All posts by Ashton Hockman

Featured Events Archive

Lots of Laughs at Theatre Durang-ed

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.”

 

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Welcome Ryan Zantingh

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 

Featured Events Archive

Drake International upcoming events

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  

For Faculty Archive

Inaugural Global Citizen Forum

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:

  • Consider including Forum participation as part of your Spring 2019 courses.
  • Encourage students to submit high quality papers from this semester for presentation during the student Symposium.
  • Reflect on proposals you might create for concurrent sessions during the Symposium.
  • Submit other ideas for consideration as we design this inaugural edition of the Forum.

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

Featured Events Archive

Men’s Basketball Blue and White Game

Get your first glimpse of the 2018-19 Drake Men’s Basketball team in the Blue and White Scrimmage presented by TrueNorth on Sunday, Oct. 7, at 2 p.m. Admission is free. All fans are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to support the Food Bank of Iowa. In addition, each fan in attendance will receive a ticket voucher for the Bulldogs’ home opener on Nov. 8.

For more information please contact the Drake Athletics Ticket Office at 515-271-3647 or visit GoDrakeBulldogs.com.

Ryan Harris, Athletics

Featured Events Archive

This Week in Drake Athletics

Volleyball
Drake vs. Bradley
Friday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m.
The Knapp Center

Football
Drake vs. Butler
Saturday, Oct. 6, at 1 p.m.
Drake Stadium

Volleyball
Drake vs. Illinois State
Saturday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m.
The Knapp Center

Men’s Soccer
Drake vs. Omaha
Saturday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m.
Cownie Soccer Complex

Men’s Basketball
Drake Blue/White Scrimmage
Sunday, Oct. 7, at 2 p.m.
The Knapp Center

Volleyball
Drake vs. Indiana State
Monday, Oct. 8, at 6 p.m.
The Knapp Center

For additional information and complete schedules, visit GoDrakeBulldogs.com or contact the Drake Athletics Ticket Office at 515-271-3647.

Ryan Harris, Athletics

For Students Archive

Protecting Information: It’s up to all of us

This year, attackers will target Drake, and you, in an attempt to steal information. The actions that each of us take on a daily basis make the difference in stopping these attacks from succeeding.

Each of us have the ability—and responsibility—to protect this information at work, on campus, and at home. Beginning this October during National Cyber Security Awareness Month and continuing through the coming year, ITS will be emphasizing how to protect confidential information through OnCampus, Twitter, new campus initiatives, and the ITS website.

Here are a few of the upcoming cyber security educational opportunities:

  • Attend a Tech Tuesday Session. Learn about how and why attackers are targeting you, and what you can to do to keep your information protected. Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m. in Olmsted, TMR132. Sign up at drake.edu/its/techtuesdays.
  • Follow @DrakeITServices on Twitter. You’ll get tips on keeping yourself safe online and learn about our upcoming events and other ITS news.
  • Participate in the ITS Phishing Quiz. Visit drake.edu/its/phish between Oct. 22 and Nov. 2 to take the quiz. You will learn more about how to keep yourself safe online, and be entered to win one of 10 prize packages. The first 500 students to complete the quiz will automatically win a taco courtesy of Taco Johns. Also, stop by the ITS table in the Olmsted breezeway on Oct. 23 or Oct. 29 between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. or on Oct. 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. to answer an IT security question and win further prizes.

Please reach out with any questions or concerns related to the protection of information.

Peter Lundstedt, ITS

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Protecting Information: It’s up to all of us

This year, attackers will target Drake, and you, in an attempt to steal information. The actions that each of us take on a daily basis make the difference in stopping these attacks from succeeding.

Each of us have the ability—and the responsibility—to protect information at work, on campus, and at home. Beginning this October during National Cyber Security Awareness Month and continuing through the coming year, ITS will be emphasizing how to protect confidential information through OnCampus, Twitter, new campus initiatives, and the ITS website.

Here are a few of the upcoming cyber security educational opportunities:

  • Attend a Tech Tuesday Session. Learn about how and why attackers are targeting you, and what you can to do to keep your information protected. Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 10 a.m. in Olmsted TMR132. Sign up at drake.edu/its/techtuesdays.
  • Follow @DrakeITServices on Twitter. You’ll get tips on keeping yourself safe online and learn about our upcoming events and other ITS news.
  • Participate in phishing education. ITS sends out simulated phishing emails to faculty and staff members each month as a risk-free way to learn about the dangers of phishing. Watch OnCampus for additional information.

ITS is working on several extensive information security initiatives, with the broad goals of reducing account compromises and preventing data theft. One of the smaller changes within these initiatives is moving individual online contact information into myDrake. On Oct. 22, the directory at drake.edu/directory will only contain main departmental contact information. The new directory will be accessible from the Campus Directory link under the Commonly Used Apps section in myDrake.

I look forward to working with many of you on the upcoming initiatives and changes. Please reach out with any questions or inquiries related to the protection of information.

Peter Lundstedt, ITS

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Upgrading to Mac OS Mojave on Drake-owned Mac Computers

ITS typically allows campus users to update their Drake-owned computer after the first or second point release of a new operating system (OS). This allows the company, in this case, Apple, to fix the bugs and security issues in the operating system. It also allows ITS to thoroughly test the new OS to ensure compatibility with Drake systems. Since there is no way to rollback an operating system, we must be careful when authorizing system updates. If you would like to upgrade to OS Mojave we can make exceptions, but it should be understood that IT support is best effort only. To request an exception, please submit a request for an Operating System Upgrade.

Jerome Hilscher, ITS