Job plan: Corporate attorney
Dream job: A music columnist for the Chicago Tribune. “I would love to just go around watching shows, meeting bands and writing reviews on them.” Aras said, “But it’s practicality versus dream. It’s would be fun because it is a dream.”
What he does for fun: reading, swimming, jet skiing, people watching. “I like making ridiculous judgments about people that cannot be proven whatsoever,” Aras said, “Like, ‘He seems like the person who puts his left sock on before his right.’”

Current book rave: “Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs” by Chuck Klosterman

Phobias: spiders, clowns, and germs “I’m the weird kid that carries Purell in his backpack,” Aras said. “My way of procrastinating is cleaning my entire dorm room. I’ll be running around and vacuuming with a DustBuster. Whenever I hang out at someone’s house, I inevitably end up cleaning it.”

Body alterations: five ear piercings, two tattoos (Right shoulder blade: a single angle wing. Left arm: the Fleur-De-Lis, a French symbol for royalty)

Can’t live without: Caffeine. “I remember stealing coffee from my mom when I was like four,” Aras said.

Pet: Siamese cat named Mugen “He rides around on my shoulders,” Aras said. “I’m like big poppa cat to him. He’s my baby. I love my cat.”

Pet peeve: Bad grammar

Favorite thing about Des Moines: “The fact that there is never an actual rush hour,” Aras said.

Role model: His sister, “She has kind of raised me,” Aras said. “She has been a major influence on who I am, how I act, what I do. She’s the most independent person I know.”

Longest hair length: to his shoulders (ninth grade) “I was trying to make it look like someone from a band but it didn’t work,” Aras said. “I straightened it but I have really frizzy hair. Apparently I looked like a dog. A big shaggy dog.”

If he could do anything for a day: “Sit in a coffee shop and watch the world go by,” Aras said.

Secret talent: “I love to cook. I find it really relaxing,” Aras said. (He began creating his own cooking recipes when he was eight years old)

Personal recipe favorite: Cajun chicken Alfredo sauce. “I need to find a good name for it other than what my mom calls it, which is ‘Chicken Surprise,’” Aras said.

If he could change something about Drake: The parking. “I got $250 in tickets last semester,” Aras said, “But it’s still cheaper for me to pay tickets than to buy a pass.”

If he could change something about the world: Pregitious people. “When people look down on other people for things that other people can’t help or control,” Aras said, “They have no reason or basest.”

If he could change something about himself: “I wish I were more assertive,” Aras said. “I’m rarely the one who makes a move to meet somebody.”

Ultimate goal in life: “Be happy,” Aras said. “That sounds really generic, but that’s all you can really hope for.”

Where to find him: Goodwin-Kirk dormitory (where he lives) or the Bell fitness center (in the afternoons) “I go wherever the day takes me,” Aras said. “I never have a set plan. I just go with it.”

Looking for: Fun. “That’s probably my biggest motivator for everything.”

Lindsey White

Name: Lindsey White
Birthday: July 1, 1987 (Cancer)
Born and raised: Albuquerque, New Mexico
How you know her: wife of Drake basketball player, Alex White
School: online courses through University of New Mexico
Major: Early Childhood Education

Tidbits:
Played basketball for Cochise College in Arizona
Mother of 18-month-old JaiShon Alexander
Daughter of a pastor

Job: loan processor at Wells Fargo Financial

Plans after graduation: open a daycare and private Christian school in New Mexico called “Covenant Academy”

What she does for fun: shopping, getting her nails done (Foxy Nails in Des Moines) and going out to dinner

Favorite food: crab legs with butter and lemon

Favorite animal: panda bears

Movie: Love & Basketball

Favorite place to be: “In Albuquerque I have this spot in the volcanos that I like to go to,” Lindsey said, “You can see the whole city from there.”

Her getaway: the shower “I could take a shower for hours. It’s my only escape from Jai & Alex,” Lindsey said. “Alex laughs at me because I’ll take like three showers a day.”

