In honor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Week, join the Broadlawns Drake Student Counseling Center and office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for a mental health panel March 22 focused on disrupting the harmful narratives given to marginalized communities, and an open discussion on ways to enhance worth and belonging in the face of social injustice. Participants will also receive free self-care prizes and free food, and admitted students will have the opportunity to be entered into a raffle to win additional self-care prizes, such as weighted blankets, self-help books, and MORE! This is a wonderful opportunity to experience a taste of the culture of inclusivity, belonging, and well-being at Drake! Register here.

When: March 22nd from 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Where: Parents Hall South

— Kayla Bell-Consolver, Broadlawns Drake University Student Counseling Center

Stop by the Olmsted breezeway Feb. 26, March 25, or April 22 from 9–10:30 a.m. to chat with counselors from the student counseling center. This is a chance to get answers to questions related to mental health and receive free coffee from local coffee shops!

When: February 26, March 25, and April 22 from 9–10:30 a.m.
Where: Breezeway, Olmsted 

— Kayla Bell-Consolver, Broadlawns Drake University Student Counseling Center

Science on Screen, a collaboration between Varsity Cinema, STEM Librarian Dan Chibnall, and STEM@DRAKE, launches Feb. 27 with a screening of the sci-fi/horror classic The Thing, introduced by Shauna Kaplan, associate professor of biology. Buy tickets.

Kaplan’s introduction will explore how different diseases spread in our society. Some transmit directly from one person to another, others are spread from an insect bite, such as a tick or mosquito, and some spread from animal to human. Before watching The Thing, she will talk about how some diseases transmit from an animal to a human easily, while others are much more difficult, and whether once the disease is in a human if it can transmit to another human, using influenza as the main example.

The Thing is a sci-fi/horror classic from director John Carpenter. Set on a science research station in the Antarctic, an American research team has a strange encounter with their Norwegian counterparts, including a husky dog who is not what it seems. This film explores science and sci-fi concepts such as biological transmission of disease, paranoia, seclusion, social anxiety, and alienation. 

This is the first of three films in the series coming to Varsity Cinema this spring. The next film in the series will be Blackberry, March 26, with an introduction by SJMC professor Chris Snider on the evolution of and relationship with our mobile devices particularly smartphones. The final film will be Galaxy Quest on April 30 with an introduction by professor Charlie Nelson on our fascination with the concept of extraterrestrials. 

Science on Screen series schedule:

Film: John Carpenter’s The Thing
Tuesday, Feb. 27: talk begins at 6:30 p.m., film shortly after, no later than 7 p.m.
Special Guest Speaker: Associate Professor Shauna Kaplan, Biology & Microbiology, Drake University
Presentation Title: Diseases that Transmit Between Animals and Humans
Description: Different diseases spread (known as transmission) in different modes. Some transmit directly from one person to another, others are spread from an insect bite, such as a tick or mosquito, and some spread from animal to humans. Before watching The Thing, we will talk about how some diseases transmit from an animal to a human easily, while other are much more difficult, and whether if once the disease is in a human if it can transmit to another human, using influenza as the main example.
Tickets: On sale now https://varsitydesmoines.com/purchase/381564/

Film: Blackberry
Tuesday, March 26: talk begins at 6:30 p.m., film shortly after, no later than 7 p.m.
Special Guest Speaker: Associate Professor Chris Snider, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Drake University
Presentation Title: “Don’t Silence Your Phones”
Description: How our smartphones went from email-obsessed devices to powerful movie-making tools that fit in our pocket. This presentation from Drake University School of Journalism multimedia professor Chris Snider will discuss the evolution of smartphones, which are now used to film major motion pictures. Snider will also share some tips for all of us to unleash our movie-making abilities.
Tickets: Will go on sale in mid-March 

Film: Galaxy Quest
Tuesday, April 30: talk begins at 6:30 p.m., film shortly after, no later than 7 p.m.
Special Guest Speaker: Associate Professor Charlie Nelson, Physics & Astronomy, Drake University
Presentation Title & Description: TBA
Tickets: Will go on sale in mid-April

Science on Screen is a national initiative of the COOLIDGE CORNER THEATRE, with major support from the ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION.

University Communications and Marketing will hold professional headshot sessions Thursday, Feb. 29, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in Old Main, Conference Room 115. The sessions are free to all students, faculty, and staff. High-resolution portraits are made available for download 2–4 weeks after the photos are taken. Images can be downloaded at https://drakeuniversity.smugmug.com/Headshots-1.

 — Jimmy Hoover, University Communications and Marketing

In honor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Week, join the Broadlawns Drake Student Counseling Center and Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for a mental health panel focused on disrupting the harmful narratives given to marginalized communities, and an open discussion on ways to enhance worth and belonging in the face of social injustice. Participants will also receive free self-care prizes and free food, and admitted students will have the opportunity to be entered into a raffle to win additional self-care prizes, such as weighted blankets, self-help books, and MORE! This is a wonderful opportunity to experience a taste of the culture of inclusivity, belonging, and well-being at Drake! Register here.

When/Where: March 22nd, 2:30-4:30pm, Parents Hall South

— Kayla Bell-Consolver, Student Counseling Center

Learning about love, sexual health, and wellness. We will also be partnering with One Iowa for this event! Stop to snag some candy, talk with a counselor, and enter a raffle for a $50 gift card to a local restaurant—just in time to take your date out for Valentine’s Day.

When: February 12–14th, 1:30–4 p.m.
Where: Breezeway, Olmsted

— Kayla Bell-Consolver, Student Counseling Center

February is going to be a fun month when it comes to Wellness programming.

Time to Train! Running up to the Relays is a program that will support your training for the Drake Road Races.  Whether you are training for the 5K, 1/2, or whole marathon, we’ve got a training plan for you.  Reach out to Gail.witte@gmail.com for more information.

Fleet Feet Bra Event: 2/7@5pm  Bell Center Studio
Join us as we welcome Fleet Feet Des Moines to the Bell Center.  They will be educating us on the different types of athletic bras, how to get the right fit, and more!  Sing up on the Drake Rec App

Hot Chocolate Barre and Partner Yoga
2/14 .  At 12:15 Gail Witte will teach a fun Barre class followed by a cup of hot chocolate!  Then at 5pm she will teach a “Partner Yoga” that is sure to be full fun and laughs.  Bring a friend and sign up in the Drake Rec App!!

We have two classes that run for four weeks, so build them into your schedule.
Judo, being taught by our own Scott Law, will run 2/21,2/28, 3/6 &3/21 in the Bell Center Studio @5:30pm.

Dance to Perform is a class taught by one of our FOUR brand new student instructors, Audrey Almeida!!  Over the four class she will teach some technique and choreography that will be performed at the end of the last class!!  Sign up in the Drake Rec App

Lastly, I’d like to highlight the aforementioned new student group fitness instructors: Ashley Beitelspacher, Audrey Almeida, Audrey Martin and Riley Palmer.  Paige Fernety and Britni Gill will be returning student instructors.  And Leslie Mars and Jenny Jones who are our faculty instructors.  They are building out a great group fitness schedule and I encourage everyone to try out a new class this semester.

— Gail Witte, Rec Services