ITS will be applying upgrades and patches to Banner Saturday, April 8, starting at 7 p.m. and lasting until Sunday, April 9, at 2 a.m. During this time, Self Service, Admin Pages, Workflow, eTranscripts, TouchNet, and other connected systems will be unavailable. These updates are necessary to keep our University data secure and to install the latest features from our vendor.
If you experience issues outside of this window, please call the Support Center at 515-271-3001 or visit https://service.drake.edu to report your issue. Thank you for your patience as we continue to strive to provide superior service.
Our live mascot, Griff II, is once again collecting donations of adult dog and cat food to benefit The Pet Project Midwest, a local pet food pantry. There are many easy ways to donate. Find all the info on how and where to contribute here.
The collection runs through the Beautiful Bulldog Contest on April 24. Thank you for support of Griff II and his annual initiative to help the greater Des Moines community!
The Iowa Statewide Tornado Drill will take place on Wednesday, March 29, at 10 a.m. The statewide drill allows us to test our planning and readiness and practice seeking appropriate shelter in case of a real tornado. Faculty, staff, and students should participate in the drill by following campus severe weather plans and going to the lowest level of their building, away from doorways and windows.
March is Severe Weather Preparedness Month in the State of Iowa. Every year on the fourth Wednesday of March, the State of Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department in conjunction with the Governor’s office run a statewide tornado drill. In years past Drake participates in this drill while testing our own procedures and protocols. The University will test its campus notification system, consisting of the sirens located in the blue light phones at the same time the City of Des Moines and Polk County test emergency sirens.
Tornado Facts:
Tornadoes may strike quickly, with little or no warning.
Funnel clouds usually last less than 10 minutes before dissipating, and many only last several seconds. On rare occasion, cyclones can last for more than an hour.
Tornadoes may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.
The average tornado moves southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.
The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 mph, but may vary from stationary to 70 mph.
Damage paths of tornadoes can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long.
Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but can occur at any time.
Know the terms: Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a tornado hazard.
Tornado Watch: Tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately! Most injuries associated with high winds are from flying debris, so remember to protect your head.
In 1942, French philosopher Albert Camus wrote an essay called the Myth of Sisyphus. He wrote this as his country was being invaded and it felt like the world was falling apart. It was a time of disbelief and despair. It was a time when certain groups—Jews, Romanies, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, communists, and socialists—were being targeted for their differences and persecuted with hate, violence, and even death.
This was an extreme era in 20th Century European history and Camus’ reality was not the same as ours. But his mindset and ideas remain relevant to us today, right here in Iowa.
Sisyphus is a figure in Greek mythology who angered Death (that’s a whole other story). He found himself condemned to roll a rock up a mountain. As he approached the top, Sisyphus would inevitably lose his grip or his footing would fail and the rock would roll down the mountain. Then, Sisyphus would turn and head down to the rock and repeat the task.
Camus found this story interesting—but there was one precise moment in particular captured his attention. When Sisyphus, standing at the top of the mountain and watching the rock tumble back down, in that moment, he chose to pivot, turn around, and try again—as if to say, “fine, I’ll just do it again.”
While this myth is often told as a story of futility, Camus did not view it that way. When it felt and looked like all was lost, Sisyphus refused to give up or to acquiesce to the circumstances. In the seconds following failure, Sisyphus, amazingly, was fueled by strength and determination. In that moment, Camus observed, Sisyphus was stronger than the rock and he remained unbeaten.
Short-sighted and discriminatory laws have just passed in Iowa. Similar laws are passing in other states. The NAACP is contemplating issuing a travel advisory for people of color considering travel to Florida. We regularly see examples of Asian hate and antisemitism carried out across the country. And the list goes on.
For those of us who are members of groups being increasingly targeted—or have friends, family, and colleagues who are members of such groups—or we simply care about equal rights for all people—it is tempting to feel defeated.
But here is what is also true: Recent events do not get to define us or the Drake community. We get to define us. This is a moment when our values—prioritizing inclusion for all and unifying our diverse community behind a shared mission—matter the most. As gut-wrenching as it feels to watch the proverbial rock roll down the hill, we can choose to be stronger than the circumstances.
While some universities across the country are distancing themselves from DEI principles, we are doubling down. Please join us in our commitment to building a campus culture that values all. Students thrive when they enjoy a sense of belonging. Faculty and staff flourish when they feel valued. Join us in our steadfast resolve to stand by our values and all members of the Drake community.
There is not one act that can be performed—no single set of words that can be uttered—to make things better. Complex situations require layers of actions and words…determination and time, too. And we all have a role to play in taking action and speaking up.
In the short term, please consider joining members of the Drake community in the breezeway in Olmsted, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 30. There we will take action and use our words to say that we understand the harmful repercussions of the recent laws passed in Iowa and show our love and determination to stand with transgender and gender non-conforming members of our community.
Watch for the April DEIJ newsletter for details about upcoming events and suggested action items. Keep reading OnCampus for additional discussion. If you have suggestions for action or requests for support, please contact Lynne Cornelius, Associate Dean of Students or Jennifer Harvey, Associate Provost for Campus Equity and Inclusion.
