Tag Archives: events

Featured Events Archive

The Changing Politics of U.S. Latin American Policy

What: The Changing Politics of U.S. Latin American Policy: Immigration, Cuba, Presidential Power, and the Latino Vote by David R. Ayón
When: Tuesday, Feb. 2, 7–8:30 p.m.
Where: Sussman Theater, Olmsted Center

Sponsored by The Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship. Free and open to the public.

David R. Ayón is senior strategist and advisor to the research firm Latino Decisions, senior fellow at the Center for the Study of Los Angeles of Loyola Marymount University, a member of the editorial board of Foreign Affairs Latinoamérica and a director of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation. His current work focuses on how Latino political development interacts with national U.S. politics and U.S.-Latin America relations. Educated at Princeton, Stanford, and El Colegio de Mexico, Ayón also writes a column for the Univision News website and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Check out all the events planned by the Center for Global Citizenship in spring 2016.

—Submitted by David Skidmore, Director, Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship

For Students Archive

Deep thoughts, in French

Once a month this semester, in conjunction with L’Union des Français de l’Étranger (UFE-Iowa), Drake will host a Café Philosophique, or philosophical discussion. Students and French-speaking members of the Des Moines community will gather to discuss relevant topics and life questions, and voice opinions in a welcome, open environment—all in French!

Whether you wish to practice speaking in French or want the opportunity to listen to the French language, you are welcome to join. All gatherings will be in the Medbury Honors Lounge.

  • Thursday, Feb. 4, 5:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, March 1, 5:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, April 7, 5:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, May 3, 5:30 p.m.

—Submitted by Drake International

Strategic Updates Archive

From the Provost

Drake Social, Morning Edition
To begin her transition to Drake, Sue Mattison, our provost-elect, will visit campus in February, as well as on other occasions during the spring semester. These visits are intended to extend her familiarity with Drake (and ours with her); to hold conversations with those with whom she will be working closely; and to provide opportunities for her to meet more Drake faculty, staff, and students. To assist her transition, Drake faculty and staff are invited to spend some informal time with Sue at our next Drake social, a morning edition on Thursday, Feb. 11, 8–9 a.m. in Levitt Hall, Old Main. Coffee and pastries will be available, and I hope all of you will be as well. Please join me to welcome our provost-elect back to campus!

David E. Maxwell Distinguished Professor of International Affairs
I am delighted to announce that at its January meeting the Drake University Board of Trustees awarded the David E. Maxwell Professorship in International Affairs to Debra DeLaet, professor of political science. Established through the generosity of Patricia and L. Daniel Jorndt and designed to honor President Maxwell’s years of service to Drake and his devotion to international study, the David E. Maxwell Professorship in International Affairs recognizes a Drake faculty member at the full professor rank in a discipline directly linked to international affairs, including (but not limited to) international business, international relations, politics, sociology, and global public health.

Nominated by her dean, recommended by a selection committee of other distinguished professors, and supported by the provost and president, it is a recognition that Professor DeLaet richly deserves. In her 20 years at Drake she has achieved a record of effective teaching, rigorous scholarship, and engaged service animated by her interest and expertise in international relations, human rights, and global public health. She has previously been selected as the College of Arts & Sciences Outstanding Teacher of the Year, invited to present the Stalnaker Lecture, elected to serve as Faculty Senate president, and awarded the Herb & Karen Baum Chair of Ethics and the Professions, a title she will cede to her successor at the end of this year. Please join me in congratulating our newest distinguished professor.

Herb & Karen Baum Chair of Ethics and the Professions
In 2010, a generous gift by Herb & Karen Baum established the Herb & Karen Baum Chair of Ethics and the Professions. The appointment to this chair is for a three-year period for full professors at the University whose teaching and/or research examines issues of ethics and the world of practice, and who are nominated for the chair by their dean. I am proud to announce that after being nominated by her dean, recommended by a committee of distinguished professors, and approved by President Martin, Professor Jennifer Harvey will succeed Professor DeLaet as the next Herb & Karen Baum Chair of Ethics and the Professions. Jennifer is a professor of religion and currently also serves as director of the Humanities Center and faculty director of the Crew Scholars Program. Her focus in teaching and research is liberation ethics, and she has authored three books on race and social justice, published a wide range of essays, and has been invited to give many talks to community groups and professional organizations. She has been recognized as the Honors Teacher of the Year and as the Madelyn M. Levitt Mentor of the Year.

Provost Mobile Office Hour
With the start of the new semester I am resuming my roaming, open office hours. You can find me this week on Friday, Feb. 5, 1–2:30 p.m., in the Olmsted coffee shop. No appointments needed.

