Registration is officially open for fall intramural sports and special events! Sign up for 3-on-3 or CoRec Basketball, 4v4 Flag Football, or join us for the Bags Tournament and Bulldog Run/Walk during Parents Weekend.

All registrations are handled through IMLeagues via the DrakeRec App. Don’t miss these upcoming deadlines:

• Bags Tournament: Sept. 30
• Bulldog Run/Walk: Oct. 3
• 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament: Oct. 14 at 4 p.m.
• CoRec Basketball League: Oct. 15
• 4v4 Flag Football League: Oct. 15

Download the DrakeRec App today to secure your spot!

Many personal safety risks can be reduced through simple habits and increased awareness. Whether you’re in a residence hall, parking lot, classroom, or walking across campus, taking a few precautions can make a significant difference.

Residence Halls and Offices

• Never prop open exterior doors.
• Do not allow strangers to enter secured buildings behind you.
• Keep your room or office door locked when unattended.
• Report damaged locks or doors immediately.

Parking Lots

• Have your keys ready before reaching your vehicle.
• Stay alert and avoid distractions such as texting while walking.
• Park in well-lit areas whenever possible.
• If something feels wrong, return to a populated area and contact Public Safety.

Walking on Campus

• Use well-lit, established pathways.
• Stay aware of your surroundings.
• Avoid headphones at volumes that limit awareness.
• Keep your phone accessible, but avoid becoming distracted by it.
• Trust your instincts if a situation feels unsafe.

Nighttime Travel Tips

• Avoid walking alone whenever possible.
• Travel with friends, classmates, or coworkers.
• Let someone know your destination and expected arrival time.
• Stay in well-lit areas and avoid shortcuts through isolated locations.
• If you feel uncomfortable, contact Public Safety or utilize Safe Ride transportation services.

One of the best crime-prevention strategies is avoiding isolation. Safety is enhanced when people look out for one another, especially during evening hours.

By combining awareness, preparation, and good judgment, each of us can help maintain a safe campus environment.

— Scott Law, Executive Director, Public Safety & Operational Services

Drake University is proud to be highlighted as part of the IMT Des Moines Marathon, on Sunday, Oct. 18. The famed ‘Blue Oval’ and the Drake campus will be part of the race around the mile 9 marker. Both DPS and DMPD staff will be here to ensure a safe racecourse.

The IMT Marathon will place runners in and around Drake from 8:30 – 11:30 am. Please expect traffic disruptions both near campus and throughout the racecourse.

For more information on the IMT Des Moines Marathon and course, please click this Des Moines Marathon 2026.

— Scott Law, Executive Director, Public Safety & Operational Services

Join us this October as we celebrate a century of science fiction and stop by University Archives to check out a new exhibit curated by Rod Henshaw, Dean Emeritus, Cowles Library.

Celebrating a Century of Science Fiction: The Legacy of Amazing Stories is on display Oct. 1–31 on the second floor of Cowles Library, outside Drake University Archives & Special Collections.

2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Amazing Stories, the first magazine devoted entirely to science fiction, founded under the editorship of Hugo Gernsback. The pulp magazines of the 1920s and ’30s became a proving ground for science fiction writers, and by the early 1940s, the genre had entered its “Golden Age,” with Astounding Science Fiction, under editor John W. Campbell, hosting writers such as Robert A. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, A. E. van Vogt, and Arthur C. Clarke.

These magazines also drew a devoted fan base known as “First Fandom,” who held the first World Science Fiction Convention in 1939 in New York City. “Worldcon” continues today, drawing tens of thousands of fans each year.

Among the 1939 attendees was a young Ray Bradbury, destined for one of the greatest literary careers of any American author. His works, including The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, and The October Country, became literary classics and helped propel science fiction into a global cultural phenomenon.

— Hope Bibens, Dean, Cowles Library

Interested in the latest development updates around campus? Here is where three key local construction projects currently stand:

• Drake Village (31st & University): As part of a $23.9 million project, Dev Partners is preparing to renovate the Ross, Norman, and McCoy buildings. Construction is slated to begin this winter, with target completion in 2029. A future phase of the project will add three brand-new buildings.
• Valo (25th & Carpenter): Following previous delays, Merge Urban Development Group expects to restart construction later this year. Check out the newly posted signs on-site to view rendering concepts for the property.
• Home2Suites: Exterior work is moving forward, with most of the front brickwork now removed in preparation for replacement. Nelson Construction expects all work to wrap up—and scaffolding to come down—by late 2026.

— Nate Reagen, Office of the President

Drake University Law School will host “Advocacy in Action: Law, Religion, and Social Justice” on  Oct. 8 at 3 p.m., bringing together Drake Law Professor Sally Frank, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner and Rita Bettis Austen for a reflection on their unique leadership journeys at the intersection of civil rights, faith and legal reform.

This event is free and open to the public and will be held in the James Albert classroom (213) in Cartwright Hall. Registration is required. Register here: https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/registration-form/?formId=6559190f-9e0b-44d4-bea1-cf49a8433a15&envId=p-5q02DJVwcU2zacASsSW7Ig&zone=usa

The event will also recognize Frank’s retirement from her 35-year career at Drake Law School. Throughout her career, Frank has served as a teacher, scholar and advocate for justice and civil rights. Princeton University named a campus café in her honor, recognizing her landmark sex discrimination case challenging the university’s all-male eating clubs. She began that fight at just 19 years old as an undergraduate; 13 years later, as a young professor at Drake Law, she saw it through to a precedent-setting victory for gender equity on Princeton’s campus.

Joining Frank for the discussion is Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and senior vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose work focuses on bringing communities together to advocate for social justice. Rita Bettis Austen, legal director of the ACLU of Iowa, brings extensive experience in civil rights advocacy, helping to promote and protect the rights and freedoms for all Iowans.

“Professor Frank provided a role model for countless Drake Law students for how to use the law as a force for justice,” Drake Law School Dean Jerry Anderson said. “Her advocacy for the less fortunate was passionate, constant, and effective.”

A reception honoring Frank’s retirement will follow the program from 4 to 5 p.m. in Kern Commons.

About Drake University Law School

Drake Law School was founded in Des Moines in 1865, making it one of the 25 oldest law schools in the country. The Law School was established by Iowa Supreme Court justices George Wright and Chester Cole, who aimed to teach law in proximity to the courts so students could witness the law in action. From the very beginning, Drake Law School focused on real and practical experience. Today the Law School continues to build on that tradition and provide opportunities for service, leadership, and the pursuit of rewarding careers. Learn more about the Drake Law School.

— Taylor Johnson, Law School