Join us to help make Relays more sustainable. All weekend long, volunteers collect and sort through recycling around the stadium. Shifts are one hour long and all supplies are provided. Volunteers will meet in front of the facilities building (across from the Bell Center). Email sydney.dvorak@drake.edu with any questions.
— Sydney Dvorak
Drake’s Vendor partners at Panopto will perform database maintenance on Saturday, April 12, beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting approximately 3 hours. During this time, Panopto will be unavailable. This work is necessary to improve the stability and capacity of the overall Panopto system.
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 2025 maintenance schedule, visit drake.edu/its/maintenanceschedule.
— Becky Klein, ITS
Drake Wellness is offering a range of relaxing yoga classes this May. See a list of dates and times below or visit the Drake Rec app.
In addition, aspiring fitness instructors are invited to an informational meeting on April 16 at 4 p.m. in the Bell Center Studio to learn about becoming a Group Fitness Instructor.
Yoga Nidra – May 8 and 12 at 6 p.m. – A relaxation and meditation practice that guides participants to a state of conscious relaxation, blurring the line between wakefulness and sleep. Practiced lying down, it involves systematic relaxation, breath awareness, and guided visualization to induce deep physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. Sign up through the Drake Rec app.
NamasTea Yoga – May 9 at 12:15 p.m. – A session of yoga and a cup of tea to soothe your nerves before finals week. Sign up through the Drake Rec app.
— Gail Witte, Recreational 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.
Visit the Drake University events calendar and select REGISTER to select a time for your photo.
High-resolution portraits are made available for download through SmugMug 3–6 weeks after the photos are taken. Images can be downloaded at https://drakeuniversity.smugmug.com/Headshots-1.
— Jimmy Hoover, University Communications and Marketing
Mark your calendars for the 46th Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest®. The contest will take place Monday, April 21, at 6 p.m. Doors will open to fans at 5 p.m. to enjoy the Rescue Dog Festival and Kids Zone before the pageant begins. The event is free and open to the public. There will be a giveaway for the first 125 students to show up with their Drake ID.
The Beautiful Bulldog Contest® at Drake University is a unique trademarked event with an over 40-year history. The event kicks off a week-long Drake Relays celebration. Thirty English Bulldogs walk the pup-way to impress judges in hopes of being crowned the Most Beautiful Bulldog. The winner of the contest will reign as the Most Beautiful Bulldog for the 2025 Drake Relays.
For questions, email beautifulbulldog@drake.edu.
— Courtney Conrad, Alumni Office
The new season is here, and so are the vibrant spring arrivals at Bulldog Shop!
Check out these Colorful T-Shirts that are perfect for relaxing in the sunshine. Available in a variety of fun and vibrant colors like turquoise, mint, rose, heather, and lavender! Shop in-store or online now and add some new Drake spring favorites to your closet today.
— Bulldog Shop
This April brings a literary treat,
With poems and books, both can’t be beat!
It’s National Poetry Month so let’s celebrate,
With rhymes and stories that captivate!
For bookish hearts and poets, too,
We’ve got the perfect reads for you.
Come browse in person, or click online,
A book, a poem – your perfect find.
National Poetry Month – Immerse yourself in the power of poetry with a curated collection featuring classic and contemporary poets. Explore diverse voices, styles, and themes that bring language to life.
Books About Books (Early April) – Dive into stories where libraries, bookstores, and book lovers take center stage! Our selection includes fiction and nonfiction that celebrate the magic of books and the people who cherish them.
Stop by, get inspired, and discover your next favorite read at Cowles Library!
—Joanna Stankiewicz, Cowles Library
Join the Disability Coalition for its third annual Disability Awareness Week from April 7–12. From a panel on the connections between mental and physical health, to a student-led presentation on how Drake can best support disabled students, to trivia and resources in the Olmsted Breezeway—there’s something for everyone in this week dedicated to accessibility and advocacy.
Professional captioning will be available at the events on April 7 and 9. Contact disabilitycoalition@drake.edu with any questions or additional accommodation requests.
— Morgan Ryan, AS
The Drake Constitutional Law Center will host the 2025 Constitutional Law Symposium on Saturday, March 29, from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. The program will be delivered in Cartwright Hall, room 213, or virtually via Zoom. The annual Constitutional Law Symposium invites scholars, judges, and lawyers from across the country to discuss a timely constitutional issue. Speakers include:
Penelope Andrews, John Marshall Harlan Professor of Law and director, Racial Justice Project, New York Law School
Carlos Bernal, professor of law, University of Dayton School of Law and former Justice of the Columbia Constitutional Court
Stephen Vladeck, professor of law, Georgetown University Law Center
Kieran Williams, associate professor and co-chair, Department of Political Science, Drake University
“This Symposium seeks to examine the question of Presidential immunity in democracies globally,” said Professor Mark Kende, the Director of the Drake Constitutional Law Center. “There are certain countries, for example like Brazil, where a losing incumbent is often prosecuted by the winner. This is chaotic and not very democratic. In other countries, like France, Presidents are untouchable, based on supposed democratic necessity. The goal of comparing these different countries and approaches is to see what can be learned about the best frameworks for Presidential immunity.”
Iowa Continuing Legal Education credit applied for and pending. This event is open to the public and free for Drake Law students, faculty/staff, alumni, and all Drake undergrad students. Register online here.
The proceedings are published in an upcoming issue of the Drake Law Review. Registrants may pre-order a copy for $15.
— Taylor Johnson, Law School
Let’s work together to bring attention to what makes Iowa great—our people! Our Character Awards highlight Iowa’s role models, and you can help make sure the deserving individuals/organizations in your life are recognized.
Your nomination makes a big impact! By submitting our quick and easy nomination form, you’re helping deserving Iowans receive meaningful recognition.
Nominate a deserving person or group for a 2025 Iowa Character Award by May 2, 2025.
Get started on your nomination at IowaCharacterAwards.org.
— Amy Smit, Robert D. & Billie Ray Center
