University Communications and Marketing will hold professional headshot sessions Thursday, Feb. 29, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in Old Main, Conference Room 115. The sessions are free to all students, faculty, and staff. High-resolution portraits are made available for download 2–4 weeks after the photos are taken. Images can be downloaded at https://drakeuniversity.smugmug.com/Headshots-1.
— Jimmy Hoover, University Communications and Marketing
In honor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Week, join the Broadlawns Drake Student Counseling Center and Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for a mental health panel focused on disrupting the harmful narratives given to marginalized communities, and an open discussion on ways to enhance worth and belonging in the face of social injustice. Participants will also receive free self-care prizes and free food, and admitted students will have the opportunity to be entered into a raffle to win additional self-care prizes, such as weighted blankets, self-help books, and MORE! This is a wonderful opportunity to experience a taste of the culture of inclusivity, belonging, and well-being at Drake! Register here.
When/Where: March 22nd, 2:30-4:30pm, Parents Hall South
— Kayla Bell-Consolver, Student Counseling Center
Learning about love, sexual health, and wellness. We will also be partnering with One Iowa for this event! Stop to snag some candy, talk with a counselor, and enter a raffle for a $50 gift card to a local restaurant—just in time to take your date out for Valentine’s Day.
When: February 12–14th, 1:30–4 p.m.
Where: Breezeway, Olmsted
— Kayla Bell-Consolver, Student Counseling Center
February is going to be a fun month when it comes to Wellness programming.
Time to Train! Running up to the Relays is a program that will support your training for the Drake Road Races. Whether you are training for the 5K, 1/2, or whole marathon, we’ve got a training plan for you. Reach out to Gail.witte@gmail.com for more information.
Fleet Feet Bra Event: 2/7@5pm Bell Center Studio
Join us as we welcome Fleet Feet Des Moines to the Bell Center. They will be educating us on the different types of athletic bras, how to get the right fit, and more! Sing up on the Drake Rec App
Hot Chocolate Barre and Partner Yoga
2/14 . At 12:15 Gail Witte will teach a fun Barre class followed by a cup of hot chocolate! Then at 5pm she will teach a “Partner Yoga” that is sure to be full fun and laughs. Bring a friend and sign up in the Drake Rec App!!
We have two classes that run for four weeks, so build them into your schedule.
Judo, being taught by our own Scott Law, will run 2/21,2/28, 3/6 &3/21 in the Bell Center Studio @5:30pm.
Dance to Perform is a class taught by one of our FOUR brand new student instructors, Audrey Almeida!! Over the four class she will teach some technique and choreography that will be performed at the end of the last class!! Sign up in the Drake Rec App
Lastly, I’d like to highlight the aforementioned new student group fitness instructors: Ashley Beitelspacher, Audrey Almeida, Audrey Martin and Riley Palmer. Paige Fernety and Britni Gill will be returning student instructors. And Leslie Mars and Jenny Jones who are our faculty instructors. They are building out a great group fitness schedule and I encourage everyone to try out a new class this semester.
— Gail Witte, Rec Services
The Harkin Institute is excited to announce this Spring’s Sussman Lecture, “Pain and Politics in the Heart of America” with Dr. Jennifer Silva. Dr. Silva will discuss the economic, social, and cultural challenges currently facing America’s working class and how those challenges have impacted the ability of the working class to achieve the American Dream. Dr. Silva has written two books surrounding these topics, Coming Up Short: Working-Class Adulthood in an Age of Uncertainty and We’re Still Here: Pain and Politics in the Heart of America. In Coming Up Short, Dr. Silva conducted one hundred interviews with working class residents in two towns-Lowell, Massachusetts, and Richmond, Virginia, and shed light on their experience of heightened economic insecurity, deepening inequality, and uncertainty about marriage and family. In We’re Still Here, Dr. Silva conducted more than a hundred interviews of Black, white, and Latino working-class residents of a declining coal town in Pennsylvania to examine the civic and political disengagement of working-class people.
Date: March 6, 2024
Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m. CT
Location: Tom and Ruth Harkin Center (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.
Accomodations: American Sign Language (ASL) and Live Captioning (CART) will be provided for both in person and virtual attendees. Additional accomodation requests can be made by emailing harkininstitute@drake.edu.
— Kathryn Kuckelman, Harkin Institute
As we begin the Spring Semester, the safety of our campus is of paramount importance and informs our planning and work. The recent active shooter incident in Perry, Iowa reminds us that no community is safe from these types of senseless gun violence incidents. For some, these incidents have occurred in your hometown or affected someone close to you. Please know we stand in solidarity with you and your community as you heal from these tragic acts that should never have occurred. Support is available through the counseling center; Students can call 515–271–3864 to make an appointment and for Faculty and staff through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at 800–327–4692.
Unfortunately, these instances weigh heavily on our sense of safety and remind us that active shooter incidents can happen anytime and anywhere. While we hope we will never face an active shooter situation, we must focus on preparedness like we would for any other emergency, such as fire or weather events.
Public Safety has continued to partner with colleagues across campus, the Des Moines Police Department and Polk County Emergency Management Office on a variety of resources for the campus community. These resources complement current emergency planning materials, and are designed to focus on what to do in the event of an active shooter.
