Come have your voice heard, test out, and provide feedback on potential furniture for the new Morehouse reimagined student center. Two showrooms are on display in the Meredith Hall south lobby now through May 2.

Heather Winslow, Capital Projects

Volunteers needed to help recycle during Relays. Slots are in one-hour shifts and may not go the entire hour. This is a super easy task with a high level of impact. Help Drake divert waste from the landfill from over 45,000 fans. Sign up on DUGood here.

If you have any questions, email hannah.remke@drake.edu.

—Hannah Remke, Sustainability Coordinator 

April is Earth Month and Drake is going all out. Events are being put on by DEAL, Student Alumni Association, Student Activities Board, Epsilon Eta, Drake Grounds, and the Office of Sustainability. Take a minute to see what is going on!

April 16th, 7–9 p.m.: Relax and enjoy a movie in Sussman Theater courtesy of DEAL and Epsilon Eta.

April 17th, 5–7 p.m.: Meet at the Sprout Garden to learn all about soil on campus.

April 18th, 5–7 p.m.: Learn more about soil at the speaker panel at Pom Stage.

April 18th, 6 p.m.: Decorate a tumbler for Earth Day with SAB at Pom Stage.

April 19^th, 11:30–1:30 p.m.: Help Drake maintain its Tree Campus Higher Education designation by joining DEAL and Grounds for the annual tree planting. Meet between Howard and Sheslow. Supplies will be provided. Sign up here.

April 20^th, 10–12 p.m.: Join SAA at the Harkin Institute Parking Lot to pick up trash for Paul Morrison Spruce Up Day. RSVP here.

April 20th, 4–9 p.m.: Finish out the week strong by rocking out and celebrating the earth at the Earth Jam concert. There will be games, food, prizes, and live music of course!

–Hannah Remke, Sustainability Coordinator 

It is with great sadness that we share that Drake University Professor Emeritus Joseph A. Fisher passed away peacefully at his home in Newton, Iowa on March 25. Professor Fisher served as the Director of the Adult Reading and Study Skills Center and Professor of graduate students in Educational Psychology at Drake from 1961–1992.

In his professional career, he was president of the International Association of Adult Reading Specialists. He led members of this group on month-long educational tours in Europe and South America. He published articles in several professional journals. His self-published College Skills text was used by many students and college instructors.  From his analysis of literacy testing in South American Countries, the UN named him as consultant to Educational Secretaries in South America.

The ACT College Testing Program and certain units of the United States Military educational units recognized and adopted his philosophical insight of the strong correlation between test questions and responses.

Professor Fisher will be deeply missed by the Bulldog community and all those who knew him. His full obituary can be read here.

Kappa Kappa Gamma will be hosting a nacho bar at their chapter facility on Thursday, March 28, from 6–8 p.m. There will be a performance from the Brocal Chords. The entry fee is $5, and proceeds will go to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). To purchase a ticket, visit Chips, Cheese, & KKGs.

— Abigail Axell, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Mark your calendars for a retirement reception to honor and celebrate Chip Miller, Ph.D., the Thomas F. Sheehan Distinguished Professor of Marketing, on Tuesday, April 9, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in Aliber Hall, Room 204.

— Katherine Coady, Zimpleman College of Business

The Drake Relays brings thousands of athletes, alumni, and guests to campus. As a reminder, parking and travel on and around campus will be impacted Saturday, April 20, through Saturday, April 27.

It is highly recommended that if you are coming to campus from off grounds, that you use public transportation, if possible.  If you do plan on driving, give yourself plenty of time to find parking.  Please remember that cars that are parked on the grass, illegally in handicap spaces, or blocking operations will be towed without notice.

All valid commuter permits will be honored throughout the week, all day Thursday, April 25, and until 5 p.m. on Friday.  Only residential permits are valid in residential lots and commuter permits in commuter lots, unless posted otherwise. 

Please note that the Olmsted and Ray Promenade lot still require the correct permit color to park in those lots before 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 20– Sunday, April 28 – Lot 17 (Facilities Lot) will be closed/no parking allowed.

Wednesday, April 24, at 12 p.m. – Saturday, April 27, at 8 p.m. – Forest Avenue will be fully closed from 27^th Street to 29^th Street and will allow for only limited access from 24^th to 27^th Streets and from 29^th to 31^st Streets. No street parking is allowed along Forest Avenue.

Wednesday, April 24 – Saturday, April 27 – 27^th Street will be intermittently closed between Forest Avenue and Clarke Street.

Wednesday, April 24 – Saturday, April 27 – Lot 18 S (Studio Arts) will be closed/no parking allowed.

Wednesday, April 24 – Monday, April 29 – Half of Lot 13 (Ray Promenade Lot) will be closed.

Thursday, April 25 – Saturday, April 27 – Clarke Street will be posted No Parking from 27th street to 25th street.

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

Civic Action Week is a campus-wide week of events for students, faculty, staff, and the broader community to learn, engage, and encourage collective responses to persistent societal challenges.

Civic Action Week centers around the Pathways for Civic Action and Social Change. We recognize there are many strategies needed to create change; the Pathways include: Community Engaged Learning & Research, Community Organizing & Activism, Direct Service, Philanthropy, Policy & Governance, and Social Entrepreneurship and Corporate Responsibility.

Consider participating in one or more of the events happening that week!

Monday, April 8

• SNAP out of Food Insecurity, 2-3pm in the Olmsted Breezeway. Join the first-year Changemaker Scholars to learn about food insecurity and how it affects college students. Learn about the many resources that are available for students, and discover ways to get involved! (Other tabling events will occur April 16 from 1-3pm and April 18, 9-10:30am). (Pathways – Community Organizing & Activism, Policy & Governance)

Wednesday, April 10

• Civic Action Week tabling, 12:15-2pm in the Olmsted Breezeway. Swing by to learn about Civic Action Week events, grab some swag, and share why or how you like to give back to the community.

Thursday, April 11

• Careers in Social Change Virtual Panel. 4-5pm on Zoom. Hear from professionals on how they have used their career to create change. Panelists include George Scott of YMCA Greater Des Moines, Kathryn Lehmann with FEMA, and Annelise Tarnowski, founder of the Rook Room.  Register on Handshake. Sponsored by Office of Community Engaged Learning and Career Services.

Friday, April 12

• Findley Elementary School First-Grade Visit to Drake. Drake has adopted the first grade class at Findley Elementary School and on April 12 the students will visit campus for a morning full of activities. Start your day off the best way! Anyone from the Drake community is invited to welcome the students when they arrive at 9:30am with a “Welcome Tunnel” at the University entrance of Meredith. Form a line from the front doors down the sidewalk. Drake students have the opportunity to promote a college-going culture for youth in Des Moines. Contact abigail.axell@drake.edu for more information.  Hosted by the Office of Community Engaged Learning. (Pathway – Direct Service)
• Sprout Spring Volunteer Day. 2-4pm. Help prepare the beds for spring planting, plant cool-weather crops, and clean up litter that has acquired over the winter.  (Pathway – Direct Service). 

Saturday, April 13

• Drake Constitutional Law Symposium – “Climate Change, the Environment, and Constitutions.” 8:30-1pm in Cartwright Hall, 213. Prestigious speakers will discuss current environmental topics. (Pathways – policy & governance, community organizing & activism)
• Sprout Garden Compost Pile Sifting, sponsored by DEAL. 1-2:30pm at the Sprout Garden. Sift through completed piles, break down garden waste, and prepare to build a new pile. (Pathway – direct service).

Learn more about events and opportunities. Follow along on Instagram @drakeservice.

 — Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning