Join us as we celebrate the incredible career of Josie Poppen, a treasured member of the Drake Theatre Arts Department and the theatre community at-large who has inspired countless students over the years!

After 37 years of teaching, Josie is laying down her shears and stepping into a well-deserved retirement. Let’s come together to honor her incredible contributions and share stories, laughter, and raise a glass! Please feel free to invite alumni, friends, family and anyone who wishes to celebrate!

—Jacob Lemons, College of Arts & Sciences

As we move into November, Cowles Library is excited to showcase a variety of collections that celebrate important themes and milestones. Join us in honoring the rich cultural heritage reflected in our displays this month.

Iowa’s Great Outdoors
Discover Iowa’s diverse landscapes, history, and architectural wonders through materials that delve into the state’s parks, trails, and historic sites. You’ll be inspired to explore both the natural and man-made beauty of Iowa. The display also includes bike and state maps to help you plan your next adventure and uncover the hidden gems of our state.
Native American Heritage Month
In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, Cowles Library is featuring a collection that spotlights the voices and stories of Native American authors. This selection includes both fiction and nonfiction by Indigenous writers, spanning traditional stories, contemporary narratives, and historical accounts.
Breaking Barriers: The Evolution of Women’s Sports
Join us in celebrating the 50th anniversary of women’s basketball at Drake with a display honoring the legacy of Title IX and its impact on women’s athletics. This collection features nonfiction books that explore the history, challenges, and triumphs of women in sports. Discover the stories of athletes, advocates, and milestones that have shaped the future of women’s athletics.

We invite everyone to visit Cowles Library this month to engage with these displays and celebrate the diverse narratives they represent!

—Joanna Stankiewicz, Cowles Library

Join us on October 23rd from 3-5pm in Upper Olmsted for the second annual Drake Wellness Conference. There will be a variety of free experiences and activities, including massages, meditations and movement!

—Gail Witte, Recreational Services

The Harkin Institute is thrilled to announce this Fall’s Sussman Lecture, “Students Are Humans First” with Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab. Dr. Goldrick-Rab will discuss the challenges students face in meeting their basic needs while earning a college education. She explored this topic in her award-winning book, Paying the Price: College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American Dream. The book documents the failures of policymakers and higher education institutions to make college affordable. Her scientific studies identifying and addressing college students’ basic needs for food, housing, childcare, transportation, and health supports sparked the internationally-known #RealCollege movement and inspired federal and state data collection and legislation, as well as countless privately-funded programs.

Dr. Goldrick-Rab is also senior fellow at Education Northwest, adjunct professor at the Community College of Philadelphia, and Founder of The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice.

Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m. CT

Location: Tom and Ruth Harkin Center Auditorium (2800 University Ave., Des Moines, IA 50311)

YouTube Live Stream on The Harkin Institute’s YouTube Channel

Registration: This event is free and open to the public but registration via Eventbrite is required.

Accommodations: American Sign Language (ASL) and live captioning (CART) will be provided for in-person and virtual attendees. Any additional accommodation requests can be made by emailing harkininstitute@drake.edu.

Click here to register.

—Kathryn Kuckelman, Harkin Institute

Drake University will hold fire drills on October 16th, 17th, 18th, and 21st in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act and in conjunction with National Fire Prevention month. All drills will be conducted at 10:45 a.m. except for the residence halls, which will be conducted from 6 to 9 p.m. on October 21st.

 

We have planned this to minimize disruption to classes and most academic buildings will be completed the week of Fall break. This also allows us to have more efficient utilization of our staff for these drills. The residence halls will be done from 6-9 p.m. to increase participation in the evacuations.

Fire alarms will be activated in all campus buildings to signal the start of the drill. When the alarm sounds:

• Evacuate the building.
• Buildings will be locked down and cannot be re-entered until the drill ends.
• Remember to dress accordingly.

 

The fire drills will be coordinated through the Office of Public Safety (271-2222) working with the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (271-3804) and Facilities Services (271-2706). Please report any fire alarm malfunctions or evacuation problems to Facilities or Public Safety.  Your cooperation in this important campus safety exercise is greatly appreciated.  Please refer to the Drake Emergency Response Plan for additional information.

 

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

 

Fire drill schedule:

October 16^th @ 10:45 a.m.

Meredith Hall

Aliber Hall

Cowles Library

Opperman Hall

Cartwright Hall

Harmon Fine Arts Center

Howard Hall

Carnegie Hall

Medbury Hall

Collier-Scripps Hall

 

October 17^th @ 10:45 a.m.

Olin Hall

Science Connector Building

Harvey Ingham Hall

Cline Hall

Fitch Hall

Studio Arts Hall

Occupational Therapy Building

 

October 18^th @ 10:45 a.m.

Olmsted Center

Hubbell Dining Hall

Alumni House

ROTC

Bell Center

Knapp Center

Fieldhouse

Tennis Center

 

October 21^st @ 10:45 a.m.