—Provost Joe Lenz

News & Achievements Archive

NPR to broadcast live from Smokey Row

NPR host David Greene will broadcast Morning Edition live from Smokey Row Coffee in Des Moines on Monday, Feb. 1, and Tuesday, Feb. 2, from 4 to 9 a.m. Drake faculty, staff and students are invited to come for a behind-the-scenes look at radio journalism and to meet David at anytime either day. (Although they are especially eager for people to be there at 4 a.m.) Plus, you’ll have the chance to participate in live discussion about the Iowa caucuses with such people as political commentator David Yepsen, pollster Ann Selzer, and maybe a presidential candidate or two.

—Kathleen Richardson, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Strategic Updates Archive

Coffee and construction

Plan to attend the second STEM@DRAKE Construction Open House on Thursday, Jan. 28, at 8:15 a.m., in Olmsted Center, Pomerantz Stage area. Come learn more about plans for construction of the School of Education and Math and Computer Science facility and the new Science Connector building. Site plans, what to expect during the construction process, tree removal, fencing, and plans for 27th Street will all be discussed. Construction team members as well as members of the University Steering Team will be on hand to answer questions. A brief project overview will be presented at 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. Light refreshments will be served.

—Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Featured Events Archive

Brown and Black Forum details

On Monday, Jan. 11, Drake University will host the Democratic Brown and Black Presidential Candidate Forum. The Forum will be broadcast on Fusion, Iowa Public Television, and C-SPAN and is sponsored by Urban Dreams, a Des Moines-based human services agency. This is one of the longest-running presidential forums in the country, and the only forum specifically dedicated to the concerns of minority voters.

Drake’s mission statement promises students an exceptional learning environment, and hosting the Forum exemplifies this commitment. Specifically, there are four important ways in which hosting this event reflects the University’s mission. First, the Forum exemplifies our role in a civic democracy—the university is the place where the community (in this case, the nation) comes together to discuss the important issues of the day. Second, Fusion will be hiring student interns who will work on all aspects of the production prior to the event. Third, a limited number of tickets are available for Drake students, faculty, and staff to attend the Forum itself, participating directly in the democratic process (information about how to request a seat is included below). Finally, the Forum brings national attention to our University, increasing visibility and attracting the next generation of outstanding students to campus.

Hosting the Brown and Black Forum requires a substantial amount of logistical planning, and the campus community will need to be aware of a number of issues.

Tickets
Urban Dreams has exclusive control over distribution of tickets to attend the Brown and Black Forum. A limited number of tickets have been made available to members of the Drake community, and priority will be given to current Drake students.

All Forum attendees must be seated by 6 p.m. and will need to remain in Sheslow Auditorium for the entirety of the program, until 9 p.m. If you are unable to commit to attending the entire Forum, please do not request a ticket.

Tickets will be distributed by lottery. To request a ticket, go to http://tinyurl.com/BrownBlackForum2016. You may request a ticket at any time prior to Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, at 5 p.m. Please submit your name and information only once, as duplicate entries are not permitted. In order to guarantee equal opportunity for all members of the Drake community, only one submission per person will be eligible. Each request is for only one ticket, and Drake is not providing tickets for family, friends, or alumni. Those who received a ticket to the DNC Debate via the online ticket lottery will not be eligible to receive a ticket to the Brown and Black Forum through the online ticket lottery.

Please be aware that attendance will require Secret Service screening procedures.

Should you be chosen to receive a ticket to the event, you will be notified by Monday, Jan. 4, using the preferred email address you provide in your request. Once you confirm your acceptance of the ticket, additional instructions and information will be provided. Please remember that tickets are nontransferable—they are only valid for the individual who has been designated to use the ticket and IDs will be checked at the door.

Housing
Students who are selected to attend or work for the Brown and Black Forum will have access to campus housing. The Office of Residence Life will work with those students selected to receive tickets and/or those students selected by Fusion as event staff to arrange for housing options based on J-Term daily rates and space availability. Following selection, more information will be provided to those ticketed recipients through the Office of Residence Life.

Facilities and Security
This event will bring a large number of people to campus (approximately 1,000–1,500 people are expected). This creates security concerns and all members of the campus community should be aware of this. Please observe the following guidelines to ensure safety:

  • Old Main and Olmsted Center will be restricted to those affiliated with the Forum for security reasons. Credentials will be necessary to enter these spaces on Sunday evening and all day Monday (Jan. 10 and 11). If you need to use facilities in these buildings, please plan to do so before or after they are secured for the event.
  • Areas immediately surrounding Old Main and Olmsted Center will be restricted for security reasons. Prior to the Forum, information will be available regarding street closures, parking restrictions, and other logistics. Please plan accordingly.
  • Please carry your Drake Card (ID) with you at all times. Should an emergency arise, this will allow security and Secret Service personnel to identify you as a member of the Drake community.
  • For students living on campus or in the immediate area, please be extra cautious about allowing access to living spaces to individuals who are not known to you. Do not prop or leave doors open, do not let people into your building unless you know them personally, and do not accept “credentials” from any individual not affiliated with the University, the Des Moines Police Department, or the Secret Service.