Last year, Drake produced an Active Shooter Preparedness Video. This video addresses what to do in the event of an active shooter in an administrative or academic setting. This six-minute video uses the principles of run, hide, fight first adopted by the City of Houston and affirmed by the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation. A second video was developed specifically for those living and working in the residence halls. Please be aware that these videos feature simulated acts of violence, which may be disturbing and trigger an emotional response for some viewers. However, I believe these videos are important and vital to all our safety, and I encourage everyone who can to watch them.
In addition to the videos, I am happy to present an in-person one hour class on Active Shooter response for Departments or student groups. Drake Public Safety ask that you familiarize yourself with emergency planning materials, download and use the RAVE guardian app, which offers a network of security communication tools, and if you “see something, say something,” as it takes each of us to keep our campus community safe.
— Scott Law, Executive Director for Public Safety
The Mobile Drake ID is live and ready for use at all card readers on campus!
We have more than 1,300 users who have successfully set up the Mobile Drake ID on their mobile phones or watches, and we encourage you to join.
To set up the Mobile Drake ID, you must have a photo on file with the Student Services Center. If you would like to update your ID photo, please use the Photo Submission Portal on the Student Services Center website.
Please reference the following resources to upload your ID photo and set up the Mobile Drake ID on your mobile phone or watch.
Adding the Mobile Drake ID to Your Device (How-To)
Upload Your Drake ID Photo (How-To)
Where can I use the Mobile Drake ID?
You can use the Mobile Drake ID at any card reader location, including dining services, off-campus Bulldog Bucks merchants, the campus Starbucks, the Bulldog Shop, campus door access, the rec center, the library, and printing services. Any location that does not have a card reader, you can present your virtual ID from your digital wallet in place of your physical card, including the DART bus, the Athletic Ticket Office, and more.
My Mobile Drake ID doesn’t beep at a card reader or says “try again.” What should I do?
The NFC chip that communicates with the card reader is located in a different location on each different device depending on the manufacturer and model. Please try the back, top, and front of your device on the middle of the reader to determine its location. A test reader is located in the Support Center (in the lower level of Carnegie Hall) if you would like assistance determining where the chip is in your device.
Can I still use my physical ID card?
Yes, you may use both the Mobile Drake ID and the physical ID card at any of the previously listed locations. If you choose to use the Mobile Drake ID, you do not need to get rid of your physical ID card. If you need to be issued a new physical ID card, a $50 replacement fee will be assessed. The Mobile Drake ID is free of charge. We strongly encourage all students, faculty, and staff to use the Mobile Drake ID as we transition to this updated, environmentally conscious ID option.
For more information, please see our Mobile Drake ID website and the Student Services Center website, which contain more frequently asked questions, tips and tricks for using the Mobile Drake ID, and more.
Please contact the Student Services Center with questions or concerns by emailing studentservices@drake.edu, visiting the office located in Olmsted, or calling 515-271-2000. If you have technical issues or questions, please submit a Drake ID Issue ticket, call 515-271-3001, or visit the lower level of Carnegie Hall.
— Scott Law, Public Safety
As part of Drake’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050, we are constantly investigating opportunities to increase our renewable energy generation. The Meredith Hall revitalization was included in this goal as the building hosts numerous sustainable features, the newest addition being a 115 kW solar array.
The Meredith array started generating electricity this past December. You can track the in time generation through this public dashboard.
Drake has a history with solar power, as the Meredith array is the third solar installation on Drake’s campus. In 2023, Drake generated 236.6 MWh between the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center and Tennis Center arrays. That is 168 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent avoided, which is equivalent to the following:
Drake’s first solar project was the 128 kW Tennis Center array that started generating electricity in 2019. This allows the building to function as Net-Zero as we generate as much electricity as it uses. View the Tennis Center solar dashboard here.
The second installation was the 48.7 kW Harkin Center array, added in 2021. This installation helped the building achieve a Three Green Globes rating, which is the highest rated project in the state of Iowa and the first in Iowa to receive this rating. View the Harkin solar dashboard here.
As we move forward, we will continue to identify and take advantage of opportunities to further increase our renewable energy generation. We anticipate the Morehouse Revitalization to be the next candidate for a solar project, with more to come.
The Meredith Hall solar project and sustainability features were made possible through gifts from Greg Johansen and John Lorentzen.
— Hannah Remke, Sustainability Coordinator
Visit the Bulldog Shop at Spike’s Locker Room in the Knapp Center Wednesday, Feb. 7, during the Men’s Basketball game for an exclusive first look at official Drake Relays merchandise. Select styles will be released and available for purchase. The game starts at 7 p.m.
— The Bulldog Shop
Join us for a celebration in honor of Ambassador Terry Branstad’s 50 years of public service, Thursday, Feb. 8, from 6–8 p.m. in Cartwright Hall, Kern Commons.
This special event includes a reception, the unveiling of a bust created by sculptor Kai Liao honoring Ambassador Branstad, and a socio-political-economic-education dialogue (SPEED) focusing on Branstad’s remarkable contributions.
Ambassador Branstad’s service includes three terms in the Iowa Legislature, election to the office of Lt. Governor and Governor, and president of Des Moines University. He is the longest serving governor in the history of the United States, serving in that role from 1983-1999, and again from 2011-2017, when he was appointed U.S. Ambassador to China.
The event is sponsored by the Chinese Association of Iowa, Community CPA, Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit, US Education Without Borders, and Drake University.
— Theresa Howard, Law School
