On April 12–14, Drake will host the sixth annual Iowa Interfaith Conference (IIC), this time in conjunction with the regional conference of the upper-Midwest American Academy of Religion (UWMAAR) on April 12–13.

These conferences will feature site visits (on Friday evening, Saturday evening, and Sunday morning/afternoon) and panels and keynotes (on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning and afternoon). The on-campus events will be held in Meredith Hall.

Here, in brief, is the schedule for both events. (Also see below for detailed schedules of each and attire/etiquette information about the site visits.)

FRIDAY, APRIL 12
-3:30 pm: reception
-4:00-5:15 pm: first session (panels 1 & 2)
-6:00-6:45: Visit to Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Iowa (33916 155th Ln, Madrid)
-7:00-8:30: Visit to Islamic and Education Center: Bosniak (17630 Bosniak Ln, Granger), dinner
-9:00: Ice Cream social at Drake Diner

SATURDAY, APRIL 13
-7:45: breakfast
-8:15-9:30: second session (panels 3, 4 & 5)
-9:30: coffee break
-10:00-11:15: plenary address: Dr. Douglas Kries, “Religions and Their Communities: Is Religion Friend or Foe?”
-11:15-11:45: lunch
-11:45-1:00: screening of and panel about digital stories from Drake’s interfaith camps (Varsity Theater)
-1:00-2:15: session 3 (panels 6 & 7)
-2:30-3:25: interfaith plenary address: Sarah McCammon, “Making Sense of Religious Pluralism as an E(x)vangelical”
-3:25: coffee break
-3:45-5:00: session 4 (panels 8, 9 & 10)
-5:15-6:30: session 5 (panel 11)
-5:45-6:45: visit to Wat Lao Buddhavas (1804 E Park Ave, Des Moines)
-7:00-8:30: visit to Hindu Cultural and Educational Center (1940 E Army Post Rd, Des Moines), dinner

SUNDAY, APRIL 14
-10:00-12:00: visit to St Mary Coptic Orthodox Church
-12:00-1:30: visit to Iowa Sikh Association

— Catalina Samaniego, senior, Arts & Sciences

Starting in Fall 2024, all undergraduate students will automatically receive required course materials on or before the first day of class. This eliminates the shopping process, saving students time and money while lowering stress. The program cost is added to student accounts with the opportunity to opt-out. Learn more about this exciting program. A student FAQ and Faculty FAQ can also be found on the Course Ready webpage.

— Jerry Parker, Chief Student Affairs Officer

Get ready to groove with jazz funk April 12. Jazz funk combines jazz, hip-hop, and African dance to create an exciting groove. We’ll warm up, learn cool moves, and have a blast.

— Gail Witte, Recreational Services

Hillel will be hosting the first night of Passover. It will be at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 22, in Levitt Hall. There will be a service that lasts around 45 minutes to an hour and then a kosher dinner following that. The dinner will be catered by Maccabees Deli. Dress Code: Business Casual

Students: $10
Faculty/Staff: $15
Public: $25

Please fill out this form if you are interested: https://forms.gle/UeyirTpyAnE3x4SX8. Please do so before April 13 at 9 p.m. We are using Venmo but can take cash or Zelle upon request.

— Sydney Dvorak, senior, Arts & Sciences

The Iowa Statewide Tornado Drill will take place on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at 10 a.m. The statewide drill allows us to test our planning and readiness and practice seeking appropriate shelter in case of a tornado. Faculty, staff, and students should participate in the drill by following campus severe weather plans and going to the lowest level of their building, away from doorways and windows.

March 25–29 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in the State of Iowa. Every year on the fourth Wednesday of March, the State of Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department in conjunction with the Governor’s office run a statewide tornado drill.  Drake University will participate in this drill to test our own procedures and protocols. The University will test its campus notification systems, consisting of the sirens located on the blue light phones and the Bulldog Alert system at the same time the City of Des Moines and Polk County test their emergency sirens.

Know these terms to help identify a tornado hazard.

Tornado watch: Tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.

Tornado warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately. Most injuries associated with high winds are from flying debris, so remember to protect your head.

Tornado Preparedness Checklist:

https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/get-help/pdfs/tornado/EN_Tornado-Safety-Checklist.pdf

Tornado Facts:

• Tornadoes can last from mere minutes to several hours.
• Tornadoes have touched down on every continent except Antarctica.
• Most tornado activity occurs in the afternoon and evening.
• The average tornado moves southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.

—Jen Rasmussen, Environmental Health & Safety