Things to Keep in Mind
Hosting a nationally-televised live candidate forum provides invaluable opportunities for the Drake community. It also means that our campus and our community are in the national spotlight. Many credentialed members of the press are expected. Three presidential candidates will be on campus. You may have interactions with Fusion staff, Urban Dreams staff, candidates, campaign staff, Secret Service personnel and/or the media. Please take care to be respectful and responsible. You may well have the opportunity to show the nation who we are as the Drake community and our collective commitment to civility and the open, respectful exchange of divergent views. Together, we can ensure that this is a positive experience for all of the individuals visiting campus, as well as for all members of the Drake family.

Additional details regarding building access, street closures, and parking restrictions, will be distributed the week prior to the event.

—Joe Lenz, Interim Provost

Featured Events Archive

Hear from Slate magazine senior editor

Legal journalist and attorney Dahlia Lithwick will present “Uncovering the U.S. Supreme Court” at a lecture co-sponsored by the American Constitution Society-Drake Law School student chapter and the Drake University Constitutional Law Center.

The event is free and open to the public. It will be held Thursday, Dec. 17, 4:30 p.m., in the Legal Clinic Library at the Neal and Bea Smith Law Center (2400 University Ave.).

Lithwick is a senior editor and legal correspondent for Slate magazine, where she covers the courts and the law. She contributes to the columns “Supreme Court Dispatches” and “Jurisprudence,” as well as the Amicus podcast series. Her work has appeared in The New Republic, The Washington Post, and CNN.com. She was a legal commentator for the NPR show Day to Day, a regular guest on The Al Franken Show, and has been a guest columnist for The New York Times op-ed page. In 2001, she was awarded the Online News Association’s award for online commentary.

For more information, visit bit.ly/21K9iQC

—Submitted by Kayla Choate, Law School Alumni Affairs & Communications Coordinator

News & Achievements Archive

2016 Baby Bowl

Drake women’s basketball will host the 2nd annual Baby Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, during halftime of its game versus Missouri State. Children 12 months and younger are eligible to compete. This is a crawling-only competition.

We invite you to register your baby or encourage friends and family to do so. Be sure to sign up early, as space is limited. Registration is open now until Jan. 8, or until all slots are filled. Contestants will be notified on Jan. 11. Racers will receive two complimentary tickets to the game for parents/guardians. The winner of Baby Bowl 2016 will take home $125; 2nd and 3rd place will take home $75 and $50 respectively. All contestants will receive a Drake Bulldogs baby bib for their efforts.

Visit www.draketix.com/babybowl for more information.

Questions? Please contact Tom Florian, assistant director of ticket sales, at 515-271-4949 or thomas.florian@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Tom Florian

Campus Announcements Archive

From the Provost: Important end-of-semester updates

The Day Free for Study
As we approach the end of the semester, this is a reminder of Drake policy related to performance evaluation and grading (Faculty Manual 2.131) and the Day Free for Study:

  1. Student Records and Academic Information publishes a final evaluation schedule for the last week of fall and spring semesters. A two-hour evaluation period is designated for each class and all classes are expected to meet at the designed time and place for a final session. If a final examination is given in a class, it must be given during the designated final evaluations period. Deviations from the final evaluation schedule require authorization of the dean.
  2. The last class day prior to the beginning of the final evaluation period is designated as a “Day Free For Study”, commonly called “Dead Day.” During this time, no committee meetings (for which students or faculty unable to attend would be at a disadvantage) may be held, and classes do not normally meet. Individual colleges and faculty members may schedule voluntary review sessions for their classes, with the provision that attendance by students is voluntary and no new materials can be presented which will be included in the final evaluation. Laboratory reports and term papers previously assigned may be assigned due dates during the Day Free for Study. No final evaluations may be given during the Day Free for Study.

Commencement
The commencement ceremony for those students—graduate and undergraduate—graduating at the end of this semester will be held in The Knapp Center on Saturday, Dec. 19, beginning at 10 a.m. If faculty are planning on attending—as I encourage you to do—please plan to be in the Bell Center for robing and assembly no later than 9:30 a.m.

To assure that we have a sufficient number of chairs on the floor for faculty, please RSVP to https://drakefallcommencement2015.eventbrite.com no later than Tuesday, Dec. 15. Please, only RSVP is you DO plan to attend. As this is President Martin’s first commencement at Drake. I ask that you do him—and the students who have earned their degrees—the honor of your presence.

If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Geiger at x3095 or nancy.geiger@drake.edu.

Being Social
The final faculty/staff social of the semester will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., immediately following the campus community budget discussion (4–5 p.m.) in the Shivers Hospitality Suite. Please attend both the campus discussion, led by Chief Financial Officer Teresa Krejci and President Martin, and the social. It has been a long and productive semester, and it will be pleasant to end it in each other’s company. Nearby parking is available in Lot 2 east of Shivers at the NE corner of Forest and 25th Street.

—Joe Lenz, Interim Provost