Ready to question your own reality? Come to see Mentalist, Sean Bott. You will find Sean reading your mind, make time seem to move faster or not at all, make change melt into your pocket, and make objects seem like they are moving. Sean will leave you laughing and your mind blown. Come see Sean Bott for Parent’s Weekend on Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. in Sussman Theater.
Mackenzie Ekern, Sophomore
Drake Wellness is hosting Family Yoga and POUND classes the morning of Oct. 6 for Family Weekend. Bring your parents and siblings to Yoga starting at 8:30 a.m. and to POUND starting at 10 a.m. The Bell Center will open at 8 a.m. for Yoga and will be open at 9 a.m. for open recreation. You can register through the Drake Rec app or through the IMLeagues website. This event is also a part of our Wellness bucket list. Make sure to stop by for some fitness and get one step closer to that free hat.
Drake Wellness
Resistance, Resilience, Regeneration is an event of Meskwaki art and performance, both traditional and contemporary, that tells a story about how plant and human life compare in relation to how both have overcome adversity. It is about how young indigenous people have looked to their past to know where they are going in the future.
The event will consist of an art exhibition, poetry and literature readings, traditional and contemporary dances—all by up and coming Indigenous writers and Meskwaki dancers and artists.
Resistance, Resilience, Regeneration will take place Oct. 6 from 5–8 p.m. at the Harmon Fine Arts Center, 2505 Carpenter Avenue. The art exhibition will run from 5–7 p.m. in the Weeks Gallery, located on the second floor of the foyer in the Harmon Fine Arts Center. Performances will follow in the Center’s Performing Arts Hall.
For inquires contact Angela Battle, associate professor, at angela.battle@drake.edu.
Kayla Jenkins, Arts and Sciences
Legend has it that to bless their relationship with good luck, Drake students would kiss at the rock outside Old Main. Single, it’s complicated, or taken, come help us celebrate one of the best Drake traditions, the Kissing Rock at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4. There will be games, free Drake swag, and food catered by Raising Cane’s. The Brocal Chords and Fermata in the Blue will be performing, and look out for an appearance by none other than our favorite bulldog, Griff.
Hannah Albrecht, Senior
The Principal Community Scholars Program is a collaboration between Principal and Campus Compact that supports the leadership development of undergraduate students seeking a business or business-related degree. Students are selected through a competitive process to receive a $1,000 scholarship, participate in a civic leadership learning community and complete a community-based experiential learning project. The curriculum and project help students develop critical skills for their careers. Students must be nominated by a faculty or staff member no later than Oct. 8. If you are interested, reach out to a faculty or staff member today. Read more information.
Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning and Service
Drake University’s production Theatre Durang-ed, a collection of theatre parodies written by Christopher Durang, runs Thursday, Oct. 4, through Sunday, Oct. 7, in the William S.E. Coleman Studio Theatre of Drake University’s Harmon Fine Arts Center. Performances start at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are available online, in person, or by telephone at the Fine Arts Box Office, 2525 Carpenter Ave., 515-271-3841.
Theatre Durang-ed is directed by Michael Rothmayer, Drake University associate professor of theatre arts. It includes several thought-provoking and comedic collections, including: Euripides’ Medea; Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and A Streetcar Named Desire; and Sam Shepard’s A Lie of the Mind and Fool for Love. It’s an evening of laughs intended for mature audiences only.
“The cast is made up of a great ensemble of actors,” said cast member Connor Sullivan, senior BFA musical theatre major. “Each actor plays multiple roles. I have grown as an actor throughout the rehearsal process learning how to switch quickly between characters, while making each role distinct and believable.”
According to Jack Griffin, sophomore BFA musical theatre major, the production has encouraged students to step outside of their comfort zones and immerse themselves in the world of comedy.
“The challenge with comedy is that you can’t force it to be funny,” said Griffin. “You have to take it seriously. If you try to make it funny, you’re not going to get laughs. Whereas if you take it seriously, you probably will get laughs.”
Noelle McVicar, senior BFA musical theatre major, is looking forward to seeing how the audience reacts to the production. “I think they [the audience] will be pleasantly surprised and pleasantly confused, but enjoy every second.”
Help Student Activities Board choose the artist/band for the Drake Relays concert this spring. By filling out the survey, you will be entered into a raffle for a $25 gift card. Complete the survey.
Genesis Buckhalton, Bands Co-Chair for SAB
As many of you know, Susan Ladd, director of student financial planning, retired this summer. Susan had a long and distinguished career at Drake. She has helped so many students gain access to educational opportunities and reach their goals. We celebrated her accomplishments and accolades at a gathering this summer. Susan has made a lasting impression on Drake University and we sincerely thank her and wish her joy in her retirement.
