Drake University is producing an updated University commercial video called “Tomorrow Starts Today.” The video will be used for broadcast and repurposed for our website hero video, social media advertising, and other marketing efforts. This high-profile production may appear in national broadcasts, including CBS March Madness and national political debates.

UCM has engaged production partner Cutbank Production, and will be filming on campus Oct. 5–8.

Thank you to the many students, faculty, and staff who have already been part of our planning over the last few weeks.

We will place signage on rooms and locations indicating our presence during the week of filming, so please look out for these notices. Larger signage will be posted while we are actively filming in a given area.

Staff will be on hand with credentials. If you need to get through a space or path we are blocking, please don’t hesitate to reach out to someone credentialed (you will see a lanyard/badge) and they will guide you through the area between takes. 

This serves as a general notice that while we are working to capture film in those locations with signage, individuals in background areas or passing through to class may be captured in the production. 

If you have any concerns, please reach out to me at jeremy.sievers@drake.edu.

— Jeremy Sievers, UCM

On Sunday, Sept. 13, Drake Dining hosted its very first Grand Blue Brunch!

The Grand Blue Brunch was created to give Sunday brunch a little something extra and offer students, friends and family a chance to enjoy a relaxed afternoon together. Guests gathered around the table, caught up with one another, and enjoyed a special brunch experience right here on campus.

Since this was our first Grand Blue Brunch, it was also a chance for us to try something new and see what our guests thought. We loved seeing the dining hall filled with people enjoying their Sunday and making the most of the afternoon.

This first brunch was just the beginning of something we’re excited to bring back. We look forward to hosting more Grand Blue Brunch events throughout the year and creating more opportunities for the Drake community to gather, enjoy brunch and make memories together.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first Grand Blue Brunch and helped make it such a great day! We can’t wait to do it again. Keep an eye out for future Grand Blue Brunch dates and join us for the next one!

— Taylor Webb, Dining Services

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2027–2028 award year (Summer 2027, Fall 2027, and Spring 2028) is now available at studentaid.gov.

US Citizens and eligible non-citizens should complete the 2027–2028 FAFSA to be considered for need-based grants, federal work-study, or to take advantage of federal student loan programs.

A new feature on the 2027-2028 FAFSA is that it will process instantly once all FAFSA contributors have completed their sections. Your FAFSA Submission Summary can be viewed at that time. However, this change to immediate processing does not affect the timeline of when Federal Student Aid sends the FAFSA results to Drake, or when 2027-2028 financial aid packages are anticipated to be emailed for continuing students.

Please contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@drake.edu or 515–271–2905 with any questions.

— Kristi Fuller, Financial Aid Office

Drake University Theatre continues its 2026–2027 season with Sophocles’ timeless tragedy Antigone, directed by Michael Rothmayer, associate professor of theatre arts.

Written in 441 BCE, Antigone delivers a thrilling exploration of morality, power, and civil disobedience. The plot centers on the fiery conflict between Antigone, who risks everything to give her disgraced brother a proper burial, and King Creon, who enforces his tyrannical laws with an iron fist—only to face devastating consequences.

Rothmayer’s production takes a sleek, modern approach to the classic text, anchored by the central theme: “What doesn’t bend, breaks.” By framing the story through a contemporary lens, the production highlights enduring themes of female empowerment, civic duty, and the human cost of unyielding authority.

Performance Dates:
Thursday, Oct. 1: 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 2: 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 3: 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 4: 2 p.m.

Location: Coleman Studio Theatre located inside the Harmon Fine Arts Center on Drake University’s campus

Tickets are on sale now. To purchase tickets online, visit tix.com/ticket-sales/drakefinearts or call the Drake Fine Arts Box Office at 515–271–3841.

— Gabe Borken, AS’27

Grab your walking shoes and join the Healthiest State Walk on Wednesday, Oct. 7.  All faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to meet at noon at the start of the Bulldog Mile.  This one-mile path begins outside the Olmsted Center (just southeast of the building). 

Pick up a sticker at the beginning of the walk and wear it. If you still have it on at the end of the walk, you will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a prize.  If that’s not enough, you can earn additional raffle tickets with a deck of cards and a little luck.