Cole Hall

Old Main

Ross Hall (Public Safety)

Vote Smart

Legal Clinic

Dial Center

Harkin Institute

Black Cultural Center

La Casa Cultural Center

CAYA House

FPM Buildings

 

All residence halls – October 21^st @ 6–9 p.m.

Campus Suites

Carpenter Hall

Crawford Hall

Goodwin-Kirk Hall

Herriott Hall

Jewett Hall

Stalnaker Hall

—Jen Rasmussen, Finance and Administration

 

 

ITS staff will be performing maintenance on the Banner system beginning Saturday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. and lasting approximately 12 hours, with the system available around 7 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27. During this time, Self Service, Admin Pages, TouchNet, ProcessMaker, eTranscripts, and other systems connected to Banner will be unavailable. This downtime is necessary to keep University data more secure and apply mandatory patches from our vendors. 

If you experience issues after the maintenance is complete, contact the ITS Support Center for help by visiting service.drake.edu/its, calling 515-271-3001, or visiting the lower level of Carnegie Hall. 

To see the full 2024 maintenance schedule, visit drake.edu/its/maintenanceschedule. 

—Becky Klein, ITS

Get ready to be part of a historic tradition! The 57th Annual Drake Road Races are coming, and registration opens this Monday, October 21! This year, we’re offering our lowest prices of the year during a special flash sale—but hurry, the sale ends Tuesday night.

Choose from the 5k, 10k, or half marathon, and experience the thrill of crossing the finish line on the historic Blue Oval. Now’s your chance to lock in your spot at one of Iowa’s most iconic road races. Sign up early, save big, and join us in celebrating 57 years of running excellence.

Flash Sale Dates:
🗓️ Monday, October 21 – Tuesday, October 22
Event Date:
🏅 Sunday, April 19, 2025

Don’t miss out on this limited-time offer. Register now at drakeroadraces.org before prices go up!

—Ben Huftalin, Athletics 

Heads up, Bulldogs! The Des Moines Marathon will be making its way through Drake University’s campus on Sunday, October 20, and this exciting event will cause some temporary road closures in the area. Please plan accordingly if you’ll be around campus that morning.

In addition to the road closures, we’re inviting everyone to come out and cheer on the marathon runners as they arrive at Drake Stadium to run a lap around the historic Blue Oval! This is a great opportunity to support these athletes as they push through one of the most challenging points of the race. The first runners are expected to reach Drake Stadium around 8:40 AM.

Join us in showing your Bulldog pride and help create an unforgettable atmosphere for the athletes as they pass through this iconic part of their marathon journey. Let’s make some noise and give them a warm Drake welcome!

—Ben Huftalin, Athletics

Every superhero faces villains, and in the digital world, social engineering is a sneaky trick used to outsmart the unwary. But with the right knowledge, you can spot these villains from a mile away.

What is Social Engineering? It’s a technique used by cybercriminals to deceive you into revealing sensitive or personal information. It can take many different forms but usually uses tactics like creating a sense of urgency, preying on your fears, or impersonating others in hopes of tricking you into sharing information. 

Here are some examples:

• Phishing, the Trojan Horse of Villains: Just like a fake distress call to lure heroes into a trap, phishing scams come disguised as urgent requests. Most technology situations don’t require you to act immediately.
• Impersonation, the Master of Disguise: Cyber villains often pose as trusted figures. Learn to unmask their disguises by verifying who’s really contacting you – ask questions that don’t have obvious answers, such as experiences you’ve shared or memories only they’d know. 

Use these Superhero tips to protect yourself:

• Trust your instincts—if it seems fishy, it probably is!
• Double-check everything before responding or clicking.
• Keep your secret lair (personal and work info) secure.
• Plus, you have a super power: the report phishing button! When you’re using Outlook to check your email and you see a suspicious message, use the “report phishing” button to call for backup! The message will be shared with cybersecurity experts who will neutralize the threat and remove it from others’ inboxes. Look at you, embracing your inner superhero!

Ultimately, you’re the hero of your cybersecurity story—don’t let social engineering villains trick you. Now, take the CSAM 2024 quiz to sharpen your powers of detection!

—Becky Klein, ITS

Join us for a conversation with Carrie Muskat, JO’78, on October 24 at noon. Carrie is a veteran sportswriter with over three decades of experience, including 18 years as the MLB.com beat writer for the Chicago Cubs. From covering the Cubs’ historic 2016 World Series victory to witnessing two no-hitters, Carrie brings a wealth of knowledge and firsthand stories from the world of baseball. Her career highlights include writing for major outlets like USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, and the Associated Press, and covering iconic moments such as Michael Jordan’s switch to baseball and Sammy Sosa’s return to the Dominican Republic.

In this session, Carrie will share her personal journey, offering invaluable insights into the life of a sports journalist. You’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories from her time covering the Cubs 24/7, learn about reporting from the field during major events like the 2001 World Series, and gain tips for building a successful journalism career. Whether you’re an aspiring sportswriter, a fan of baseball, or someone who loves compelling storytelling, this session is a must-attend.

—Andy Verlengia, Alumni Relations