Obsession: Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Favorite Book: “The Coldest Winter Ever” by Sister Souljah

Favorite Magazine: Vogue

Favorite Drink: Fiji Water

If she could meet anyone: Kimora Le Simmons

Pet peeve: “I hate it when people finish my sentences,” Lindsey said.

Biggest fear: disappointing JaiShon

Talent: braiding hair “I’ve been doing my own braids since my sophomore year of high school.”

Her idol: Shayna (a friend) “She is a single mom and she helped me a lot when Alex was here [in Des Moines] last year.”

Best day of her life: the day JaiShon was born (Sept. 16, 2007)
Worst day of her life: senior prom “We got kicked out because we got caught with alcohol,” Lindsey said. “We didn’t even get to drink it and we had to pour it all out. It was horrible.”

If she could change one thing about the world: Never snow or get below 70 degrees
If she could change one thing about herself: “Be more motivated at work,” she said, “but try not to be such a perfectionist at the same time.”

Ultimate goal in life: to get JaiShon through college and ensure he has everything he needs

Life philosophy: “roll with the punches”

Where to meet her: Hy-Vee Drugstore “I swear I’m there like 7 times a week,” Lindsey said.

What gets her attention: someone’s ability to have fun

Looking for: girlfriends “So I don’t have to just hang out with [the boys basketball team] all the time.”

David- The Guy with the Orange Headset and War Sign

*personal picture requested to be held

Name: David (last name undisclosed)
Age: 50 +
Current residence: Des Moines, IA
Education: BA/MA in Spanish
Life Philosophy: “Be good; do good.”

Tidbits:
-carries a recorder everywhere
-a self-acclaimed humanitarian activist
-is in waiting to return to Europe “I have things to thresh out here first,” David said.
-said to be “blacklisted” from Spain

What he does for fun: reading short stories, taking photos (has over a thousand), making juices, and gardening

Favorite thing in Des Moines: the Travelers umbrella sign in Downtown, Des Moines

Pet peeve: mass media establishment and coverage over Gaza

His past:
-lived in Madrid, Spain for over 25 years
-has been arrested over six times
-was beat up by a gang in Chicago and twice by the Spanish police
-has had two fiancés, but never married

Favorite food: raw food

Sinful treat: Great Harvest Bakery (on 28th Street)

Favorite magazine: Washington Report On Middle East Affairs

Favorite book: Walden by Henry David Thoreau
“Any person that reads Walden has his or her life changed,” David said, “It made me aware of the universe.”

Favorite movies: “People Like Us”, “Born into Brothels”, and “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill” (available at Cowles library)

Why he carries the orange bag: The orange is for protection while walking at night. (He has been hit before)

Why he wears the orange headset: “For warmth, to keep my hair in place when the wind blows a lot, and to test my hearing,” David said. “I’ll have a conversation with them on and usually I can carry on a conversation perfectly if the other person is speaking reasonably well.”

Why the hair and beard: He has been growing it out since June 12, 1998 (the last day of his 16 weeks in immigration detention, when he was deported back to the U.S.)
“It is sort of a protest, but it just sort of happened.” David said. “It reminds me of who I am.” He plans to continue growing his hair and beard out until he returns to Spain.

Why he chose Drake: “I went by in a bus and saw that the library was open,” David said.

What he does at Cowles library: write complaint reports, watch films, and read magazines or short stories “The most important thing above all is to make sure my energy, health and optimism levels are ideal,” David said. “So I can’t fault myself for getting too little done.”

If he could change something about Drake: “Five years for the price of four,” David said, “It would lighten up and enrich the lives of so many students.”

If he could change something about the world: “Imagine all the good that will come to the planet the day when, at long last, the United States is taken to an international tribunal for war crimes,” David said.

Where to meet him: Cowles library, every evening till 12:45 am.

Ashleigh Brady

Name: Ashleigh Brady

Nickname: A.B.

