Drake Theatre invites you to the final production of the 2024-2025 season, A Doll’s House, part 2 on May 1–4.

Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 play A DOLL’S HOUSE famously ends with the sound of a closing door as Nora Helmer decides to leave her husband and children behind to find her own place in the world.  That closing door was the sound that ushered in the modern era of play writing.  Lucas Hnath’s A DOLL’S HOUSE (part 2) picks up 15 years after Ibsen’s classic.  Nora has returned to her former home.  Where has she been?  Why is she back? How will her family react?  

Tickets are $8/students, $10/adults and can be purchased online at drake.edu/fineartsboxoffice or in person at the box office.

— Amber Hussain

Campus Free Speech: Should There Be Limits?

Attend a campus dialogue on free speech and share your perspective in a nonpartisan structured discussion.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 6, from 7–9 p.m.

WHERE: Medbury Honors Lounge

All are welcome. The event is sponsored by the Spring 2025 First Year Seminar: Dialogue in a Polarized Age

The event is free. Register here.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner—May 11th—and Bulldog Shop has the perfect gifts for every Drake mom. Whether you’re looking for something cozy, practical, or a little sentimental, you’ll find just the right gift to show her how much you care.

Here are a few ideas to help you choose the perfect gift:

• Drake University Mom Crewneck – A cozy sweatshirt to show off her Bulldog pride.
• 18oz Tumbler – Perfect for keeping drinks hot or cold, a must-have for moms on the go.
• Vanilla Candle – A soothing, calming addition to any space, perfect for relaxing.
• Drake Bulldogs Necklace – A meaningful, elegant gift that shows off her Bulldog pride.

— The Bulldog Shop

The Missouri Valley Conference is coming to Des Moines for the 2025 softball championship, presented by Catch Des Moines.

Watch as your Bulldogs compete for a trip to the NCAA Tournament. All the action takes place Wednesday, May 7, through Saturday, May 10, at Ron Buel Field. All-session tournament passes are $25 and single-session tickets are $10. Purchase tickets at godrakebulldogs.com/tickets.

For more information on the championship, visit www.godrakebulldogs.com/feature/2025MVCSoftball.

— Colin Salig

Join us on April 30 at 1 p.m. in the Bell Center Fitness Studio for an engaging seminar on etiquette when interacting with people with disabilities, designed to help Drake University students foster inclusivity and respectful communication. Gain practical skills to navigate social and professional settings with confidence, ensuring that all individuals feel valued and understood. This interactive session will provide real-world examples and essential guidelines to help create a more inclusive campus community.

— Gail Witte, Rec Services

University Communications and Marketing will hold professional headshot sessions Friday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Old Main, Conference Room 115. The sessions are free to all students, faculty, and staff. Learn more and register for a time slot.

Join Drake’s Corporate Games team!  This annual company-based competition for organizations in central Iowa runs from May 18 through July 31.  With over two dozen events to choose from, Des Moines Corporate Games (DMCG) is a great way to meet new people and have fun.

Events range from team-based to individual and competitive to recreational. Try everything from pickleball and golf, to a fitness walk and trivia. You may participate in as many events as you want.

All in-person activities will be held in the evenings and on weekends and are free (except golf cart rental). ALL Drake faculty and staff, student employees, interns, and retirees are invited and encouraged to join Drake’s team.

To participate in this year’s Des Moines Corporate Games, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu for registration instructions.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

The Harkin Institute and Iowa PBS are hosting an accessible screening of Change Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act, followed by a panel discussion with film director Jim Lebrecht and film writer/producer Chana Gazit. The screening will include open captions and open descriptive audio.

 Date:
April 29, 2025

Time:
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. CT

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

Cost:
Free, but registration is required.

Accommodations: American Sign Language and live-captioning (CART) in English will be provided for all attendees. Other accommodation requests can be made by emailing harkininstitute@drake.edu.

Learn more on our website.

— Kathryn Kuckelman, The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement