Bulldog Plaza:
Building our Future on the Foundations of Our Past . . . literally.

During our excavation to place the footings for the new granite walls along University Avenue in front of Old Main, we discovered the foundations of a previous building. The existing foundations mirrored nearly the same path needed for our new project, and were proving to be nearly impossible to remove given their size. We verified with our structural engineer, and in the end, chose to embrace the past, and use the abandoned footings as our new base.

Over the next few weeks, the project will really begin to take shape with the completion of the granite wall, sidewalk, and plaza paver installations, including the masonry base construction for our newest bulldog sculpture on campus. Remaining construction items are planned for completion the week of Aug. 24. As the construction activities wrap up, temporary fence will be removed, with site restoration, grading, and landscaping to continue. Funding for this project is made possible through multiple philanthropic gifts.

Hubbell Dining Renovation:

We have had an incredible summer of construction at Hubbell Dining Hall. While students are counting the days until the start of the fall semester, contractors, design teams, and Drake staff are working hard to make that a return to the new, instead of the old. The thousands of planning, design, and construction hours needed to transform Hubbell Dining Center are nearing the finish line. The new finishes, kitchen spaces, and serving stations, are just a part of the improved overall dining experience available for students returning to campus in a couple of weeks.

Our teams have also been working diligently on providing a safe dining experience compliant with other COVID protocols we are using throughout campus.  Funding for this multi-million dollar remodel is provided by our dining partners, Sodexo.

— Michelle Huggins, Facilities Planning & Management

The latest COVID-19 Update shares information about the University’s gradual return to normal campus operations beginning the week of Aug 3–7. Please read the message in full, including the introduction of the University’s #DrakeTogether Commitments, which are designed to help reduce risk to our community.

Griff posted the following message to his Facebook page June 30, his official date of retirement. His successor, Griff II, will take over full-time mascot duties starting July 1. A changing of the harness ceremony will be planned for this fall to mark the official handoff of responsibilities. More details on the event will be communicated later this summer. In the meantime, share a congratulations message and best wishes for Griff on his Facebook page.

My dear friends,

The time has come for me to sign off and hand over all mascot responsibilities and duties to my successor and best friend, George. There is no doubt in my mind that he is more than ready to assume the title of Griff II and all that comes with it, even though he’s wet behind the ears and awfully naïve. I truly believe he was destined to be your Dog, just as I was. I am excited to kick back and relax while witnessing all the good he’s about to do.

Thank you, from the bottom of my Bulldog heart, for the countless memories—they will stay with me always. And, thank you for all the love you’ve given me every single day I’ve been on the job—I feel larger than life! Being your Dog has been the greatest honor.

And to you, George: Go get ‘em, buddy. I know you’re still a little unsure about all of this, but you are going to be great and I couldn’t be prouder of you. You’ve got this! And if you need anything, I’m pretty sure you know where I live and how to get ahold of me. I’ll be with you every step of the way.

There is no doubt you’re in the best paws going forward, Bulldogs, and I can’t wait to be back on campus this fall for the much anticipated, first ever changing of the harness ceremony! Take care, my friends, and be sure to keep up with George right here. I’m sure he would love to hear from you tomorrow, so you might consider leaving him some words of welcome and encouragement as he starts out.

I am SO proud to be your dog! GO BULLDOGS, always and forever. Griff I, out.

— Griff

This week, we celebrated the collective spirit of the Drake community through Drake All In. I’m pleased to share Drake received $437,225 from 1,029 gifts during the annual 24-hour giving challenge.

This total reflects the confidence and generosity of our alumni, faculty and staff, students, and friends. Their gifts will positively impact many areas of campus, including our colleges and schools, Athletics, and initiatives for diversity and inclusion. In these challenging times, I am inspired and grateful to see the Drake community rally around its students and support the life of the University.

All In recognizes the accomplishments, dedication, and resilience of the Bulldog family, and we should all take pride in the outcomes of this event. It’s through your efforts that Drake remains an institution that individuals find worthy of their time, energy, and investment. Thank you to everyone who supported All In through your contributions, advocacy, creativity, and commitment to Drake’s mission.

