Lee Jolliffe, professor of journalism, has a chapter in David Sachsman’s new book After the War: The Press in a Changing America, 1865-1900 (Transaction, 2017).

The chapter is “ ‘Black Fiends’ and ‘Atrocious Murders’: Redefining ‘Sensationalism’ through Coverage of Interracial Crime in the Nineteenth Century”. Jolliffe looked at reporting of interracial murders featuring European-, African-, Asian-, and Native Americans and learned that the elements traditionally ascribed to “sensationalism”—the large headlines and incendiary graphics of the New York yellow press—are not the only indicators of that style. Smaller inland newspapers with tiny circulations and lacking the budgets for giant headline fonts and complex engravings, also practiced sensationalism. Their use of it appears in headlines, language use, overplaying of stories for impact, highlighting any presence of race, blaming, fear-mongering, inclusion of gory details, and calling readers to action—often lynching or cheering for summary justice. The overarching purpose of the interracial murder coverage appeared to be a strong enforcement of a social norm that races must be kept separate or mayhem would ensue.

—Lee Joliffe, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Four Drake students have been selected as finalists for prestigious 2017–2018 Fulbright Scholarships. Seniors Nathan Jacobson, Elena Dietz, and Kelly Leatherman will teach English in Bulgaria, Indonesia, and Malaysia, respectively. In addition, one recent Drake graduate has been selected for a year of research in India. Read more in the Drake Newsroom.

Heidi Sleister, professor of biology, recently received the 2017 Iowa Distinguished Science Teaching Award from the Iowa Academy of Science. The award is given to educators for their innovative teaching practices at the university level.

Sleister was nominated for the award by current and former Drake students, as well as on-campus faculty. Excerpts from Sleister’s nomination letters were read aloud at the awards ceremony during the Iowa Academy of Science’s Annual Meeting in Cedar Falls on April 21. Sleister was praised for her innovative and creative teaching strategies, and dedicated mentoring of students in classroom and advising contexts. She has mentored over 50 students in research contexts; student nominators credited her with preparing them for graduate school by helping them understand the content behind the science, developing independent and critical thinking skills, and fostering confidence.

The Iowa Academy of Science’s mission is to foster interest in the sciences, scientific research, and science education, and to recognize high achievement in fulfilling this mission in the state of Iowa.

—David Senchina, Department of Biology

Facilities Planning and Management has been using the computer maintenance management software InSite for work orders since 2007 with an average 10,000 work orders each year being submitted. On April 4, the 100,000th work order was issued.

This historic work order was actually generated automatically by the system and is created monthly with the details of “Check exterior building doors for needed repairs, April 2017.”  FPM uses these routine work orders to be proactive in the maintenance of the campus buildings, ensuring all aspects are operating correctly.

Implementation of a new updated order system will take place later this summer. More information will be upcoming in future OnCampus articles.

– Kevin Moran, Executive Director Facilities Planning and Management

Drake’s Next Course Food Recovery organization is in the running for a statewide Network Choice Award! Vote for them up until midnight tonight (Monday, April 24) by “liking” their picture on the Iowa Campus Compact Facebook page. Please share and help Next Course get as many “likes” as possible. The organization has recovered more and donated to local shelters and organizations more than 20,000 pounds of food since its inception in 2014.

Check out http://iacampuscompact.org/resource-posts/vote-now-network-choice-award/ for more information.

—Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning

Congratulations to the following faculty, staff, and programs who will be honored at the 4th Annual Iowa Campus Compact Engaged Campus Award Summit on May 3.

• Civic Mission Leadership: A faculty or staff member who has demonstrated leadership for higher education civic engagement and has worked to give voice to the civic mission of higher education
  • Honorable Mention: Renee Sedlacek, Director of Community Engaged Learning
• Student Leadership: A student leader with demonstrated accomplishments in engaging students in meaningful service and civic engagement
  • Winner: Jamie Willer, Class of 2017
• Community Leadership: An alumnus of a member institution making strong contributions to their community and demonstrating the values of the civic mission of higher education
  • Honorable Mention: Emily Lang, AS’07, ED’07, GR’12 with Run DSM
• Emerging Leadership: A new person in the field who is making unique and innovative contributions that demonstrate strong future potential
  • Honorable Mention: Laura Kieran, Assistant Professor of Special Education
• Emerging Innovation: a recent project, program, or initiative making unique and innovative contributions that demonstrate strong future potential.
  • Winner: Drake Community Press
  • Honorable Mention: Engaged Citizen Corps

—Renee Sedlacek, Community Engagement and Service-Learning

The 2017 edition of the Drake University Social Science Journal is now available online at www.drake.edu/dussj/currentedition/.

The Journal has been published annually since 1999 (with exception of 2016), and features some of the best undergraduate social science research at Drake. Published articles are chosen through a highly selective process conducted by an editorial board consisting of students nominated by faculty in the fields of economics, history, international relations, political science, and anthropology. The five research articles featured in this year’s Journal deal with topics including immigration, human development, Catholic labor politics, legal politics in Sudan, and the atomic bomb in U.S. Cold War strategy. Past issues of the Journal are also available. Please read this year’s edition of the Journal and offer congratulations to the authors and editorial board members.
 
—David Skidmore, Professor of Political Science, DUSSJ Faculty Advisor

Two Drake students presented papers during the undergraduate poster session of the annual conference of the Midwest Political Science Association. Kate Kemper and Darby Matt presented at the conference held April 6-9 in Chicago. Read more in the Drake Newsroom.