If it is raining, we will move the event to the indoor track at the Knapp Center (entering through the Bell Center to scan in).  Come alone, bring a friend, or make it a team or department event!  Let’s get moving!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Registration is officially open for fall intramural sports and special events! Sign up for 3-on-3 or CoRec Basketball, 4v4 Flag Football, or join us for the Bags Tournament and Bulldog Run/Walk during Parents Weekend.

All registrations are handled through IMLeagues via the DrakeRec App. Don’t miss these upcoming deadlines:

• Bags Tournament: Sept. 30
• Bulldog Run/Walk: Oct. 3
• 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament: Oct. 14 at 4 p.m.
• CoRec Basketball League: Oct. 15
• 4v4 Flag Football League: Oct. 15

Download the DrakeRec App today to secure your spot!

Many personal safety risks can be reduced through simple habits and increased awareness. Whether you’re in a residence hall, parking lot, classroom, or walking across campus, taking a few precautions can make a significant difference.

Residence Halls and Offices

• Never prop open exterior doors.
• Do not allow strangers to enter secured buildings behind you.
• Keep your room or office door locked when unattended.
• Report damaged locks or doors immediately.

Parking Lots

• Have your keys ready before reaching your vehicle.
• Stay alert and avoid distractions such as texting while walking.
• Park in well-lit areas whenever possible.
• If something feels wrong, return to a populated area and contact Public Safety.

Walking on Campus

• Use well-lit, established pathways.
• Stay aware of your surroundings.
• Avoid headphones at volumes that limit awareness.
• Keep your phone accessible, but avoid becoming distracted by it.
• Trust your instincts if a situation feels unsafe.

Nighttime Travel Tips

• Avoid walking alone whenever possible.
• Travel with friends, classmates, or coworkers.
• Let someone know your destination and expected arrival time.
• Stay in well-lit areas and avoid shortcuts through isolated locations.
• If you feel uncomfortable, contact Public Safety or utilize Safe Ride transportation services.

One of the best crime-prevention strategies is avoiding isolation. Safety is enhanced when people look out for one another, especially during evening hours.

By combining awareness, preparation, and good judgment, each of us can help maintain a safe campus environment.

— Scott Law, Executive Director, Public Safety & Operational Services

Drake University is proud to be highlighted as part of the IMT Des Moines Marathon, on Sunday, Oct. 18. The famed ‘Blue Oval’ and the Drake campus will be part of the race around the mile 9 marker. Both DPS and DMPD staff will be here to ensure a safe racecourse.

The IMT Marathon will place runners in and around Drake from 8:30 – 11:30 am. Please expect traffic disruptions both near campus and throughout the racecourse.

For more information on the IMT Des Moines Marathon and course, please click this Des Moines Marathon 2026.

— Scott Law, Executive Director, Public Safety & Operational Services

Join us this October as we celebrate a century of science fiction and stop by University Archives to check out a new exhibit curated by Rod Henshaw, Dean Emeritus, Cowles Library.

Celebrating a Century of Science Fiction: The Legacy of Amazing Stories is on display Oct. 1–31 on the second floor of Cowles Library, outside Drake University Archives & Special Collections.

2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Amazing Stories, the first magazine devoted entirely to science fiction, founded under the editorship of Hugo Gernsback. The pulp magazines of the 1920s and ’30s became a proving ground for science fiction writers, and by the early 1940s, the genre had entered its “Golden Age,” with Astounding Science Fiction, under editor John W. Campbell, hosting writers such as Robert A. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, A. E. van Vogt, and Arthur C. Clarke.

These magazines also drew a devoted fan base known as “First Fandom,” who held the first World Science Fiction Convention in 1939 in New York City. “Worldcon” continues today, drawing tens of thousands of fans each year.

Among the 1939 attendees was a young Ray Bradbury, destined for one of the greatest literary careers of any American author. His works, including The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, and The October Country, became literary classics and helped propel science fiction into a global cultural phenomenon.

— Hope Bibens, Dean, Cowles Library