The white minivan was in the area of the occupational therapy building (30th and Forest) on Friday, Oct. 7, between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. The person in the photo is believed to have been in Drake parking lots between Oct. 8 and Oct. 13 wandering around.
We believe the operator of the white minivan, as well as the individual in the picture, may have information to help us resolve several vehicle-related crimes on campus.
Please note we are only looking to identify these individuals; we are not stating that they are responsible for any recent incidents on campus at this time.
If you recognize the vehicle or see the individual in the picture on campus, please contact Drake Public Safety immediately at 515-271-2222.
— Scott Law, Executive Director, Public Safety & Operational Services
University Communications and Marketing is sponsoring a Professional Headshot Day Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Old Main, Room 115. The sessions are free to all faculty, staff, students. High-resolution portraits are made available for download through SmugMug.
Please sign up for a time slot. Click the Register button on the University calendar page. Space is limited.
Due to the cold overnight temperatures, HVAC staff began the process of switching campus buildings from cooling to heating mode. By the end of the day (Oct. 18), residence halls will be switched over to heating.
HVAC staff will continue working to transition the rest of campus buildings to heat, which should be completed by the end of the week.
Due to the unique piping infrastructure of our buildings, bringing our heating systems online is much more complicated than simply flipping a switch. The University’s heating and cooling system consists of miles of underground pipes which are filled with steam to heat and chilled water to cool, but not both at the same time. For this reason, the process to change buildings from cooling to heating, is a manual and labor-intensive process due to the need to drain and refill the pipes.
The University is pleased to formally announce that the Center for Public Democracy, one of the priorities Drake is advancing through The Ones: Drake’s Campaign for the Brave & Bold, will be co-directed by Rachel Paine Caufield, department co-chair and professor of political science; Renée Cramer, deputy provost for academic affairs and law, politics, and society professor; and Scott Raecker, executive director of The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center. Caufield, Cramer, and Raecker will lead the Center in addition to their current responsibilities at Drake.
The three co-executive directors are the champions of the Center for Public Democracy Big Idea that brought the concept to realization. They are working to achieve a shared vision: to build upon Drake’s already strong tradition of civic engagement to create a hub for democratic discourse, dialogue, and action focused on supporting a healthy democracy.
Caufield said she sees Drake being a place where policy is created, where practitioners gather, and where students are involved in it all. “It positions Drake as a convener,” she said.
Rachel Paine Caufield, department co-chair and professor of political science
“I’m not sure there has ever been a greater appetite in contemporary society for solutions to help our democracy function,” said Raecker. “Drake is already owning this space. The Center for Public Democracy will formalize it, help it grow, and engage more Drake students in our efforts.”
Scott Raecker, executive director of The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center
“Drake is a place where people can come to learn to have the difficult and crucial conversations that democracy requires,” said Cramer. “We are located in the center of the political universe and can be an example of behavior in a healthy democracy.”
Renée Cramer, deputy provost for academic affairs and law, politics, and society professor
The Center for Public Democracy seeks to generate and disseminate knowledge about American democracy through sponsored events, initiatives, research, and hands-on opportunities for students to engage in the political process. One of its initiatives is The Public Democracy Scholars program—making Drake the school of choice for politically minded high school students. The four-year program will prepare students to be civic leaders through dedicated coursework and immersive engagement.
The Center for Public Democracy will host the first annual National Civility Summit for Local Government on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. The online summit is organized in partnership with the National League of Cities and the Iowa League of Cities. Registration for the event is open.
Also in the works is a summer institute with the theme, “Talking Politics, Practicing Democracy.” The event will bring together civic leaders, policy makers, journalists, scientists, activists, scholars, and citizens. Additionally, it will include leadership training for high school students who will actively engage in the institute with summit participants.
University Communications and Marketing is sponsoring a Professional Headshot Day Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Old Main, Conference Room 115. The sessions are free to all faculty, staff, students. High-resolution portraits are made available for download through SmugMug.
Please sign up for a time slot. Click the Register button on the University calendar page. Space is limited.
—Jimmy Hoover, University Communications and Marketing
Drake will hold fire drills Oct. 19, 20, 21, and 24 in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act and in conjunction with National Fire Prevention month. All drills will be conducted at 10:45 a.m. with the exception of the residence halls, which will be conducted from 6 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 24. We have planned this to minimize disruption to classes, and the majority of academic buildings will be completed the week of fall break. This also allows us to have a more efficient utilization of our staff for these drills. The residence halls will be done from 6–9 p.m. to increase participation in the residence hall evacuation.
Fire alarms will be activated in all campus buildings to signal the start of the drill. When the alarm sounds:
Evacuate the building.
Buildings will be locked down and cannot be re-entered until the drill ends.
Remember to dress accordingly.
The fire drills will be coordinated through the Office of Public Safety (271-2222) working with the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (271-3804) and Facilities Planning and Management (271-2706). Please report any fire alarm malfunctions or evacuation problems to Facilities or Public Safety. Your cooperation in this very important campus safety exercise regarding the Drake University Emergency Response Plan is appreciated.
Fire drill schedule:
Oct. 19 Cowles Opperman Cartwright Harmon Fine Arts Center Howard Carnegie SJMC at 25th
The Office of Alumni Relations reaffirms Drake’s commitment to diversity by recognizing and nurturing different identities. In 2020, we committed to fostering community between our diverse students and alumni. This week Alumni Relations will host two receptions to welcome our LGBTQ+ and BIPOC students to campus for another great year! These welcome receptions serve to create community among diverse students, alumni, faculty, and staff. For students, this is an opportunity to meet individuals like you who have been where you are. And of course, there will also be refreshments!
On Tuesday, Sept. 20 from 6:30–9 p.m., we welcome all LGBTQ+ students, alumni, and faculty/staff to the Alumni House (2700 University Ave) for Rainbow Welcome, and then on Thursday, Sept. 22, from 6:30–9 p.m., we welcome all BIPOC students, alumni, and faculty/staff to the Alumni House for the BIPOC Student/Alumni Welcome.
A new outdoor mural in Dogtown created by artist Jill Wells, a 2005 Drake graduate, will be unveiled Oct. 1 from 6–9 p.m. at xBK live, 1159 24th Street, Des Moines.
The unveiling event will include:
6 p.m. – reception with Dough Co. Pizza 6:30 p.m. – interactive performance live photoshoot 7:30 p.m. – Live DJ 9 p.m. – Mural unveiling ends
The mural captures the spirit of music, Black entrepreneurship, and community success. The Iowa Department for the Blind is creating a Braille description of the mural, to be kept on-site at xBk. The musical muse in the mural is Gabriella Wilson, known professionally as H.E.R., an acronym for “Having Everything Revealed.” Wilson is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and musician.
Students, below are some important reminders related to COVID-19.
If you test positive for COVID-19 or have COVID-19 symptoms, complete this form. The form contains more details on the University’s COVID-19 protocols.
Free, self-administered COVID-19 tests are available at the Student Services Center in Olmsted. Test kits are accepted between 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday–Friday.
For more information on the University’s COVID response, see a list of FAQ’s.
On Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. at Drake University’s Sheslow Auditorium, Iowa PBS will host a premiere screening of Governors of Iowa: Robert D. Ray. A widely respected political leader, Governor Robert D. Ray is known for an even-handed approach to governing Iowa. His lasting legacy of welcoming refugees during the late 1970s forever changed the cultural fabric of the state. A panel discussion will follow the screening. RSVP for free: https://bit.ly/3DdzLR4.
