Drake University’s Intensive English Program (IEP) is now offering an online Summer Language Institute for those who wish to improve their English skills. Click here to view course fees and additional information.

Courses will run from July 5–30 and will follow a two-track format: An Academic English track for those who are pursuing or planning to pursue a degree in the United States and a General English track for those who want to improve practical English skills.

Apply now! Applications for admission are due June 11. For additional information, the application, or questions, contact kendra.hossain-morehead@drake.edu.

— Kendra Hossain-Morehead, Director of International Student and Scholar Services

Relays hours for Saturday, April 24:
Bell Center: Closed
Underground Fitness: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Faculty/staff golf league:
Drake faculty/staff golf league will be a doubles league held at Grandview  Golf Course/A.H. Blank Golf Course in Des Moines. Nine holes will be played each week on Wednesdays with tee times starting at 4 p.m. for Grandview and 4:30 p.m. for A.H. Blank. The first day of play will be May 19 and will continue through July 28 (10 weeks).

To register, email Ryan Parriott at ryan.parriott@drake.edu.

Intramurals is hiring:
Want to work in sports? Drake Intramurals is looking for students to join their team in the fall. Available positions include both officials and scorekeepers. Knowledge of sports is not required. Email intramurals@drake.edu for more information or to apply.

— Emily Madsen, Rec Services

Join The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement and the Drake Chapter of the American Pharmacists Association for our virtual Policy on Tap event April 29. Leading community health experts will discuss the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how it will inform future public health initiatives. Register on Eventbrite.

Panelists include:

• Kelly Garcia, interim director of the Iowa Department of Public Health
• Nora Stelter, professor of pharmacy and health sciences at Drake University
• Erik Maki, professor of pharmacy and health sciences at Drake University
• Sharmi Patel, executive fellow at the Iowa Pharmacy Association

— Emily Schettler, Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement

The Drake Constitutional Law Center will host the 2021 Constitutional Law Symposium on Saturday, April 17, from 8:40 a.m. to 12 p.m. The program will be delivered virtually via Zoom. This year, speakers will examine pragmatism as a method of constitutional interpretation.

Pragmatism is considered the most significant contribution by the United States to global philosophy. Ironically, pragmatism is not considered one of the dominant methods of constitutional interpretation used by the Supreme Court. Originalism receives much public attention. Its focus is largely on what the Constitution’s framers would have wanted, though there are many variations.

This symposium is meant to re-examine pragmatism in constitutional interpretation from several different perspectives. These include feminist approaches, race-conscious views, Posnerian contexts, empirically grounded types, brand new pluralistic theories, and criticisms. It will also highlight the strengths, weaknesses, and relationships between constitutional pragmatism, and other interpretation methods.

The symposium will feature a slate of nationally renowned scholars discussing these important topics:

Interpretive Factions in a Pluralistic Constitutional Universe
Brian E. Butler, Professor of Philosophy and the Thomas Howerton Distinguished Professor of Humanities, University of North Carolina-Asheville

Legal Pragmatism and the Presidency
Daniel Farber, Sho Sato Professor of Law and Faculty Director, Center for Law, Energy, & the Environment, University of California, Berkeley

Incremental Meets Intersectional: Today’s (Feminist and Womanist) Pragmatisms
Linda E. McClain, Robert Kent Professor of Law, Boston University School of Law

Forms of Pragmatism
Robert L. Tsai, Professor of Law, Boston University School of Law

Constitutional Pragmatism and Abortion
Mark Kende, Director, Drake Constitutional Law Center, James Madison Chair Professor in Constitutional Law, Drake University Law School

Registration is free and open to the public. Register online at 2021-constitutional-law-symposium.eventbrite.com. Registrants may pre-order a copy of the Drake Law Review Symposium issue for $10.

If you have questions about the Symposium or need further information, contact Trish Trombino, 515-271-2988, theresa.trombino@drake.edu.

Learn more about the Drake Constitutional Law Center.

— Theresa Howard, Law School

The Department of World Languages and Cultures is pleased to offer a new minor in Spanish for medical and health professions beginning in Fall 2021. The minor assists students interested in pursuing careers in medicine and various health professions, including public health, pharmacy, and other areas in developing linguistic and cultural competencies related to Spanish and the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries. These competencies will assist them in providing services to Spanish-speaking patients and co-workers. The new minor will require 18 hours, include a core of 12 hours and six hours of electives.

The minor is available to students in all colleges and schools. This is not a common program in the U.S. and will aid students in seeking employment after graduation due to the features of the curriculum.

For more specific information or any questions, contact worldlanguages@drake.edu or a WLC faculty member.

— Marc Pinheiro-Cadd, World Languages and Cultures

ITS has been updating our online resources to make them more user-friendly. If you visit the IT service portal at service.drake.edu/its you will begin to see fewer services available. We are combining services, and using logic within the forms to make it easier for you to choose the right service to use for your issue or request.

This work will continue into the summer months and beyond, but as we work through each category, you will see two options to submit:

• Issues: Use issue for a system or tool that was working and isn’t anymore.
• Requests: Submit a request to add something new or change access to an existing system or tool.

As long as you get to the right tool or system, your request or issue will be sent to the right ITS staff to assist you.

We hope these changes will make it easier for you to use our service portal, and get access to the tech you need. Have questions about these changes? Or want to provide feedback? Visit https://www.drake.edu/its/giveitsfeedback/.

— Carla Herling & Becky Klein, ITS

Throughout the past year we have seen people unite together to help out neighbors, family, and friends. Through mask-making, virtual tutoring, or sending a care package or card, you’ve risen to the challenge of being a caring neighbor.

April 5–10, as we celebrate Civic Action Week at Drake, share the innovative ways you’ve seen people unite and give back this past year on social media. Tag @drakeservice and #DrakeServes.

Join in on one of the events happening on campus like a Careers in Social Change Panel, Sprout Garden Ribbon Cutting, the Harkin Institute’s Sussman Lecture with Nikole Hannah-Jones, a community walk through the neighborhood and more. Donate to one of the several donations drives happening. Support local businesses with the Dogtown Dash. Find a volunteer opportunity. Whatever your comfort level, there’s an opportunity for you.

Learn more at drake.edu/community/learningservice/studentopportunities/civicactionweek/ and don’t forget to share how you are celebrating on social media!

— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning