This year’s Engaged Citizen Experience theme is “Making Democracy Work.” We have scheduled both a documentary film series titled “Democracy Around the World,” and mini-conference from 1:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26. All events are free and open to the pubic. Click here for additional information and to register for the conference.
—Art Sanders, Associate Provost
I urge all of you to attend your local caucus and support the candidate of your choice. For information about caucus sites, for Democrats visit www.iowademocrats.org/2016-democratic-caucus-locations/
For Republicans visit www.iowagop.org/caucus-locations/
—Submitted by Art Sanders, Associate Provost
What: Drake Constitutional Law Center Distinguished Lecture Series:
“Scrutinizing Polygamy after Hobby Lobby and Obergefell”
Featuring Maura Strassberg, Drake Law School professor
When: Thursday, Feb. 4, 4 p.m.
Where: Cartwright Hall, Room 213
Maura Strassberg, professor of law at Drake Law School, will present “Scrutinizing Polygamy after Hobby Lobby and Obergefell” as part of the Drake Constitutional Law Center’s Distinguished Lecture Series.
Now that the Supreme Court has determined same-sex marriage is constitutionally protected under the Equal Protection and Due Process clauses, many have wondered whether polygamy should also receive constitutional protection. In addition, recent developments in the protection of religious freedom under the 1st Amendment as well as federal and state Religious Freedom Restoration Acts also provide the basis for a re-evaluation of bans on religious polygamy.
Strassberg will discuss whether existing laws distinguishing polygamy from same-sex marriage are the result of prejudice or if they stem from good reasons. She will point to modern social science research on the harms of polygamy from a global perspective that may answer this question as well as justifications for state prohibitions on polygamy that could survive even stricter scrutiny.
The event is free and open to the public.
—Submitted by Kayla Choate, Law School Alumni Affairs & Communications Coordinator
What: The Changing Politics of U.S. Latin American Policy: Immigration, Cuba, Presidential Power, and the Latino Vote by David R. Ayón
When: Tuesday, Feb. 2, 7–8:30 p.m.
Where: Sussman Theater, Olmsted Center
Sponsored by The Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship. Free and open to the public.
David R. Ayón is senior strategist and advisor to the research firm Latino Decisions, senior fellow at the Center for the Study of Los Angeles of Loyola Marymount University, a member of the editorial board of Foreign Affairs Latinoamérica and a director of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation. His current work focuses on how Latino political development interacts with national U.S. politics and U.S.-Latin America relations. Educated at Princeton, Stanford, and El Colegio de Mexico, Ayón also writes a column for the Univision News website and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Check out all the events planned by the Center for Global Citizenship in spring 2016.
—Submitted by David Skidmore, Director, Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship
Drake University Student Senate, Drake College Republicans, Drake University Democrats, and the Drake Political Review will host a practice caucus at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, in the Shivers Basketball Practice Facility’s hospitality suite in the Knapp Center on Drake’s campus. The event will include a simulation of both the Republican and Democratic caucuses, and is designed for students, staff and faculty to learn how the Iowa Caucuses work. Read more in the Drake Newsroom.
Dr. Robert Bender, a geriatric physician at Broadlawns Medical Center, will present “Healthy Aging and Brain Wellness” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, in Drake University’s Sussman Theater, 2875 University Ave. The free lecture is open to public and will open the Calvin Community Panels on Aging series, co-sponsored by Calvin Community and The Comparison Project at Drake University. Mary Mincer Hansen, co-chair of Age Friendly Greater Des Moines Health Committee, will moderate a Q&A session with Bender following the lecture. Read more in the Drake Newsroom.
On Saturday, Feb. 13, Tracy Martin, father of Trayvon Martin, will visit Drake as part of Black History Month programming. Mr. Martin will speak in Sheslow Auditorium from 5 to 7 pm. The event, which is free and open to the public and sponsored by the Coalition of Black Students (CBS), will include a brief lecture, a moderated conversation, and a Q&A session with the audience. CBS is designing the programming in a manner that respects and honors Mr. Martin’s grief while joining him in discussing the difficult questions that follow in the wake of his son’s death.
Attendees may submit questions online that they would like the moderator to ask Mr. Martin.
Following the lecture, CBS will host the Black on Black Banquet in Levitt Hall. The dress code for the banquet is black tie and will be ticketed. Mr. Martin will be the guest of honor. Click here to get your free ticket.
Mr. Martin’s visit is taking place due to generous co-sponsorship from the Slay Fund, the Office of the Provost, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Medbury Fund, the Women and Gender Studies program, and the Center for the Humanities.
—Submitted by Melisa Klimaszewski, Associate Professor of English, Faculty Adviser, Coalition of Black Students; and Jacques Goavec, President, Coalition of Black Students
Catch the men’s basketball team in action on Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. against Missouri State. It promises to be a fun game with several activities: don your neon, parachute pants, and big hair for I <3 the 80s Day. Students, arrive early to grab a fanny pack courtesy of Drake West Village to complete your 80s outfit.
It’s also Greek Day; Drake fraternities and sororities will compete against one another during halftime in various games and challenges.
See you there!
The Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship invites all faculty, staff, students, and community members to attend the first event of the semester, “Human Rights in Cultural Context,” featuring Deslie Billich, a global expert on human rights, anti-corruption, human trafficking, victim protection, and gender assessments. The lecture will take place on Thursday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. in Sussman Theater, Olmsted Center.
Billich’s talk will highlight how cultural norms play a role in human trafficking on an international level, both in developing networks and victims, and in hindering prosecution through corruption.
Billich is a scholar and attorney in South Australia who is widely recognized as an authority in international rule of law. She provides training to judiciary officials and attorneys, law enforcement, and victim service providers in legal aspects of human rights, trafficking in persons, and criminal justice. She has served as a consultant and presenter for national and international forums including the United Nations, Amnesty International, Red Cross, and the U.S. Department of State, and she is a member of the International Association of Prosecutors and the International Law Association.
The Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship hosts a number of free and open to the public events each semester—see what’s planned for Spring 2016 here.
—Submitted by David Skidmore, Director, The Principal Financial Center for Global Citizenship
Men’s Basketball
Drake vs. Missouri State
Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.
Knapp Center
Women’s Basketball
Drake vs. Northern Iowa
Jan. 24 at 2 p.m.
Knapp Center
