Category Archives: Featured Events Archive

Debate week at Drake!

Drake will host the Democratic National Committee Debate, which will be broadcast live by CBS, on Saturday, Nov. 14. Those faculty, staff, and students who received tickets in the lottery were alerted last week. While not everybody can be in the audience for the debate, there is still plenty of opportunity to get involved in political activities throughout the week.

NPR Presents: Michel Martin: Going There
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m.
Olmsted Center

Together with Iowa Public Radio, NPR Presents kicks off a second season of Michel Martin: Going There events in Des Moines, Iowa, with a look at this much pursued but little understood portion of the electorate. This unique live event, to be held at Drake University’s Olmsted Center on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m., blends interviews with a panel discussion between some of Des Moines’ most dynamic young activists, storytelling and live music, with a special performance by the Des Moines-based rock/folk band Canby. Tickets are available here. You can learn more about the event in the Drake Newsroom.

Digital Democracy: The Yahoo Conference on Technology and Politics
Thursday, Nov. 12
Parents Hall, Olmsted Center

The former head of digital strategy for the Obama White House and the president of production for the website “Funny or Die” are among the confirmed participants in “Digital Democracy: The Yahoo Conference on Technology and Politics,” an all-day conference that explores the future of our democratic process and the relationships between citizens and their government. The event will be held in Parents Hall on the upper floor of Olmsted Center. To RSVP and for up-to-date agenda information, visit this link; a limited number of seats will be held specifically for Drake students. You can learn more about the event here.

Face the Nation
Sunday, Nov. 15
Sheslow Auditorium

Face the Nation will be broadcast from Sheslow Auditorium the morning of Nov. 15. While this is a closed taping (no audience), it’s yet another exciting, high-visibility moment for Drake!

Former U.S. ambassador to give talk

The Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship will host a lecture about voters’ heightened interest in foreign policy during the presidential campaign season.

Joseph Mussomeli, former U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia, will deliver “Foreign Policy on the Campaign Trail: Tough Talk is Easy (and Essential)” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, in room 101 of Meredith Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public. Learn more in the Drake Newsroom. 

Home openers for basketball this week

The Bulldogs are in action this week in basketball and volleyball.

Men’s Basketball—Home Opener
Drake vs. Simpson
Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
Knapp Center

Volleyball
Drake vs. Northern Iowa
Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.
Knapp Center

Women’s Basketball—Home Opener
Drake vs. Iowa State
Nov. 15 at 2 p.m.
Knapp Center

—Submitted by Tom Florian, Assistant Director of Ticketing

Price of Pleasure screening

Join us on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7:30–9 p.m. in Cowles Library, Room 201, for a screening of this documentary. This eye-opening film tackles the complexity behind this seeming paradox, placing the voices of critics, producers, and performers alongside the observations of men and women as they candidly discuss the role pornography has played in shaping their sexual imaginations and relationships.

—Submitted by Alysa Mozak, Coordinator for Sexual Violence Response and Healthy Relationship Promotion

“Are we Global Yet?”

The Anderson Gallery will open a major new exhibition this month titled “Are We Global Yet? The Art and Politics of Public Space (including the virtual),” curated by professor Lenore Metrick-Chen and students from her curatorial capstone seminar.

The exhibition, which runs Friday, Nov. 13, through Feb. 12, 2016, brings together historical maps, student collaborations with homeless individuals in the community, and contemporary artwork from more than 15 artists to ask the question, “Are we global yet?” An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on November 13; in addition, the Anderson Gallery will host a free public symposium titled “Ethics of New Media” on Sunday, Nov. 15. In January, an augmented reality layer will add yet another dimension to the gallery. Learn more about the exhibit and events in the Drake Newsroom.

“The Changing Role of Central Banks”

Drake University will host a panel discussion on “The Changing Role of Central Banks,” sponsored by The Principal Financial Group and The Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship.

The free public event is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Sussman Theater, located in the lower level of the Olmsted Center.

Panelists will include Jim McCaughan, CEO of Principal Global Investors; Bob Baur, Chief Global Economist at PGI; Madelyn Antoncic, executive director of institutional investment solutions at PGI; and Sean Severe, assistant professor of economics in the Drake University College of Business and Public Administration.

Put your spelling skills to the test

If you enjoy a little friendly competition and raising money for a good cause, don’t miss out on the Adult Spelling Bee on Friday, Nov. 13, 6–8 p.m. in the Olmsted Center. All proceeds from the event go to support Drake’s Adult Literacy Center.

The cost to register a team (4–5 people) is $200 and includes drink tickets and appetizers. Tickets for spectators cost $20 and $5 for Drake students. Register your team or buy your ticket today!

—Submitted by Anne Murr, Director, Adult Literacy Center

Drake alumna to give accounting lecture

Drake University alumna Anita F. Bales, BN’93, will discuss her work as director of the United States Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), an organization that provides oversight of federal defense contract spending, during a free public lecture next month. “The DCAA: Auditing in the Public Interest” will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, in Sheslow Auditorium. Learn more about this event here.

Shut Out Trafficking Week

Drake Athletics, the Division of Student Life, and LEAD 100 students have partnered with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and the National Consortium for Academics & Sports (NCAS) to bring attention to the issue of human trafficking. To that end, this week is “Shut Out Trafficking Week” at Drake. We are one of 10 campuses throughout the country selected to host this program during the 2015–2016 academic year.

There are a variety of initiatives throughout the week to bring attention to this important topic that we know is a reality for members of our Des Moines community. The opening educational session will occur today, Nov. 2, 7–8:30 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium with two keynote speakers: Dr. Richard Lapchick from the University of Central Florida and Malea Otranto with the End Trafficking Project from UNICEF USA.

Learn more about the events planned for Shut Out Trafficking Week.

—Submitted by Jerry Parker, Interim Dean of Students