— Jennifer Harvey, Associate Provost for Campus Equity and Inclusion; Maureen De Armond, Executive Director, Human Resouces
The Susan Glaspell Writers & Critics Series at Drake is proud to feature environmental justice activist and author, Carolyn Finney, at a story-sharing workshop sponsored jointly by Iowa Environmental Council and Drake Community Press. Join us April 6 in the Turner Jazz Center at 5 p.m.
The Adams Leadership Award ceremony is an annual, campus-wide tradition to celebrate the achievements of student leaders and organizations at Drake University, and it’s only six weeks away!
Please nominate any Drake students and student organizations who have exhibited strong leadership and excellence throughout the 2022–2023 academic year. Nominations can be submitted by any Drake student, faculty, or staff member. Award categories include:
Outstanding First Year Student
Outstanding Residence Hall Leader
Outstanding Equity and Inclusion Program
Oreon E. Scott Outstanding Senior of the Year
…and many more!
View a full list of awards and the nomination form here. The nomination deadline is Sunday, April 9.
All award nominees and winners will be recognized at the 2023 Adams Leadership Awards ceremony in Sheslow Auditorium on Saturday, May 6, at 2 p.m. (Save the date! All students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend.)
If you have any questions, please contact Kristin Economos, director of student leadership programs, at kristin.economos@drake.edu.
Drake Dining will be extending the hours for dinner at Hubbell Dining Hall. We will serve dinner until 8:30 p.m. throughout the Ramadan holiday. If you have any questions, concerns, or requests please reach out to shaelyn.hankins@sodexo.com or find us on social media @DrakeDining for up-to-date information.
The Harkin Institute invites the Drake community to come to the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center on Thursday, March 30, at 6 p.m. for a conversation with Iowa State Rep. Josh Turek of Council Bluffs.
Rep. Turek will discuss his experience finding career success and navigating local politics with a disability. Audience members will also have a chance to ask Rep. Turek questions.
This event will be both in-person and virtually. If you’d like to attend virtually, sign up here.
American Sign Language and live-captioning will be provided. Contact harkininstitute@drake.edu with questions or to request additional accommodation.
WHEN: Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. WHERE: The Tom and Ruth Harkin Center (2800 University Ave., Des Moines, IA 50309)
ITS has ongoing efforts to maintain and strengthen the security of University data and systems. The number of cybersecurity incidents continues to grow worldwide, and we have seen recent events that have shut down local businesses and schools. ITS prioritizes your information security and safety, and we are doing our part to protect resources and data.
Our recent focus has been on security measures, such as email encryption and enforcement of multifactor authentication requirements. In the upcoming weeks and months, you will see additional precautions put in place. This will include limiting services that can be accessed on the guest network and restricting unsupported computer operating systems from using Drake networks.
To keep your information secure and keep Drake safe, keep the following tips in mind.
Download the MFA app. Multifactor authentication helps ensure you are the only one accessing your personal information.
Keep your devices up to date. Visit the Support Center on campus if you require assistance updating your laptop or computer to the most recent operating system version.
Use the Drake network. Faculty, staff, and students should use eduroam for their wireless connection at Drake. DUGuest is intended for guests of the university and will have limited access.
Be aware of your surroundings. If you are using a Drake system in a public setting, keep an eye on who can see your screen and has access to your information.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach ITS at https://service.drake.edu/its, by phone at 515-271-3001, or by visiting the lower level of Carnegie Hall.
The 2023 Harkin on Wellness (HOW) Symposium will take place on Thursday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the Olmsted Center. The symposium is free but registration is required.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare systems were overrun with patients and supply chain issues disrupted our access to healthy foods. Community leaders and organizations responded by creating new approaches to address the relationship between food and health. These new approaches include the growth of food systems coalitions and councils working to shape, advise, and implement food policy. These groups also worked to increase opportunities and reduce barriers to healthy outcomes at the regional level.
This year’s Symposium will showcase the work being done at state and local levels to improve people’s lives by reimagining the food system from farm to table and everywhere in between.
We are pleased to welcome Deputy Under Secretary for the USDA’s Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, Stacy Dean and Dr. Walter Willett, M.D., Dr. P.H., Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and co-chair of the EAT-Lancet Commission as the keynote speakers for HOW 2023. Additional speakers will include experts on the environmental impacts of food production and on local approaches to improving health and wellness.
American Sign Language (ASL) and live captions in English will be available for all general session content for all attendees. ASL are available for breakout sessions upon request. (To request accommodations or ask accommodation questions email harkininstitute@drake.edu.)
Date: Thursday, April 13, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
In Person Location: Olmsted Center at Drake University (2875 University Ave., Des Moines, IA 50311)
Virtual Location: Livestream (access details and link will be sent to registered virtual attendees closer to the date of the event)
Registration: This event is free but registration is required.
For more information: https://harkininstitute.drake.edu/2023/02/23/how-2023/