Birthday: Oct. 23, 1986 (Scorpio)

Hometown: Lubbock, Texas

Major: Graphic Design and Advertising

Class: Senior

Activities/Clubs: Drake women’s basketball team, Sports Business Association (SBA)

Tidbits:
-has a tattoo of a chi-rho cross on left side of lower back. “It’s a symbol of not being ashamed of who I am,” Ashleigh said.
-loves to dance
-has a phobia of falling
-teased for having a “mixed breed” accent. “It’s Tex-Iowan,” Ashleigh said.

Favorite movie: Pretty Woman (recent: Slumdog Millionaire)

Favorite restaurant: Nut Pob

Pet peeve: “Hypocrites,” Ashleigh said. “Even though I am one at times.”

What she does for fun: “Hanging out with my friends doing anything, everything and absolutely nothing.”

Favorite clothing item: sweat pants or her American Eagle cardigan

Favorite colors: black and lime green

Role Model: “My Nana. She’s had to deal with so many struggles and adversities with being a single mom,” Ashleigh said. “She’s the most positive, nonjudgmental, caring woman I have ever met in my entire life.”

Ultimate dream day: to travel Europe and see Rome. “I would go look at all the surrounding architecture,” Ashleigh said. “I’m an architect junky.”

If she could change one thing about Drake: heated sidewalks. “So that nobody slips and falls,” Ashleigh said.

If she could change one thing about the world: “To make people understand that we’re all different. And that our differences are what make us all so beautiful and unique and great,” Ashleigh said. “Just because someone is different from you doesn’t mean that they’re wrong or bad. We just have different lifestyles and cultures and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.”

Message to the world: listen to “What’s Going On” by the MTV All Stars

Ultimate goal in life: to have an impact on as many people as possible

Where to find her: the Knapp Center, the computer area in Cowles library, and lunch at Hubbell Dining Hall at 12 p.m. during the week

What gets her attention: smiling, confident, happy people

Looking for: “Meeting people at Drake,” Ashleigh said, “People I’ve overlooked because I’ve been too ‘busy.’ I’d like to meet anybody and everybody.”

Melyvn Henley

Name: Melvyn Henley

Birthday: May 5, 1987 (Taurus)

Major: Public Relations

Class: Senior

Plans after graduation: To work internationally with sports and entertainment

Born and raised: Chicago, Ill.

Family: Only child of a foster mother. (He has lived with over 15 different foster children.)

Drake activities/clubs: Intramurals, Coalition of Black Students, Drake University International Travel (DUIT) Club

Life philosophy: “You can’t force it. You have to let it come to you and enjoy life at the moment.”

Tidbits:
-Studied in Australia and China last year
-Has a 3-ring binder he fills with graffiti drawings
-Loves old classics and black and white films (Some Like It Hot)

What he does for fun: Visiting art museums, talking with people, skateboarding and cooking

Favorite animal: Rhinoceros

Favorite food: Lasagna

Favorite place to be: “A noisy place,” Melvyn said, “I perform better in a noisy, chaotic environment. I find comfort in noise.”

Hidden talent: Jumping rope. “When I was in elementary school it was one of those things you learned how to do if you wanted to talk to girls,” Melvyn said. “It has stayed with me throughout the years.”

What makes his day: Twizzlers, Root Beer, and Cream Soda. “They’re essentials to my life.”

Pet peeve: Talking with your mouth full

Passion: Skateboard culture. “From the music to their art. They just live life and enjoy it,” Melvyn said, “They test the extremes of life and danger.”

Sub-passion: Graffiti. “It’s able to grab you and make you stop and take a look at it and try to figure out what exactly its saying,” Melvyn said.

Graffiti tag name: Point. “In grammar school I was known as one of the smarty kids, so they use to call me Point Dexter.”

First graffiti vision: “My name (Point) with a guy in a mirror pointing to himself.”