After conducting a nation-wide search, which involved representatives from financial aid and all of the colleges and schools, Ryan Zantingh has been hired as Drake’s new director of financial aid. He has more than 11 years of financial aid experience in private, higher education. For the last six years he has been the director of financial aid at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL. He has also served on the Financial Aid Commission of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, most recently as chair. In this role, he contributed to advocacy and professional development opportunities on behalf of financial aid colleagues at more than 180 member institutions. Ryan has a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity Christian College and an Master of Business Administration from Governors State University. Ryan and his wife are from Pella and they are excited to move back to Iowa. He will start in his new role on Oct. 15. Please join me in welcoming Ryan Zantingh to Drake.
Teresa Krejci, Finance and Administration
October 3: Susan Ariel Aaronson
Topic: Data-based Technologies and Trade
Location: Sussman Theater, lower level of Olmsted Center
Time: 6–7:30 p.m.
Co-Sponsor: Department of Political Science
Susan Ariel Aaronson is Research Professor of International Affairs and GWU Cross-Disciplinary Fellow at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. She is also a Senior Fellow at the think tank Center for International Governance Innovation (GIGI) in Canada. Aaronson was also the Carvalho Fellow at the Government Accountability Project and the Minerva Chair at the National War College. Aaronson’s research examines the relationship between economic change and human rights. She is currently directing projects on digital trade and protectionism, and she also works on AI and trade and a new human rights approach to data. Source: https://elliott.gwu.edu/susan-aaronson
October 8: The New Americans: Nigerians Film Screening & Community Discussion
Location: Sussman Theater, lower level of Olmsted Center
Time: 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Sponsor: Hometown Heritage
This is part of Hometown Heritage’s nine-week program series called “Becoming American: A Documentary Film and Discussion Series on Our Immigration Experience.” The series features documentary films and scholar-led discussions designed to encourage an informed discussion of immigration issues against the backdrop of our immigration history. Hometown Heritage is one of 32 sites nationwide to host this program series which is made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor. Find additional information.
October 9: CHINA Town Hall featuring an interactive webcast with the Honorable Condoleezza Rice and on-site discussion with Prof. Wenfang Tang
Location: Sussman Theater, lower level of Olmsted Center
Time: 5–6:30 p.m.
CHINA Town Hall provides Americans the opportunity to participate in a national conversation about issues in the U.S.-China relationship, via an interactive webcast and in-person discussion with leading experts. Join the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations for a conversation on China featuring the Honorable Condoleezza Rice, Former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor.
The webcast will feature Secretary Condoleezza Rice, currently the Denning Professor in Global Business and the Economy at the Standford Graduate School of Business, Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution, and professor of Political Science at Stanford University. She is also a founding partner of RiceHadleyGates, LLC. From January 2005 to 2009, Secretary Rice served as the 66th Secretary of State of the United States, the second woman and the first African American woman to hold the post. She also served as President George W. Bush’s Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (National Security Advisor) from January 2001 to 2005, the first woman to hold the position.
The webcast will be followed by an in-person discussion with Wenfang Tang, the Unversity of Iowa’s Stanley Hua Hsia Professor of Political Science and International Studies. His current research focuses on public opinion and political change in contemporary China, as well as comparative political behavior. He has authored and coauthored several books and many articles in academic journals.
Denise Ganpat, Drake International
The Engaged Citizen Experience (ECE) seeks to mobilize the entire campus community to discuss a critical theme or global issue. In order to create an integrated experience, the ECE is a blend of academic and co-curricular programming. New courses and existing courses are designed to engage students in the exploration of an annual theme. This 2019 theme for the Engaged Citizen Experience is Migration.
This academic year, the ECE is partnering with Drake International, the Nelson Institute for Diplomacy & International Affairs, the Principal Center for Global Citizenship, the Office of Community Engaged Learning, and The Harkin Institute to present a new signature event, the Global Citizen Forum. The Forum is scheduled for March 7-8, 2019, and will invite participants to explore the topic of migration through a series of events including documentary film, an undergraduate student research symposium, a dynamic keynote speaker, and an experiential activism workshop in partnership with local community agencies.
While we are still in the process of finalizing exact details, we wanted to share this initiative now so that you can:
We appreciate your support as we create opportunities for our students to become engaged and responsible global citizens.
Melissa Sturm-Smith, Engaged Citizen Experience, and Jeffrey Kappen, Nelson Institute for Diplomacy & International Affairs