— John Smith, Vice President for Advancement

The following message was sent from President Martin to the campus community on Monday, June 1.

Dear colleagues and students,

George Floyd died one week ago today, handcuffed and pinned to the ground by Officer Derek Chauvin of the Minneapolis Police Department. The video of the arrest shows Officer Chauvin with his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck while Mr. Floyd pleads with the officer, telling him that he is in pain and that he cannot breathe, before he calls out for his mother. Officer Chauvin kept his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck for more than two minutes after Mr. Floyd became non-responsive.

Mr. Floyd was pronounced dead at the Hennepin County Medical Center a little over an hour after he was first approached by Minneapolis police officers. He was forty-six years old. He was a son, a brother, a friend, the father of two daughters, and a grandfather to a three-year-old girl. He died telling Officer Chauvin, “I can’t breathe.” He died saying to Officer Chauvin, “please, please, please.” He died calling out to his deceased mother.

Officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, and he and the three other Minneapolis police officers involved in Mr. Floyd’s death have been fired. While it is commendable that these actions have been taken, it remains heartbreaking and infuriating that Mr. Floyd’s pleas were met with such callous disregard by Officer Chauvin and his fellow officers. This is made all the more heartbreaking and infuriating by the fact that Mr. Floyd is not the first Black man to die while telling a police officer, “I can’t breathe.”

We can and we must do better. This is required of every single one of us and every single institution in this country. Justice demands that we all do our part to confront and overcome the legacy of bigotry that motivates an Officer Chauvin to put his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck and keep it there as Mr. Floyd’s life is extinguished.

This institution and its people – faculty, staff, students, and alumni – have worked and will continue to work to stamp out bigotry and intolerance, to make our campus and our communities welcoming and safe for all. Indeed, we demonstrated our willingness to be in this fight together nearly two years ago with the Paint It Black movement. Drake University is committed to equity and inclusion and we will – through education, scholarship, service, and advocacy – strive to be part of whatever it takes to ensure that the right to life and liberty is not denied to anyone because of the color of her or his skin.

Sincerely,

Marty

At Drake, we are committed to equity and inclusion on our campus and in our communities. This is a painful and challenging time, and our priority is helping support students, faculty, staff, and all who are part of the Drake family. For that reason, we are putting the All In 24-hour giving challenge on hold. We look forward to launching this campaign when the time is right; for now, we encourage you to take care of yourself and those around you. We are all in this together.

The following message was communicated to campus in a COVID-19 Update on May 14, 2020:

Drake University will receive funding through the CARES Act to provide emergency grants to students. Per the direction of the U.S. Department of Education, these grants can only be used for student “expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.” The Department of Education has explicitly prohibited using the grant dollars to compensate a student for lost income due to their or another’s loss of employment.

You may be eligible for this funding if you meet all of the following criteria:

• You are eligible to receive federal student aid as either an undergraduate or graduate-level degree-seeking student. Eligibility must be confirmed through submission of your 2019–2020 or 2020–2021 FAFSA;
• You were enrolled in coursework in the spring 2020 semester, and that coursework is not part of a program that is offered entirely online; and,
• You incurred eligible expenses caused by the disruption to campus operations.

Students who meet the above criteria must complete the CARES Act Student Grant Application to be considered for these federal funds. Applications will be reviewed on an on-going basis and funds will be distributed until they are exhausted. Completing an application does not guarantee that a student will receive funds. As part of the application, students will be asked to substantiate their reported eligible expenses. The maximum amount of assistance a student may receive from this funding is $6000.

Drake University will provide these federal funds to students as quickly as possible, while adhering to the U. S. Department of Education’s guidance. To apply, complete the CARES Act Student Grant Application.

If you have questions as you complete the application, please review the FAQ on this topic at https://www.drake.edu/coronavirus/students/faq/cares-act-faq/, email covid19@drake.edu, or call (515) 271-2353.

Please visit drake.edu/coronavirus, which houses a repository of campus updates and messages pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic, and also provides answers to many frequently asked questions.