If he could change one thing about Drake: “There needs to be more randomness on campus,” Melvyn said. “The faculty should plan stuff without the students knowing and you just have to experience it.”

If he could change one thing about the world: “I would make mean, pessimistic people go to an island very, very far away.”

Ultimate goal in life: “Live like a rockstar; die like a saint.”

Where to meet him: The Bell Center (Tuesday-Saturday around 6 pm), or anywhere around campus. “I’m the guy with the dreads and glasses.”

What gets his attention: “Shoes. I have a thing for shoes- sneakers and kicks. I own about 25 plus pairs of shoes,” Melvyn said. “I have more shoes than my mother.”

Looking for: Girlfriend. “Someone with a sense of humor, who likes to experience new things, and live life on the edge. I like the edgier girls,” Melvyn said.
And nice shoes are a plus.

Robert Kravolec

Birthday: Feb 22, 1986 (Pisces)

Major: magazine journalism

Class: senior

Home: Sonoma, California

Before Drake: spent 2 years in France working at a bookstore, traveling, swimming, and drinking wine

Plans after graduation: to write a fictional novel in Minnesota

Title at Drake: Editor-in-Chief of Periphery

Tidbits:
-fluent in French and speaks a little Italian
-read five books this past week
-carries small beige and black Moleskine notebooks everywhere he goes. “The black ones have deeper, more honest thoughts.”

Favorite place to be: Paris Metro in France. “You get to see people at their worst and their best. You’re always shoved up against someone and they always smell- good or bad. Maybe it’s a pretty girl or maybe it’s a homeless man with knives in his pockets.”

Why you should suck up to him:
-He can teach you to salsa dance.
-He learned to cook from his dad, who is a French chef. “I love to cook.”

What he does for fun: reading, writing, playing blues harmonica, going to blues and jazz concerts, and people watching

Favorite book: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

Family member he is closest with: black mutt named Jacques

Passion: typewriters- he owns over 30. “When I sit down to write on a typewriter I feel like I’ve picked up where I left off,” Robert said. “I feel like I’m home.”

If he could change something about himself: “I would have fists like Rocky Balboa,” Robert laughs. “But really, I would like to take the carpal tunnel out of my wrists.” (which he got from typewriting)

If he could change something about Drake: “I would have them fly in seafood. I would have a personal jet filled with fish.”

If he could change one thing about the world: “I would tone down technology. I wouldn’t make it obsolete, but I would definitely tone it down.”

Ultimate goal in life: “I want to feel like I have just eaten a good meal and I’m read to go to sleep.”

Where to find him: Half Price Books (Clive, Ia), Django (a French restaurant in Des Moines), or writing or sleeping in the chairs in Cowles Library

What gets his attention: “Mannerisms- how a person holds their spoon or pen. If it’s something different than what I’ve seen before it can be attractive, whether it’s something said or done physically.”

Looking for: a road bike and, of course, typewriters

15 Minutes of Fame

Everyone you pass is a closed book. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry, some can bring inspiration, some could change your life, and some may only be good for sticking under your wobbly coffee table. They all have different covers. And they all have different stories. But you may never know it.

The "don't talk to strangers" lecture has been ground into us so fine we don't even remember we're too big to be kidnapped. You go to the supermarket, bustle up and down the isles, then wait in the checkout line in silence, flipping through a tabloid. You wouldn’t dare make eye contact, let alone take interest in the person next to you. They might climb into your cart, release their 10-foot tongue, and steal your coupons.

Since when are we a society that keeps to ourselves? Maybe if we each got 15 minutes of fame we would start taking interest in each other. Then we might stop investing our time in celebrity worlds and start investing in those around us. Then maybe we will realize that we're all not so bad after all. And that each of us is actually pretty damn amazing.

If we start getting to know every single person we encounter everyday- we are suddenly no longer alone. We are suddenly all on the same side. You never know what, or who, you are missing. You never know when you will need someone. Or someone will need you. It's time to get to know each other, starting now.