Category Archives: Campus Announcements Archive

Campus Announcements Archive

Thanksgiving Feast at Parents Hall

CORRECTION: The meal is at Parents Hall not Hubbell Dining as previously stated.

Kick off your Thanksgiving holiday with friends and a feast full of fun! Celebrate at Parents Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 20, from 11 a.m.– 1:30 p.m. We’re serving all your holiday favorites, including roasted turkey, hickory smoked ham, candied sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and more. We will also have a Simple Servings station set up for allergen free dining.

This will be a Zero Waste Event, and all plates and utensils used will be composted. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend. Price is $7.40 plus tax (or $7.92 total.) Students can use a meal swipe.

— Jennifer Bowersox, Dining Services

Campus Announcements Archive

GroupX Schedule and Thanksgiving Update

Check out our GroupX schedule for the rest of the semester, attend 15 classes and get a free incentive T-shirt.

Thanksgiving Update: Our last GroupX class before break will be Body Blast at 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday the Nov. 24; classes will resume on Monday Dec. 2. The last day of classes for the semester will be Thursday, Dec. 5.

— Emily Madsen, Recreational Services

Campus Announcements Archive

Bark Tank winners

On Saturday, Nov. 9, the Entrepreneurship Centers hosted the annual Bark Tank Competition. We would like to thank and congratulate all the participants for their pitches and extend a special congratulations to the four prize winners:

  • First Place: $750 to Alex Mathison, EC VR
  • Second Place: $500 to Tim Zuo, The Herban Webinar Series
  • Third Place: $250 to Kellen Karls, Echobreakers
  • Honorable Mention: $250 to Amir Chaouch, Babylon – Rooftop Gardens

We would like to thank our judges, Tyrek Washington (2018 Second Place Winner), Kaleigh DeBont (2017 First Place Winner), Seth Hartman (2017 First Place Winner), and Professor Brian Sweeney. This was the seventh Bark Tank competition and it is sponsored by alum, Dan Sinykin, JO ’86.

— Stephanie Cardwell, Buchanan Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

Campus Announcements Archive

Information sessions for Heritage and Holocaust travel seminar

Come to an information session to learn more about the Heritage and Holocaust travel seminar, scheduled for May 2020. You can discover the nuances of short-term travel seminars, get course details, learn about registering via Terradotta, and meet the faculty leaders at these information sessions.

Sessions are scheduled Monday, Nov. 11, at 3:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 9 p.m. Sessions are held in Meredith Hall, Room 125.

Contact dorothy.pisarski@drake.edu or jarad.bernstein@drake.edu for additional information.

— Dorothy Pisarski, Associate Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication

Campus Announcements Archive

The Benson Lecture: Coming out with Guy Benson

Guy Benson, author, political editor of Townhall.com, Fox News contributor, and member of Forbes 30 under 30, will be hosting a conversation on Wednesday, Nov. 13, in the Cowles Reading Room from 7–8 p.m. about identity politics and social conservatism from the lens of a millennial conservative. Benson’s talk is hosted by Drake College Republicans and sponsored by Drake University alumnus Mike Mason BN ’68 and the Slay Fund. For more information, view the Drake event calendar or the Facebook event page.

— John Altendorf, AS, JO

Campus Announcements Archive

Social justice dialogue

Join Community Action Board on Monday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. in upper Olmsted, CR 310–311, for a collaborative round table discussion on how to improve community engagement and how to be a good neighbor within the Drake Neighborhood. The session will also cover how to get involved with CAB during the school year.

— Laura Harris, AS’20

Campus Announcements Archive

Space heater safety criteria

Portable electric space heaters can be a convenient source of supplemental heat in cold weather. Unfortunately, they can pose significant fire and electric shock hazards if not used properly. Space heaters without adequate safety features, space heaters placed near combustibles, or space heaters that are improperly plugged in can cause fire and electrical hazards.

Space heaters used at Drake should meet the following safety criteria:

  • Tip-Over Power Cut-Off Switch
  • Automatic Thermostat Control
  • Overheat Protection Device (Shuts power off if unit overheats)
  • UL Approval
  • Housing That Is Cool To Touch

Safety should always be a top consideration when using space heaters. Here are some tips for keeping safe and warm when it’s cold outside:

  • Make sure your space heater has the label showing that it is listed by a recognized testing laboratory.
  • Before using any space heater, read the manufacturer’s instructions and warning labels carefully.
  • Inspect heaters for cracked or broken plugs or loose connections before each use. If frayed, worn or damaged, do not use the heater.
  • Never leave a space heater unattended. Turn it off when you’re leaving a room or going to sleep.
  • Proper placement of space heaters is critical. Heaters must be kept at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including papers, clothing and rugs.
  • Locate space heaters out of high traffic areas and doorways where they may pose a tripping hazard.
  • Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Do not use an extension cord or power strip, which could overheat and result in a fire. Do not plug any other electrical devices into the same outlet as the heater.
  • Place space heaters on level, flat surfaces. Never place heaters on cabinets, tables, or furniture
  • Always unplug and safely store the heater when it is not in use.

— Chris Nickell, Environmental Health & Safety

Campus Announcements Archive

Major gift announcement for Meredith Hall

Please join the School of Journalism and Mass Communication on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 2:30 p.m. for a major gift announcement for the renovation of Meredith Hall. The event will be held in Meredith, Room 104. Following the announcement, there will be refreshments, networking and tours of Meredith Hall, a unique mid-century modern building designed by famed architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Drake is celebrating 100 years of journalism and mass communication education in 2019–2020.

— Kathleen Richardson, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Campus Announcements Archive

Retirement celebration for Jolene Schmidt

Facilities Planning and Management will host a retirement open house for Jolene Schmidt, director of capital projects, on Friday, Dec. 6, from 12:30–2:30 p.m. in the Paul Morrison Room. Jolene will be retiring after 38 years of serving faculty, staff, students and visitors. She held several roles in her career at Drake starting in the stock room and eventually being involved in over $201 million of capital improvements across the campus. All will greatly miss her vast historical knowledge of Drake’s campus growing and changing over the years.

Please join us in thanking Jolene for her dedicated service and commitment to Drake, congratulating her on this well-deserved retirement.

— Kevin Moran, Executive Director, Facilities Planning and Management